The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-24 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Not Dead Yet. By J. C. jeaffeeson, author of
"Live it Down," S;o. Three Vols. Hurst and

Blackett.

Unwearying perseverance and undying hope are
virtues which the author of "Live it Down" and
"Not Dead Yat" dearly loves to inculcate. If dis-
appointment dishearten you, if misfortune over-
whelm you—no matter, endure and you will
conquer. Whatever the evil, " Time works
wonders," Patience overcomes all things—live it
down. Such is ala J:sffreson's philosophy, and
vary powerfully, by precept, and example does his
,luquent pen enforce the lesson, Mr. Jettflresou's
very brilliant, powers as a novel writer are very
abundantly manifested in this new work. Ha.
sktachts of ccarect€r are sonic or them most feli-
mous, his descrip;tons are very charming and hit
mysteries very intricate ; nevertheless, there are
some very serious fl ',vas in the new novel now
aelare us. The story is, to say the least cc
most improb id 4). Tae two aerates are
hail-bro,hers, wno, igncytiut of their reta-
lunanip, have become sw all friends, faith navieg
al different rebsous sissum‘d the tiame of !
Nese brothers, .!-.?upert duo Ed ward, may be brick
aesiguatect as a "knave," a c,ever, untclupuhiu,,
oypocrttical knave, and a " 00l ," whuge crtthiloat
goodness is certainly incredible. Edward Smith,
the good hero, is so wonderfully and quixotically
goon as to be raised almost beyond the reach of
auman syrup thies, he is apparently so little dis-
- urbed by the ordinary weaknesses of humanity
"A good man struggling with the ills of fate" is au
object of intense interest to beholders, but Edward
Smith can sacrifice himself without a struggle
We could justify our assertion by an Enumeration
of his heroic actions, but we are reluctant to betray
the'mysteries of the story. In these days of sensa-
tion writing the critic's hands are tied, he is upon
honour with the author who has entertained him,
not to reveal what he has learned. We must con-
tent ourselves, therefore, with a superficial allusion
to the narrative, into the details of which we shall
not enter. The story is very elaborate, and we are
inclined to regard the construction as faulty.
(here is too much preliminary preparation (end ye;
that preliminary portion is so charmiugly described
we are loath to quarrel with it), while the more
.mportant business has to be crowded into a brief
space towards the conclusion, just as our It gislators
exercise their eloquence by flowery discussions at
the beginning of the session and overwork
themselves to make up for lost time at the close.
The story opens in the year 1846, the principle
events of which are thus vividly enumerated—

1816.
It was a year when men who liked to talk about politics
had an abundant supply of topics in events, foreign and
domestic. The French had their brilliant affairs in Al-
geria; Portugal was carrying on a grim contest with in-
surrecsion in her northern provinces; Spain was in a
ierment about matrimonial pr,j,:cts which by no means met
with universal satisfaction; in Poland there was a sharp
contest between Liberty and General Collin ; and California
joined hands with the United Sates, whils:; that happy
family made war upon the Mexicans. England, too, had
tier peculiar causes of disquiet and fear, her particular
sources of mirth and gratutaiiun. In eland, pour people died
of hunger, whilst rich men were removed by assassination ;
in India, Sir Harry Smith won the ba,tle of Aliwall, an,
Sir H.ugh Gough the battle of Sobraon. In London, Lady
Blessington received, at Gore House, a distinguished vis.tor
trout the fortress ot Ham; and King Hudson slid entertained
his worshippers at Albert Gate, although the railway panic,
following cio: aon the railway mania, had wrung a wail DI
agony nom the land, and hu, led duwu thousands of fami
lies trout r iii -once to want: In populous ;owns and rut,
villages Um d.sconient of indigent workmen inepireo
%Alarm:. lenders wan courage, and struck terror into tht
mind ; and amidst the contusion. consequent
ens' distress an tawine, with angry menaces and (moment
owls, the minouncepiii.ns and mis_mostructions. whict
always attend the coal eta of great parties. at heat.
thoroughly honest an,. desperately earnest, the grand battle
between Free Trade and Protection terminated suddenly in
,tte abolition of the corn laws, By these events and oche
occurrences scarcely less momentous was marked the yera
1616, the year in which this tale begins.

AL the R ,5 al Academy Exhibition of 1846, E I werc
Smith, the artist-hero of the tale, has two pictures
dud ho here makes acqu,intance with one of th‘
most conspicuous characters of the story, and on,
evidently a favourite with the author, Joun Harri-
son New bolt, the Radical member for Harting.
Nis self-made man with his wealth and his
presumption, his egotistical gt n:rosily and his
overbearing tyranny, is very happily and
powerfully described. Very charming is the
sketch of his pet daughter Yo', one of the
most guileless, and fascinating, and natura;
of heroines. Her sister Ida is very delightful in
her way, but why is she a hunchback and a
cripple ? It is quite painful to be continually told
of tier "limping" here and "limping" there in pur-
suance of some benevolent intention. We must now
say a word about the other hero, the evil genius of
the tale,