The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-08 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Sport in Norway, and Where to Find lt. By the
Rev. Mr. R. Bernard, B.A. One Vol., pp. 334.
Chapman and Hall.

There is little of originality in Mr. Bernard's
book, for by far the greater portion of the most
interesting parts is merely a transcript of the
labours or discoveries of others. His catalogue of
the " Alpine Flora and Ferns of Norway," is not
the result of his own investigation, but is extracted,
"by permission of the late Professor Blytt," from
that learned professor's works, and has, moreover
(as Mr. Bernard informs us in a foot note), " al-
ready appeared in the pages of Vie Field newspaper.
The extent of the "Flora," and the information to be
derived from its perusal, may no doubt prove agree-
able to those naturalists who have not already met
with it in its first form of publication ; but we cannot
help remarking that the leading object of the book,
as specified in its title, namely, " Sport in Norway,
and Where to Find it," is carried out in a very im-
perfect and unsatisfactory manner. As regards
angling, Mr. Bernard seems to know nothing per-
sonally of many of the rivers he recommends. He
speaks of all doubtingly, as if afraid to pledge his
character for the truth of what he asserts, whether
as regards the sport to be met with in them,
or the fact—a most important one to his
readers, who have any intention of visiting
Norway —as to whether the fishing of
those rivers is already secured by lease or not.
After giving glowing descriptions of the sport to
be met with in some of them, he concludes by say-
ing, "I believe the fishing here to be engaged—l
do not think it was in 1860 ;" and he winds up a
long list of first rate pools and rivers with the fol-
lowing discouraging remark--" Let it be distinctly
understood that I by no means wish it to be inferred
that salmon fishing can be engaged In in all the
above-named rivers, but that fair sport is occasion-
ally to be found in some of them I am quite con-
vinced." Now this account of where sport is to be
found in Norway ,cannot be named as at all satis-
factory by such of Mr. Bernard's readers as consult
his book, to discover where fish are abundant in
Norway, and where they may ply their rods without
the danger of interruption from those who have
already secured the exclusive right of angling. A
journey to Norway is rather expensive, and it would
be, to say the least of it, annoying, that sportsmen
on arriving there should find either that there was
no fish where he was led to hope for them, or
that where they are to found in some of these
rivers that he could not there obtain permission to
kill them. And we apprehend that few men will
rely on Mr. Bernard's statements as to " Sport in
Norway ; and Where to Find It." " Sketches
from Sceitersdal" comprise the most amusing part of
our author's volume, but in respect to them also he
frankly tells us that " his information regarding
these strange people" is principally gathered from
a series of letters which appeared in a periodical
published in Christiana, and that he has been
enabled to lay it before his readers by the permis-
sion of the editor of " Cassel's Illustrated Family
Paper," in which have already appeared, we hope
not as original, his gleanings from a periodical of
the town in which he resided, as chaplain to the
British consulate.

Christmas at Old Court. By the author of "Riche-
lieu in Love." One Vol. Pp. 475. Bentley.
This very sprightly tale is by the author of
" Richelieu in Lose," a play rendered famous, some
few years back, as " the Prohibited Comedy," and
is dedicated, in some complimentary verses, to
Benjamin ' Webster, Esq., lessee of the Adelpai
Theatre. The story—which relates to us the Christ-
mas adventures and amusements, with an under-
current of plot and counter-plot,er.tered into by the
family circle assembled at Old Court, the country
seat of Sir Muspratt Glanville—is pleasantly told,
and is sparkling and animated throughout. The
history is narrated by one of the visitors—a charm-
ing damsel endearingly surnamed Verte-verte, who
is the prime agent in the secret machinations
entered into by the true friends of Georgiana Glan-
ville to open her eyes to the worthlessness of her
rich suitor, Sir Harry Loo Childers, Bart., and to
convince her of the wisdom of her own heart's
instincts, which plead, but for a time in vain, for
the noble-spirited Vernon Somers. Sir Muspratt,
the host, is a capital and excellent character ; Lady
Muspratt is an ambitious and scheming mamma.
A variety of guests enliven the scene and the story.
Among other attractions, a drama—" A Spanish
Tale," yclept the " Shakspere forgery"—is intro-
duced to attest the dramatic experience of the lively
author or authoress of " Richelieu in Love."

Anne Care. A Tale. By Kenner Deene, author
of " The Dull Stone House," &c. Three Vols.
T. C. Newby.

Anne Cave is a governess summoned to Yawley
Manor to tame and train the wild and wayward,
but genuine and loveable Elsie Aubrey. Anne finds
herself very speedily involved in a chaos of difficul-
ties and disasters. The lady of the mansion, the
crafty and treacherous Mrs. Aubrey, is resolved,
with all the determination of a resolute and despe-
rate woman, that her son shall inherit his father's
estates, to the prejudice of his elder brother, the son
of a former marriage. The hero, Robert Aubrey,
although sot so bad as he is painted by his step•
mother, is no model paragon of virtue. The story
is full of trouble and treachery, and will be found
highly interesting to the lovers of sensational
romance.

The Cities of the Past. By Frances Power Cobbe.
One Vol. Pp. 216. Triibner.

These little sketches of travels through the City
of the Sun (Baalbec), the City of Victory (Cairo),
the Eternal City (Rome), [How, by the bye, can
the Eternal City be ranked with the Cities of the
Past ?] the City of Peace (Jerusalem), with "a day
at Athens" and another "at the Dead Sea," were
originally published in Fraser's Magazine. The
fair authoress, in commending the love of travel
so remarkable in her countrymen and countrywomen,
truly observes, as the results of her own experience,
that " for a time, for a passing experience, there is
nothing Fetter for us than to cool our fevered lips
in the waters of old Nile, and wash our wearied
eyes in Jordan. We see this life in a new aspect
from that different world, and we return to it with
different thoughts." While we are disposed to dis-
sent with many of the opinions here expressed re-
garding the men and manners witnessed by this
traveller through the Cities of the Past, we have
been charmed with her appreciation of the beauties
of nature, as when in speaking of the delights
afforded by the sight and fragrance of flowers, she
exclaims, " Methinks, if there were no other proofs
in the world of God's goodness, the flowers would
supply them in abundance."

Sermons. Preached at Trinity Chapel, Brighton,
by the late Rev. Frederick W. Robertson, M,A.,
the Incumbent. Fourth S3ries. One Vol.,
pp. 362. Smith, Elder, end Co.
A new volume, completing the sermons of the
late Mr. Robertson, the popular preacher of Trinity
Chapel, Brighton, will be very welcome to his very
numerous admirers. In the introductory remarks
prefixed to this series the editor has introduced
some very judicious observations on preaching,
taken from the letter of a friend, which indirectly
bear upon the discourses of Mr. Robertson, he hav-
ing possessed in a very remarkable manner the
practical requisites of a good preacher, the frequent
deficiency of which in the English pulpit is here BO
very justly remarked. "I think," says the writer
here quoted, " one great need i❑ our pulpit minis-
trations is naturalness, by which I mean an exact
recognition of the facts of our daily life. The
phrase 'the dignity of the pulpit' has given a fatally
artificial character to the mass of sermons. Mr.
Spurgeon and his vulgar slang is a violent reaction

from the cold, unfelt conventionalities with which
men have grown so familiar, and his success is due
to the fact that he recognises the men and women
before him as flesh and blood—sinning, suffering,
tempted, falling, struggling, rising. Like ali ex-
treme reactions, it shocks a great many by its
levity, its irreverence, and its vulgarity." Wnile
free from all such extravagance of style, Mr.
Robertson's sermons are remarkable for their
earnestness of spirit, and the practical nature of
the instructions which they enforce.

Arichandra, the Martyr of Truth; a Tamil Drama,
translated into English by Mutu Coomara
Swamy, barrister-at-law, of Lincoln's-irn, &c.,
member of her Majesty's Legislative Council of
Ceylon, &c. Smith, Elder, and Co.
This hook, which is dedicated to the Queen, as
the first Empress of India, by one of her Oriental
subjects, is indeed a curiosity, and well deserving
the attention of the student, or inquirer into
historical literature. From the very graceful
dedication we extract the following :