The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-16 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

English. Writers. The Writers before Chaucer, with
an introductory sketch of the Four Periods of
English Literature. By Henry Morley. One
vol., pp., 778. Chapman and Hall.
Mr. Morley has undertaken an ambitious task.
He has, as he reminds us, attempted to tell " with
something of the sustained interest of national bio-
graphy, the story of the English mind. When the
first pages were written" he goes on say, " it seemed
possible to do this by illustrating main principles
with little regard to completeness of detail. But
detail is the life-blood of all healthy generalization,
and it was soon found that more blood must run
through the body of the story if there was to be
any force at ell in the expression of its character.
To a larger scale therefore the work has now been
planned, but it will be strictly limited to three
volumes, each complete in itself, with an Index."
The largo and elaborate scale on which the work
was ultunately planned is evidenced by the goodly
volume now before us, in which after 700 pages of
minute analysis and careful research we only arrive
at last at Chaucer, the father of English verse.
Truly Mr. Morley with an over attention to detail
has fallen into the error of so many historians and
narrators who,deeply impressed with the importance
of the theme on which they are engaged, think it
necessary to begin as the saying is even " before
the beginning." The size and elaboration of this
work will, we are inclined to think, deter many
from undertaking a close scrutiny of its pages;
those who venture to do so will admire the pa-
tience, and perseverance, and editorial discrimina-
tion of which it affords such praiseworthy evidence.
As a work of reference for the book-selves it will be
found invaluable. while the two following volumes
which are promised will of necessity possess greater
attractiveness for the general reader than can be
claimed for theseintroductory chapters. Mr. Morley
returns thanks to his fellow-students in the evening
classes at King's College, who, representing " the
quick-witted intelligence of the great middle 'class
of English society, bring unflagging energy to
studies of their choice." In all his deep and widely.
diffused investigations, Mr. Morley recognises in
the writers of the past, even in periods of remote
antiquity, the English mind predominant through
all our literature. His own work is in itself a his-
tory and an evidence of some of the noblest charac-
teristics of the theme of which it relates.

A Box for the Season : A Sporting Sketch. By
Charles Clarke, author of " Charlie Thornhill."

Two Vols. Chapman and Hall.
The lovers of sport, especially of 81 eeple-chasing.
cannot do better than avail themselves of Mr. Tom
Crackenthorpe's agreeable invitation to share with
him in the perils and pleasures of his sporting box
at Lushenham Chateau, in the neighbourhood of
Pumpington, which he has taken for the season,
having selected a locality famous for " the biggest
fences, the widest brook, the largest grass field, and
the sloshiest mud in the kingdom." To this happy
resort Tom Catckenthorpe and his
_fides achates
Bobby Munster gladly welcome all comers. We
cannot say that the story of which these
gentlemen are the heroes, possesses any very
absorbing or concentrated interest, or that it is
written in a style of particular elegance; but it
abounds with life and anima.' spirits, will provoke
many a hearty laugh, and among the catastrophes
of its closing chapters includes a happy marriage of
a supposed heiress•—a marriage which " was very
like an Armstrong shell: for it disabled the couple
itself, two fathers, a mother, several sisters, and au
indiscriminate phalanx of money-lending Jews.'
The chateau at Lushenham has passed into other
hands, but we are glad to learn that it continues to
this day the pleasantest Bachelor's Box in the
county.

The Smuggler Chief. By Gustave Aimard, Two
Vols. John Mdxwell and Co., Fieet-street.

The translator of M, Aimard's story, " The
Smuggler Chief," in his preface tells us, " That if
there has been any fault In the author's previous
works it is that the ladies introduced are too subor-
dinate, but in the present tale the primary interest
hinges upon them, and they are the most prominent
characters." We cannot for our part but regret
that M. Aimard did not place his heroines of the
book under review, is the same unattractive and
subordinate position as the female characters in his
other works, for we should not in that case be scan-
dalized by the want of modesty of Inez and
Maria, and shocked by the indecency of the scenes
in which they are unwillingly compelled to bear a
part. The incidents recounted in "'The Smuggler
Chiet" are irreconcileable with all probability, and
the growth of the friendship
which has sprung up
between Diego and Liao, from the accident of the
latter having rescued the former from the fangs of
a panther which had overpowered him, is accounted
for in a manner quite inconsistent with Diego's own
subsequent account of his previous mode of exist-
ence for many years before; he had been a spy,
sent by his people to dwell amongst the Spaniards
to ascertain the nature of their tactics, the strength
of their armies and fortresses, and thus discover the
best means of attacking and overthrowing their
power ; but our author tells us, forgetting
all this, that Diego's unbounded affection
for his friend arose from The sublime self-
denial of virgin natures whom the narrow
civilisation of towns has not degraded." Why
Diego, who turns out to be the most powerful, and
talented, of the Indian chiefs, should be called a
" half-caste" we are at a loss to discover; and still
more are we surprised that a merciless savage, such
spared Leon, who not only taunted him with his
as he is represented to be
crimes, but baulked him of his revenge when he
be, should have so often
was completely in his power. " I believed you to
e
be a man of heart, and you are a precious brute,"
Leon, " I no longer hate you, I despise
you." ...." I curse you, and I swear by the ashes
of my mother, that if you let me leave this place,
my vengeance shall pursue you; you will ever find
me on your road, ready to
fight you, and overthrow
your plans." Notwithstanding this declarat ion
of hostility Leon is allowed to leave the Indian
camp, where he had come without protection, and
when " the friends" meet again, it is in the
shock of arms, at the sack
of Santiago, where
Diego, covered with blood, and fighting like a de-
mon, has smote down the brother of Leon's mis-
tress with a blow of his axe, and is about to de-
spatch him. "At last," he said. At the same
moment he received a violent blow, and he fell
back blaspheming. He rose with lightening speed,
and saw Leon Dalbes before him, who had rolled
him in the dust by dashing his horse's chest at him.
" On," exclaimed the Indian, as he let his axe fall,
" always he between this family and me." And
then the clemency seems all on the side of Leon,
would quietly
who, knowing that Diego had dishonoured his in-
tended sister-in-law, have allowed
the unrelenting enemy of all he holds dear to depart,
at the very moment when his destruction would
have secured victory to the side on which he fought,
were it not for the interposition of one of his fol-
lowers, who shot him dead. Some portions of this
book are graphically written, and the author seems
to be intimately accinaicted with the habits and
manners of the South American Indians; but it is
absolutely unfit for the perusal of pure-minded
persons, and we cannot bat regret that at a time
when our own light literature teems with immo-
rality, an English gentleman should have added to
our stock of mischievous productions, by borrowing
from the French.

THE CASE OF SUSPECTED POISONING AT STOKE
NEWINGTON.—Last evenipg the inquest on the body
of Mr. Joseph Hankin, exhutied in Abney Park Cemetery
last week after being interred for several months, was re-
sumed at Stoke Newington. Et may be remembered that,
in consequence of the disappearance of some money belong-
ing to nankin after his death, the subsequent claiming of
some of it at the bank, and other circumstances, the rela-
tions of deceased became suspicious of the peopld with
whom he had lodged, and had the body exhumed. A post-
mortem examination resulted in the discovery that a part
of the intestines of the deceased presented an unusually
yellow appearance, and it was decided that Dr. Letheby
should make an analysis. Yesterday it was announced that
Dr. Letheby was not yet prepared to give evidence, and the
inquiry was accordingly adjourned again.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE,

PAUL'S RETURN.

Last night a new three-act drama, by Watts
Philips, Esq., entitled " Paul's Return," was sue
cessfully produced at this theatre. The main inci-
dent of the piece, although by no means a novel one
(it having been well worked up in "Payable on

Demand," and similar plays), has been so well
treated in the present instance, that a freshness has
been given to an old subject. However good the
piece, to persons unacquainted with managerial
stcrets, it must seem somewhat strange that West-
land Marston's admirable play of "Donna Diana"
should have been stopped in its full tide of
success for the production of "Paul's Return," for
without icy. the least wishing to detract from the

sterling abilities of Mr. Phillips as a dramatist, it
cannot be said that the new piece is equal, either
in point of elegance of writing or dramatic interest,
to the one it has displaced. It is certainly good
policy on the part of a manager to keep up a suc-
cession of novelties, yet there may sometimes ba a
precipitation which, instead of answering the object
intended, may lead to a totally different result. In
the present days of sensation dramas, it was a relief
to find one manager making a bold stand for
pure and elegant comedy, yet through no lack of
patrcnage, the effort lasts for about a month, and
then he falls back on old the conventional three
act domestic drama. However, Mr. Vining is a
very clever manager, and we have no wish to dis-
cover any of his secrets. The plot of " Paul's Re-
turn" may be very briefly stated. A certain Mr.
Richard Goldsworthy, the head of a mercantile firm
of the highest repute, is entrusted with the fortune
of his niece, Blanche Wilton, by her father, and
news having arrived of Wilton's death by shipwreck,
Goldsworthy is induced, owing to severe pressure, to
make use of the fortune of Blanche in the prosecution
of his own business. The money is lost in speculation,
and for ever afterwards Goldsworthy becomes a
victim to remorse, although to outward appearance
be is a wealthy and influential man. Blanche,
knowing nothing of her lost fortune, is an inmate of
Goldsworthy House, where she is looked upon by
the other members of " the family" as a dependant
and an incumbrance. Paul Goldsworthy, a nephew
of the merchant's, after an absence cf six years in
California, returns, and is the bearer of papers from
Blanche's dying father, whom he has met in foreign
lands, which will expose the fraud of Goldsworthy.
Owing to Paul's love for the merchant's
daughter, Beatrice, he grants him a month to
make good the money he has lost. In his
extreme need Goldsworthy applies to a friend,
one Abel Honeydew, to assist him ; but imme-
diately this friend finds that Goldsworthy is
in urgent want of assistance, he throws off the
mask and shows himself a thorough rascal. He is
willing to advance the money provided he re-
ceives the hand of Goldsworthy's daughter. This
proposal is scornfully rejected by the father; but
Beatrice, although betrothed to Paul, to save her
father determines to sacrifice herself. Paul, who
previous to his arrival in England, has been robbed
of an immense fortune by his companion at the
gold diggings, one Brassington, determines to
sae Mr. Honeydew, and to endeavour to make
other arrangements than the proposed marriage ;
but the merchant, Goldsworthy, makes a full con-
fession of his crime before " the family," and deter-
mines to brave the worst. Mr. Honeydew calls at
nine o'clock for a final answer, and on that occasion
he is seen by Paul, who immediately recognises in
him the thief who robbed him in America. Honey-
dew is compelled to disgorge hie wealth to Paul.
He at once places the whole of it at Goldsworthy's
disposal, whose first act is to restore to Blanche
her fortune, and his next to make his daughter
happy by giving her a husband in the person of
her cousin Paul.

The acting of the drama was unexceptionable.
Mr. Vining sustained the part of the merchant,
Richard Goldsworthy, with dramatic effect, and in
many of the scenes he threw into it the utmost in-
tensity—the avowal of his crime to Paul was a fine
specimen of artistic excellence. Mr. Nelson, who
made his first appearance in London as Paul, did
not have much of a part to show the extent of his
abilities. All he had to do was to repeat a few
set and claptrap phrases, which, of course, went
well with the audience. Before expressing our
opinion of him as an actor, we must see him in
something better than a walking gentleman's part.
Mr. David Fisher secured high honours. His Abel
Honeydew was a remarkably well sustained cha-
racter, and it is only to be regretted that more
opportunities are not afforded him of displaying the
great abilities he undoubtedly possesess. Miss Kate
Saville gave a pretty embodiment of the merchant's
daughter, and Miss Powell was excellent as Blanche
Wilton. There are a number of other characters in
the piece, but they have nothing to do with the
development of the plot. For instance, Mrs. Mars.
ton represents " a member of the family," who is
given to embroidering velvet smoking caps, and
making fine baby clothes for emancipated negroes.
Mr. Mellon appears as a " Humanitarian," whose
charity, born in the heart, dies before it reaches the
breeches' pocket, and Mr. Forrester, aopoor lieu-
tenant, dying in love for Blanche Wilton.

The scenery is remarkably beautiful, and the
dresses and appointments in the best taste.
All the principal actors were summoned before
the curtain to acknowledge the applause their efforts
had evoked, and Mr. Vining announced the piece
for repetition every evening until further notice.