The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-04 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Secret History of a Household. By the
Author of "Alice Waitworth." 3 Vols.

Hurst and Blackett.

This is in many respects a painful story, but it
must be acknowledged by all who peruse it that
it is remarkable for the clever delineation of its
character, and the skilful arrangement of its scenes.
The bold and manly Everard Mansell, and the
high-spirited and steadfast Barbara, stand out in
striking relief from the timid and gentle Ellen,
and her wayward suspicious husband, who, as
Barbara's brother took every opportunity of mak-
ing an unworthy use of his Fryer over his admir-
able sister. Everard, on the contrary, with all his
determination and decision, was easily influenced
in a right cause. Not so the evil-minded Stapyl-
ton. He was not naturally bad, he could admire
and reverence virtue in another, and he could de-
nounce vice as energetically as any one, but he never
troubled himself to consider that the virtue he
acknowledged as excellent we should practise as
well as praise ; ,nor that the vice he condemned in
others his fellow-creatures despised in himself.
" Thou art the man" might with justice and reason
have been said to him, but Ralph had no friend to
say it to him. Ellen, his unfortunate wife, was
placed in such peculiar circumstances that it is hard
to say she was wrong in yielding to what her hus-
band wished, as it would be unwise to say she was
right. In one case" she was unquestionably re-
prehensible in accompanying Gertrude abroad. If
the intention of the author is to favour her decision
it is a mistaken view ofpropriety. Mercy is thehr igh t-
est attribute of the Christian character, but mercy to
the penitent does not mean screening the guilty from
the just consequences of crime, and charity, that
often misapplied and perverted word, is not to shut
out and supersede justice altogether, but to soften
and smooth its rugged decrees. The only quality
that we are told belongs to both worlds, that will
flourish in heaven when earth is no more, is truly
too sacred to be invoked in such a cause, or to ap-
pear in such a scene as the one alluded to. It was
not charity nor mercy : it was kindness of heart,
genuine, but mistaken ; and it was love for her
erring husband, . self-sacrificing, but erroneous,
that led Ellen into the snare laid out for her by her
cunning and selfish enemies. That she came out
as pure as she entered, that one guilty person died
blessing her name, and the other lived to make her
atonement, by at. last appreciating her devotion,
was not an excuse. " Evil is not to be done that
good may come of it.." ,It was impossible for Ellen
to look into futurity, and see the snit behind the
clouds of her horizon, but it was possible for
her, as for every one in temptation and
trouble, to think of present duty and present
consequences. The past was stamped in records
which human ingenuity could not efface. The
future was in the direction of powers human saga-
!
! city could not fathom ; only the present span of action
was their own, and three more mistaken and mis-
' judging individuals never ruled it. The effects of
their self-inflicted tortures were that (none giving
the others credit for really wishing such extraordi-
nary manoeuvres) each suspected the others of
duplicity 'and deceit. Gertrude, in horrible ago-
nies, breathed her last from the effects of the long
put•off discovery, which it was flying in the face
of Providence -to suppose could be smuggled for
ever: Ellen was put aside by her cruel and jealous
husband, while she-could not defend herself from
having compromiSed her spotless fame in setting
out at all on the foreign tour. The day of retri-
bution was at hand for them, indeed ; and
scarcely has the reader blamed the trans-
action before the transactors themselves are
overwhelmed with misery and confusion. It is one
thing to go astray and mislead others, and another
to make crooked things straight, and black look
white. So they all found, and made others find
too ; and when Gertrude was laid in her untimely
grave, and Ralph and -Ellen-6thefarmerfinding ont
bis.inistake, and the latter forgiving him, went to
Canada—those who had any insight into thei r careers
could not fail to be admonished by their tales. It
did not need to sit down in aolitude to find out the
meaning of,their lives ; these who ran ever so giddy
or busy a course could read it; and it would be well
for the social well-being of others, if all who thus
erred could, " departing, • leave behind them" an
imprint of their steps, for the warning of those
who would walk in the same way ; ~and a murmur
of their misery to linger in the'. memory, as the
handwriting on the 'wall, to betoken when the
citadel is in danger. It is the province of the no-
velist to idealise realities, and, in the garb
of fiction, to manifest facts ; but, though
the privilege' has many ramifications, it is
best employed and answers its highest purpose
when it narrows its limits and curtails its compass.
The more life-like, the nearer to nature and the
closer to truth, the sooner is the story understood
and the better appreciated. In the present in-
stance this cautious rule is observed, and we have
no adventitious aids of effect in scenes or persons,
and few flights of fancy to herald the way. The
circumstances are quietly told, as becomes a sombre
episode in human life, which the narrative here in
question undoubtedly chronicles ; and if it cannot
aspire to keep off evil, it does its best to show its
deformity, without entering into detail or over-
working its object. " The Secret History of • a
Household" is the history for the most part of the
wicked ; but their sins found them out, and the
sense of uprightness is vindicated by their suffer-
ings and shame.

It is stated in a letter from St. Petersburg that a corn-
bas been charged to transform sailing-vessels
into screws ; and that it has already caused the frigate,
the Balkan, of 44 guns, to be provided with engines of
360-horse power, and the sloop of the line \Viborg, 74,
with engines of 450. horse power; also that it is now
causing several screw-schooners, to be built.
The llelsingfors Tichtingar speaks of numbers of
persons from the town going out to view the new forti-
fications on the Harakka Clitf, and the walls of hewn
granite, that frown at the sea from their position in the
n nen Park.

A letter from Vienna of the 27th ult. states that M.
Drouyn de Lhuys before his departure concluded a new
convention rotative to the use of the electric telegraph.

ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL COM-
M' TTEE.-(THIS DA. Y.)

The committee reassembled this morning at the usual
hour.

Sir Thomas Hastinvs Jinx again revtliel, and, in ex
arnination by Lord S Imour, produced a ',umber of
official documents, refeired to in his evidence of yesttr-
day. Amongst other inatter, he stated that the firit
requisition sent to him for winter clothing was in July,
1854 ; and was for 150,000 woolen socks, 90,900
flannel drawers, and 50,000 woollen drawers. A supply
of Qaarterina,ster-C4.-nerals stores were applied for in
March. If any deficiency existed in the latter it was
the fault of the Quarterrnaltet-General for not ordering
a proper quantity. He denied that any of the bedsteads
sent out were incomplete or deficient of legs, &c. He
did not believe that the boots and shoes were too small,
because they were made on- long-established specifica
tions, and he (lid not think the size of them could hare
varied. The bcots and shoes hitherto, had been found
to answer for size in all climates and under all circum-
stances.

By the Chairman—Considerable difficulty was found
in obtaining steamers to convey out the stores, and they
were accordingly delayed for some time.
Ihe Chairman—According to your account, then, no
person was to blame E _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Sir T. Hastings replied that he had fairly given his
opinion that the delay arose from the grea't difficulty of
providing steamers.
Lord Seymour said the committee had been informed
by Captain Tallon, who embarked a quantity of tools in
his vessel at Constantinople, that he was told to con-
vey them to Varna" but that neither the Quartermaster-
General nor the Commissariat would take them ; and
inquired whether that went to show that there wa3 a
Quartermaster as well as a Quartermaster-General there?

Sir T. Hastings replied that that was the case, A quan-
tity of Canada boots and socks were sent out. The
committee, by comparing some of the boots at present
at the Tower, would find that the boots sent out were
adapted for all sizes of feet.
By General Peel—Their clothirg had been supplied
independent of the Ordnance by purchases made under
the direction of the Secretary for 'War and the Secretary
at War, the result of which was that they were bidding
against themselves in the same market. With respect
fur caps, they were in treaty with a pers;:n to pur-
chase them at sr. 10d. each. and, in the interim, the Sec-
retary for War made an arrangement to purchase them
at 6s. Bd. The parties in question heard that the Go-
vernment had raised the price in the market, and they
were unable to make the purchases at the original
price agreed upon. When witness was required
to provide a supply of winter clothing, he was
not informed that the army would -.virter in the Crimea.
He was not able to say on what department the duty
of providing such articles, if they were required, would
fal I,

By Lord Seymour—He had made an application to
provide rifles in November, but it was not carried into
effect until Febrtugy.
Lord Seymour reminded the witness that the Duke
of Newcastle had stated that he would have ordered a
large quantity of rifles to be obtained from Liege, but
that it was contrary to the opinion of the Board of
Ordnance.

Sir T. Hastings denied that it was against the opinion
of the Board of Ordnance, but that it was simply against
his own opinion. He objected on the ground that it
would tend materially to affect if not destroy the gun
trade of this country, and that the gun makkrs of Bir-
mingham would withdraw their capital from the trade.

Tile evidence principally, throughout the morning,
was of a very uninteresting character, 9.nd had reference
to technical details of routine management under the
Ordnance department.
[LEFT BITTING. j

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(TBIS DAY.)

--P--

COURT OF CHANCERY.
(Before the Lord Justices of Appeal.)
PEACOCK V. STOCKFORD-JUDGMENT.

Their lordships gave judgment in this appeal from the
decision of the Vice-Chancellor Rindersley this morning,
reversing the older of the Court below, without costs.
The question in this case related to the construction of
the will of the testator in the cause, but there was no
point involved that contained the let►=t interest except to
the parties concerned.
(Before Vice-Chancellor Wood.)