The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-13 00:00:00

LITER _Z TURF..

CRICHTON. 3 Vols,
Bentley, London, 1837.

Mr. Ain:worth has improved greatly since the publica-
tion of his " llOokwooa." In that romance he exhibited
superior powers of conception, but nothing equal, or even
approaching to, what he shows in every page of his pre-
sent work. His fancy was th'en but in the bud—here
see it in full blossom. There is n 9 straining after effect in
" Crichton ;" no trite common-places tricked out so as to
show like novelties ; no exaggerated portraiture, or start-
ling, melodramatic incident—all is harmonized and in perk et
keeping throughout. There has been no tale published equal
to " Crichton," since " Paul Clifford." In fresh and
vivid colouring, accurate and life-like description, easy tran-
sitions, and picturesque groupings, it may- take rank beside
a Scotch novel. Toe reader's attention is arrested on the
very threshold ;- for. Mr. Ainsworth does not stand shilly-
shallying with his subject, as if afraid that it would be too
soon exhausted ; but bounds at once upon it like one fully
possessed with, and conscious of his own mastery over, it.
The only fault we find with him is that in critical places he
is apt to he too elaborate—we allude more particularly to
the banquet scene at the commencement of the second
volume, which though full of warm colouring, and alive

- - -
with racy touches of character, is rather over-done—that is
to say, matters of little moment to the elucidation of the
scene, arc brought too prominently forward. This, however,
is a defect on the right side, and such as will be sure to es-
cape the detection of the reader for mere amusement. The
leading excellence of the tale is the portrait of Crichton,
in whom all its interest is concentered, and who stands out
on the canvas, breathing and glowing with life, like one of
Titian's paintings. To attempt the development of a cha-
racter like this, so well known, and from wiiich so much
is expected, was a daring act on the part of an author ro
young in years as Mr. Ainsworth ; but it is hut justice to
say of him that he has fully succeeded. We do not merely
read about the" Admirable Scot ;" but r.'e see him visibly be-
fore us ; now pozing the Doctors of the Sorbonne ; now
moving with the Rector along the streets of Paris, the
observed of all eyes, himself wrapped up in his own high
thoughts; and now defending his countryman Ogihy, at
the risk of his life, from the assaults of the infuriated stu-
dents. Anon-he is presented to us at Court, in the haunts
of pleasure and dissipation ; tilting at the tournament ;
whispering words of honied flattery in the approving ear of
beauty ;—in a word, in all the mnltiplied phases of his ver-
satile character, as the wit—the gallant—the scholar—the
adventurer—the wonder and admiration of Europe.
Surely to paint an historical character like this, and take
such full possession of it, as not only to l,id it live again,
but speak in language which we recognize as appropriate
throughout, is a high and rare effort of genius But this,
though the greatest, is not the only,Tecommendation of this
splendid tale. The knowledge of the period of which it
treats ; of the various characters it pourtrays, the majo-
rity of which arc historical ; of the poet Ronsard ; the vo-
luptuous. Henry the Third ; of the inscrutable, remorse-
less, and serpent-like Catherine de Medicis, who makes us
shudder every time she is brought forward ; of her agent
Ruggieri ; and above all, of that mysterious Mask, who
stalks like a ghost across the scene ;—these various and con-
flicting personages are drawn with a skill, and vigor, and appre-
hension of the latent springs of human action, which, judging
merely from " Rookwood," we should never have given •
Mr. Ainsworth credit for 'possessing. Of our author's
Lyrics, which are lavishly interspersed throughout his
volumes, we cannot speak in equal terms of praise ; for we
are far from thinking so highly of them as many of our
periodical Contemporaries. That they are ingenious and
characteristic, is the -very utmost praise we can accord
them. The Preface has three besetting faults. In the
first place, it is too lengthy ; secondly, it is nearly, if not
altogether, superfluous ; and thirdly, there is too ostenta- •
tious a display_ of learning made throughout it. We must
also object to Mr. Ainsworth's praises of Crichton's Latin
poetry, which compared with the very worst elegy of Tibul-
lus or Propertius, or Ovid, or even Vincent Bourne, is
little better than school-boy common-place. We allude
particularly to Crichton's elegy on the death of Cardinal
Borromco, in which his pentameters, though the poem is
but a short one, are closed with polyssyllables in no'
less than three instances. We should not have ha-
zarded
.a mechanical objection like this, were we not
aware that the construction of Latin verse is alMost
wholly a matter of mechanism ; and its rules, therefore,
should be rigidly adhered to. However, the Preface has
nothing to do with the tale, which, as we said before, is by
far the best the season has produced, and will, we are sure,
have a run. We defy any one who once commences it, to
leave off till he has come to the conclusion. We subjoia.

by way of sample of Mr. Ainsworth's graphic style, Lis
sketch of the personal appearance of the " Almira',3le
Scot : "

" The countenance of Crichton was one that Phidias might
have portrayed, S 9 nearly did its elevated and ennOtrled
character of beauty approach-to the ideal standard of perree-
tion erected by the great Athenian sculptor. Chiselled Me
those of some ancient head of the Delphic God, the features
were wrought with the utmost fineness and precision—the
co :tour of the face was classical and harmonious—the moms
divinior breathed from every lineament—the lips were firm,
full, and fraught with sensibility, vet giving token of the most
dauntless resolution—the chin was proudly curved—the nese
Grecian—the nostril thin and haughty as that of an unbroken
barb of the desert—the brow was ample and majestical, shelled
by hair of lightest brown, disposed in thick ringlets after the
manner of the antique. There was a brilliancy of colour ;Ind
a sparkling freshness in Crichton's complexion, the more sur-
prising, as the pallid hue, and debilitated look of the toil-worn,
student might more naturally be expected in his features than
the rosy bloom of health. In compliance with the fashion o f
the day, a slight moustache feathered his upper lip, andl
short, pointed beard, clothed his chin, and added to the grir re
manliness of his aspect.
" Crichton's attire, which partook more of his clriva2+•t ius
than of his scholastic character, was that of a complete ca. -0. tier
of the period, and was calculated to display to its utnrast Ad-
vantage the faul►tless symmetry of figure with which Nat are,
not less lavish than Art and Science, in her gifts, had en-
dowed him. A doublet of white damask, slashed with b lack
bands of the same material, crossed by other bands so a ; to
form a sort of grating, buttoned from the throat to the git dle,
and fitting closely to the person, revealed the outline of his
full Antinous like chest, as well as his slender cireumfere taw
of waist ; while the just proportions of his lower limbs v • here
as accurately defined by the satin hauts-do•chausscs, sin Mat
in colour to his doublet, and similarly slashed, in which t itey
were enveloperl. A short and singularly cut Spanish cloa kof
black velvet, edged with gold lace, hung from his left shell! der,
and descended as low as the elbow. His arms were ara pier
and poirmard suspended from a richly ornamented gir •De.
Boots oebuff-skin, sharply pointed at the toe, as was then the
mode, were fitted upon feet that seemed almost diminutiv ein
comparison with the lofty stature of the wearer. His 1): oad-
rimmed, steeple-crowned hat of black felt was looped w' ..th a
diamond-buckle, and crested by a single green feather."

ELLIS'S LAWS OP THE CUSTOMS, 6.1.
Bailey, London, 1837.
This is a work of great practical—indeed we migli
most say—national utility ; contains an lumens:: nli)

information on all the regulations, &c., which bear upo
shipping trade ; and is evidently the result of many
hard labour. Our readers, no doubt, will thank us fi
following information respecting the duties of passeng
cases of emergency :7--" Passengers in some respect:
be considered as part of the crew. They may be
on by the master of the ship in case of danger, either
tempest or enemies,-to lead their assistance for the g
safety ; 'and in the event of their declining, may be pi
ed for disobedience. A passenger is not, hoivever,
to remain on board the ship in the hour of ilipig(l.3r,
may quit it if he have an opportunity, and he is. •no
(Fired to take on himself any responsibility
.as to o the c
duct of the ship. If he incur any responsibility., an,'
form extraordinary services in relieving 'a vest:Ad in
he is entitled to a cerrespondiug reward."'
ought to be in the possession of' every Inerc:4 Jl6lO man,, for'
it is one indispensable to his calling.

'File receipts of the London and,(;
reennicli Rail war
continue prorressively to increase. and the average is from;
4001. to upwards of 800/. per wo,„
The Liverpool Albio
scribers, that fur the fu*nonoursees to country sub,
ore those v ho me in arroais r
4,0
reminded of the fact .ny the paper being sent thro.vi
Pest-office in coloured franks.
Lasit bight, about half-past eleven o'clock, ildestr
tive fire, broke e•,-nt on the premises of. Mr. Frawn, plass lir
far:nrcr, 401 Broad-street, Golden-square. Shortly efte.
o'clock," 1 :lc premises were ascertained to be iu one bod
flames. When. the fire was perceived, it appeared to have
ginateil by the over-heating of the flues, for hi less thal
minutes the entire building was enveloped in flames.
fire ra one period threatened destruction to the entire
how-hood. By the efforts of the firemen, it wasconEued t
premises in which it first broke out. At balf.oenb: 12 o'(
the fire was entirely extinguished, but not le.:lure tle hells
totally destroyed, and all its contents; awl other tees(
jeleinr,,,, greatly damaged by the neer. From the int
titnt that cuuti,/ biz gained, the,l;jss wilt exceed 6,0006