The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-12 00:00:00

THE

LITERATURE.
POEMS FROM MY FIRESIDE. By Maria
Goodluch. Darton.
A pretty little volume of very simple arid-very-in.-
nocent verses, designed n! "an affectionate offering",
for " the young"—meaning children. Most of-the'
pieces are fables, each conveying some hotnely-mora--;-
and the whole book is dedicated "by permission.,"
says the fly-leaf—and that fly-leaf is a passport of
itself—to Charles Dickens.

ABSCONDING DEBTORS" ARREST ACT.
With Notes. By Robert Mak°lin Kcir. John Crock-
ford.
A clear, concise, and practical digest of the Ab-
sconding Debtor's :Arrest Act has here been com-
piled by Mr. Kerr, advocate and barrister-at-law,.
The forms given as an Appendix will be found pecu-
liarly valuable for reference.

E ITALIAN VOLUNTEERS. By Emilio

Dandolo. Longmans.
This work is described as an authentic narrative of
the organization, adventures, and final disbanding of
the Italian Volunteers and Lombard Rifle Brigade in
1848.49, translated from the edition published at
Turin in 1849. In the author's preface he observes
that he hesitated much before giving these pages to
the public, until, induced by the encouragement he
met with from those he consulted on the subject, and
his desire of lending his assistance to those who, de-
sirous of finding the truth, are unable to do so from
the confusion and obscurity in which the period de-
, scribed is involved :
" I had accidentally been placed in such circumstances
as to be able frequently to form a clear and precise
judgment respecting various occurrence!, which, for
others, were either of dubious character, or liable to be
falsely interpreted. From early intimacy and habits of
friendship I was like a brother to the late Luciano
Manara; for about a year I was his adjutant and Seerel
tary for military affairs, and above all, his inseparable
companion in the reverses which led him at last to the
tomb. I had, therefore, the means of viewing, in their
true light, the perplexing changes of events in which he
and his comrades were so lamentably entangled
and ruined. Without any interested views or
regard to party feeling, I have felt, in publishing this
brief narrative, that I was paying the last tribute due to
the memory of my friend, and though far from confi-
dent in the merits of the style, I hope nevertheless to
meet with some indulgence for the sake of the spirit of
justice which it has been my constant endeavour to pre-
serve throughout. For my only desire in these pages
has been to speak the truth on all occasions, and to be
impartial both as to things and persons; so that if I
have deceived myself I can at least claim the praise of
honesty tor my intentions."
As a spirit of truth and impartiality is the most rare
to find, though most valuable when obtained, in
,a
work of this sort, it is not doubtful that the piesent
volume will be welcomed by all those who desire to
study the course of events in the eventful years they
describe.

TRAVELS IN TARTARY, THIBET, AND
CHINA. National Illustrated Library.
This is the second volume of these travels, which
derive interest and originality from the circumstance
of their being descriptive of a region comparatively
little known. An engraving of the Mausoleum of a
grand Lama of Thibet is prefixed, and the various il-
lustrations of the inhabitants, the scenery, and the ani-
mals of the countries delineated are very instructive.
The extraordinary customs of the Buddhists are also
related, and the reader will find the entertaining and
the useful combined in a very agreeable mariner.

MEMOIRS OF EXTRAORDINARY POPU-
LAR DELUSIONS. 2 Vols. IVationallllzts-

trated Library. By Charles Mackay, LL.D.
A very interesting account of the various follies and
superstitions of the past and the present. " The Mis-
sissippi Scheme," " The Slow Poisoners," Popular
Admiration of Great Thieves," form a conspicuous
portion of the narrative. Bnt we are surprised to
find " The Crusades" included in the number.
Few will agree to place those exploits of chi-
valry and enthusiasm which have ever been sur-
rounded by poetry and romance by the side of " The
Witch Mania," "The South Sea Bubble," Dick
Turpin, and Jack Sheppard. There are also chapters
descriptive of haunted houses, duels, and ordeals, the
alchymists, and the magnetisers. The volumes are
bound and illustrated in the usual excellent style of
this library.

THE STORY OF NINEVEH.
THE E R CKS ONS. Paton and Ritchie,

Edinburgh.
These works are intended for the young, and will
be found to possess much that is beneficial. " The
Story of NinevPh," as its name indicates, contains a
description of that great city, its founder, its history,
and its ruins. " The Ericksons" and "The Clever
B )y" are two instructive and pleasing tales, by Miss
Francis Brown, whose powers as an author are 80
well known. The first is a history of life in Norway,
the second a tale of the mishaps of a clever boy who
only considered himself. They form a gent acquisi-
tion to the young, who must derive from their perusal
both pleasure and profit.

A PICTURE-BOOK FOR A NOAH'S ARK.
Chapman and Nall.
An excellent zoological work, which contains de-
seriptions of two hundred animals, with i;pictUres
which give a very good impression of them There
is a great variety i❑ the subjects selected fir repre-
sentation, and the descriptions being clear and concise,
are well calculated to attract and inform children.

THE BOOK OF THE GARDEN. By: Charles
111.1ntosh. Part I. William Blackwood and SOUS.
The object of this work is " to exhibit ail that is
known at the present day on the subject of gardening,
and to make public the author's long and extensive ex-
perience and the original views which that experience
has developed." It is to consist of two divisions—the
first ornamental and architectural ; the second practi-
cal. The present number contains the introduction,
which describes the origin and progress of gardening,
and two chapters which treat of the formation and
arrangement of fruit gardens and garden walls. The
following is extracted from the introduction :
" The gardens of Solomon, the earliest of which we
have any certain account, are described as having been
of a quadrangular form, and surrounded by a high wall.
The exact form and arrangement are still in most gene-
ral use. They contained aviaries, wells, and streams of
water, indispensable in worm climates.
" The gardens of Cyrus and other Persian kings were
distinguished for their romantic situations, great extent,
and diversity of uses and products, and were in their
day reckoned among the wonders of the world.
" The celebrated hanging gardens of Babylon furnish
us with the first notice of terraces being introduced into
gardens; and although Herodotus and others are silent
on the subjec., it is not improbable that these terraces
had their usual decorations of parapets, vases, &c., as we
learn that they were planted with trees of various kinds.
We also learn that the different terraces and groves con-
tained fountains, seats, parterres, and banquetting rooms,
and combined the minute beauties of flowers "and foliage
with masses of shade and extensive prospects. Indeed
most of the elements of a modern architectural garden
are clearly alluded to in connexion with these accient
ones, if we except the great varieties of flowers and
plants. Even in these, however, they were not altoge-
ther deficient; for we learn from Xenophon's Memorab,'
"that wherever the Persian King Cyrus resides, or what-
ever place he visits in his dominions, he takes care. that
the paradiees (or gardens) shall be filled with every-
thing both beautiful and useful the soil can produce."

- . E
MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—Johanna.Wagner,vv
for whom the Operas are disputing, but respecting whose
ultimate whereabout we believe there is little question, will
arrive in London in a few days. She is engaged (so we are
assured Upon authority altogether commensurate) at her
Dlajesty'av Theatre, at which great establishment she is to
appear in the week immediately succeeding Easter. Romeo,
in Bellini's opera of Capuletti ed I Montecehi, is to be her
opening character, a part in which she is stated to be beyond
all comparison. A new opera by Meyerbeer, of course for
hie distinguished pupil, and this now world. famous artiste is
talked of as an early novelty. • Cruvelli appears on Saturday
as Forma, and instead of being on her way to .Brazil, to
,81,ui
iwhichn ißosati
_rheeg.ri,o_enh operatice
arrived
in gossip
London had o
n s a rather Saturday.
precipitatelyrda3,
.
rcaoeno -..
interesting Eli
less than fori—gforth=
Ina
arrived in the metropolis, and will appear ,
a new ball.q. It may be cited as a prooflof her
extraordi
Tine, and which ballet is founded on a very
she was teary popularity at Turin, that a new ballet, of which
ish drama called Victorine, was performed
Alum.
FFiadlecioion.i is arrived, and will appear here on Friday
dented in timesthi in succession, a fact almost unprece-
dented
D, RITRY-LattE history of this description of entertainment.
nest, in
TIIE —The renowned singer
of prices, which takes plaro great attraction is the reduction
e this •
stated last week, on.
.that Mr. Charles Kean
Ma. CH AnrAs K8AN......... evening-
h three 4-7
YludatuP all the salaries ainder
the authority of a Centel:lvor We
had, in the most liberal tnanne'rY'
two pounds a week of the erept,,,
wbo, but for this act of griero,fitesy.
wotuhi3 Princess's Theatre,
salary, through the unavoidable closing clof!'ll,_ve last a wee,le.q.
la
t‘hiVee now
sequent upon Mr Kean's sudden indiapostgeatre,'eon;.
of the salaries
of under two pounds a week. W e need not enraragedsn,pult`eads.
learn that a
paid,sligh twhmioinstwakaseallha:ndbeerent
kind and considerate feeling
which promptel this 111104,e:it-l:I
donation to those persons in the theatre,wholitte could ill spare
a week's salary, deducted from their
inserting income,— Sunday
in our:,
Times. [We feel great pleasure esteemed
the understatement we had
Contemporary's correction of
' act of managerial liberality. an
made respecting Mr. Kean s . .
ents than creditable to
act not more gratifying to the recipi
the generous benefactor.]
" A
curious
hppeal"
Lola Montes has published a _ i
t the story of
in the New York Journals. She glances a
she did
her marriage at thirteen years to an old man who m
on
her
not love. She invokes the justice of Heaven p
the good
Je.wit enemies who plotted the ruin of her friend u
old King Louis of Bavaria, as " virtuous and kindhearted
ea
a gentleman as lives on earth." She is proud of her love_
for him, which is not of a kind to be ashamed of, and will
be his friend while he lives. Lolas asserts that the Bavarian
F,Prince, Minister d'Abel, and Bletternich of Austria, offered
her four millions of francs and the title of Princess, if she
'Would aid them in, their plans to control the King. Being
concealed, at her request, he overheard the offer. By the
Jesuit and Austrian Power Lola says she has been deprived
of her property, and iheis now but a poor danseusc seeking
her livelihood. " I have been vain, frivolous, Arubitious,
PrQud...;but 20Ter TiGi94o, Aerg cilia..
- ..s.,vAta)L Zi1t460,-,444., L c ~.. . .