The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-31 00:00:00

AGNES.

She went away from the window where the red sun-
shine came low and level through the blind, treading
with light feet over what seemed to be a heap of ruddy
gold on the carpet, and went about her simple busi-
ness with no other consciousness than that it was
her business, and with still the thrill and cadence of
the poetry, and of something still more • urgent than
the poetry, hanging about her like vibrations of music.
She was of a light low figure, perfectly dressed—that is,
dressed just as was suitable for the blacksmith's daughter.
Her gown was dark grey, of a fine and light woollen
fabric, taking folds which a painter would have loved ;
and her little collar and cuffs were spotless and dazzling
in their simplicity. Her stop keeping a kind of visionary
time to that music which enveloped her still, had all the
grace of unconsciousness and preoccupation. Her small
head drooped upon the delicate throat as if all that mass
of hair overweighted it ; hair matchless in Windholm,
black without a tinge of any invading coloiti, folded in
magnificent braids round the little head, which recovered
size without losing delicacy by means of that investiture.
She had no colour except when she was moved, as at
this moment ; when it wont and came, a blush too
sweet and faint to be kept steady, or identified as com-
plexion. Last of all, her eyes, which young Trevelyan
found it so difficult to see, but which, when ho did see
them, opened up to that careless young soul two wonderful
avenues into the unspeakable and unrevealed ; they were
blue of the deepest violet colour, totally unlike her father's
yet taking from his a certain breadth of pathetic simplicity
which it would be hard to describe—sweet serious eyes,
which were sad without meaning it, without knowing why.
This was the handmaid that moved about in her beauty
before the young squire, setting on tho table the many-
coloured teacups. He could not have told whether she
was the blacksmith's daughter of Windholm or an en-
chanted princess—either or both, what did it matter? It
was she—and there was not, so far as young Roger was
concerned, though he scarcely knew it, any other in the
world.

We are loth to spoil the interest of the story by
quotations from some of the many admirable scenes.
The interview between the young Squire and
the Blacksmith when the best points of the cha-
racter of each come vividly to light—the embar-
rassing visit of the fashionable Lady Charlton to
the uninformed Mrs. Trevelyan, which is a perfect
little comedy in its way, the return home of the for-
lorn travellers and the varied emotions which re-
spond to the Blacksmith's generous greetings—these
and many other passages bear witness to the de-
velopment of Mrs. Oliphant's powers as a novel
writer. Animated by an earnest purpose, and
'written "in eloquent words, the story of , Agnes
may take high rank in the world of fiction. We
have only one fault with which to charge it—it is
clouded with a sadness that is altogether tinged
too heavily with gloom.

The Westminster Review. October, 1865.

The opening article, on Personal Representation,
is one which very characteristically represents the
peculiar views of The We: minster in politics, in-
clined to democracy, yet shrinking from the actual
government of the masses ; willing to push to the
utmost the favourite theories of the enthusiastic
supporters of untrammelled liberty, yet enlightened
and temperate enough to be aware of the dangers to
which the practical embodiment of such sentiments
invariably leads. By way of reconciling the logical
deductions from the doctrine of the Rights of Man
with the actual position of thought and feeling in
this country, the Westminster Reformer adopts Mr.
Hare's method of settling the problem of Parlia-
mentary Representation. This gentleman's plan
would, in the opinion of the writer, avert the pecu-
liar dangers of democratic government, while sup-
plying the pressing wants of the time. We fear,
however, that the practical difficulties in the way of
the scheme would be so great as to piit it entirely
out of the category of possible changes, and that,
were it even adopted, it would result in confusion
instead of in order, in a very limited representation,
and a very incomplete Parliament. " The Capaci-
ties of Women" are considered in an essay, which
proves the writer to be not only chivalrous, but
perfectly fair and candid in his dealings with the
feminine celebrities of the day. It is certainly not
a time to depreciate or disparage feminine intellect,
but it is very seldom that the fair dames who Yen-,
ture into the arena receive such courteous and care-
ful criticism. The critic by no means awards them
unqualified praise, which, like complimentary lan-

guage, often serves merely to veil contempt. He
examines carefully into the merits and defects of
their several productions, expressing hearty approval
of the general scope and tenour of their efforts,
while pointing out some minor defects, inaccuracies,
or blemishes. The three ladies, of whose works the
essay in question especially treats; belong to three
very different schools of thought and literature.
Miss Bessie Rayner Parkes, in 'her " Essays on
Woman's Work," has come boldly forward in the
character of a practical social reformer, and in deal-
ing with one of the most difficult social problems of
the day has shown an amount of clear judgment,
ready sympathy, and sound common sense which
does her honour. Miss Swanwick adopts another
line, and by her translations of Eschylus, Giiethe,
and Tasso, translations so faithful as to. call
forth the encomiums of no less a judge
than the late Baron Bunsen, she has added
fresh laurels to 'the wreathes already won by Eng-
lishwomen in the fields of classic literature. Miss
Cobbe, perhaps, more ambitious, though less satis-
factory in her attempts, plunges into metaphysics,
history, social science, politics, ethics, and religion,
all in turn. Her talents are undoubtedly very
great, as well as versatile, and few ladies might be
more appropriately cited as specimens of the power
and range of the feminine intellect. But we would
remind Miss Cobbe of a truth which, in her enthu-
siastic veneration for the principles of truth and
right, she is apt to overlook. Humanity at large is
not up to her moral or intellectual level, and after
all it is with humanity at large that he who would
raise or benefit his kind must deal. He must not
restrict himself to a circle of philosophers in their
studies as theorists at their writing desks, especially,
as if we were to believe these gentlemen they are
above all mortal frailties and temptations. A cold
impersonal religion, a vague creed of generalities
and metaphysics, will never lift the working men
and women out of the pitfalls, the snares, and the
abysses of daily tempti,tion, sorrow, sin, and
care. Miss Cobbe may iireach a moral theory of
disinterested virtue by the hour, but she will- touch
no human heart and save no struggling soul from
degredation and despair. From the height of her
intellectual aspirations and her moral enthusiaona
she may despise those who cannot enter into her
views, but they are men and women with brains
that think, and hearts that feel, and bodies and'
minds that suffer, nevertheless, though succumbing
to the influence of passions that she despises, and
swayed by motives that are sordid, selfish, and
mean. Let her tell such every-day hearers of " the
unbounded power of growth in the human soul, its
capacity for endless progress," as a consolation under
some of the'dire afflictions that befall mankind, and
she will be but an unwelcome guest. Let her speak
instead of the Father before whom no sparrow is
forgotten, and she may own that all metaphysics
are not the best medicine for suffering and sinning
humanity. " Palgrave's Travels in Arabia" receive
an intelligent and well-written criticism, and Lady
Duff-Gordon's delightful " Letters 'from Egypt"
are' discussed 'and quoted from at some length.
Au essay on the " Holy Roman Empire "
discusses the rise and fall of that vast
institution which, " traced from its first origin to its
final extinction, stretches over a compass of well
nigh two thou Sand years." Its foundations were
laid by the greatest constructive genius the world
has ever seen. It was finally destroyed by one who,
to his contemporaries, seemed the very archangel of
destruction. Yet his contemporaries are our con-
temporaries, while the contemporaries of its creator
were the companions of Cicero, of Sulla, of Marius,
and of the Gracchi. Inquire into its extinction,.
and you meet the great name of Napoleon. Inquire
into its origin, and you meet the yet greater name
of Caius Julius Caesar. The epitaph that Caesar
uttered over the aristocratic government of Rome
might have been with equal truth pronounced" by
Napoleon over the empire erected on the ruins of
that government by Caesar. The never-ending
question, of Schleswig-Holstein reappears in' an
essay, under the head of " The Doctrine of Nation-
alities." It is remarked at the outset that, with the
single exception of the Belgian question, not one of
the many questions which have agitated Europe
during the past half century has yet received a final
solution. The question of'the Duchies cannot cer-
tainly be ranked among those that have received a
definite solution, and although the whole story is
almost tediously familiar to the reader, he will not
perhaps object to a resume taken from the standing
we have now reached, when the Gastein Conven-
tion has so openly proclaimed the unscrupulous de-
signs of the great German Powers. Articles on
" Mr. Grote's Plato," and on " Rationalism in
Europe," are written in the characteristic vein of
the Westminster, while the Notices of Contemporary
Literature, in which as usual Theology and Philo-,
sophy figure largely, occupy a considerable space.

Professor Masson.

Cin rt itan Dirt

HER MAJESTY•

WINDSOR CASTLE, Oct. 30.

The Queen went out in the grounds this morn-
ing, accompanied by herßoyal Highness the Princess
Louise.

Her Royal Highness Princess Helena rode in the
Home Park.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
Louis of Hesse, with their Royal Highnesses
Princess Victoria and Princess Elizabeth, arrived
at the Castle from Scotland.

Baroness Von Schenck and Baron de Rabcnau
were in attendance.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Henry and Prince
Sigismund of Prussia, attended by Lady Caroline
Barrington, went to London this morning and re-
turned in the afternoon.

Lord Camoys arrived at the `castle yesterday as
Lord in Waiting to the Queen.

-
Wales
Visit of the Prince and Princess of

to Knowsley.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, attended 11
the Hon. Mrs. W. Grey, Lieut.-General Knollys,
and Major Grey, left Marlborough House yester;
day morning on a visit to the Earl and Countess 0'
Derby at Knowsley.
The Royal party reached Knowsley at 5.10 pull
and at 8.0 p.m. dined in the banquetting hall with
about twenty other guests, the Grenadier Band
attending.
The Princess Hilda of Anhalt-Dessau took leave
of the Prince and Princess of \Vales, and left
Marlborough House for the Continent.'

THE CROWN PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF PRUSSIA.
—Yesterday morning the Crown Prince and Princess of
Prussia made several visits in one of her Majesty's carriages.
His Royal Highness the Duko of Cambridge called on Sun-
day to pay his respects to their royal highnesses at the
Prussian Embassy. In the evening the Prussian Ambas-
sador and Countess Bernstorff had the honour to entertain
the Crown Prince and Princess at dinner at the Prussian
Embassy on Carlton-house-terrace, together with the
Countess Hohenthal (lady in waiting), Count Eulenburs
(aide-de-camp), and Captain de Normann, in attendance
on their royal highnesses. The Earl and Countess Gran"
ville, the Count and Countess Gleichen, and M. a"
Madame de Katto had the honour to join the dinner circle.
Later in the evening their Royal Highnesses the Crown
Prince and Princess, acccompanied by, the Count and
Countess Bernstorff, and attended by their suite, honoured
the performance at her Majesty's Theatre by their Pre-
sence.

ARRIVAL OF THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS LOUISg OF
HESSE AT WINDSOR CASTLE. —Yesterday Morning
theirßoyal Highnesses Prince and Princess Louise of Hesse,
with their children and a limited suite, arrived at Windsor
on a visit to her .Majesty and the royal family. The prince
and princess, on the termination of their trip to Floors
Castle, proceeded to York, which station their royal high-
nesses left,in a special train, provided by the directors of the
Great Northern Railway company, at half-past 4 o'clock
a.m., one of the North Western saloons used on the Queen's
journey to and from Scotland having been placed at their
royal highnesses' disposal. Tho royal train travelled to the
northern suburb of London, and thence by way of the
Copenhagen tunnel, and along the North London RailwltY.
to the old Kew station of the South Western line. Ithe,
royal train arrived at Windsor at ton o'clock. Their roys'
highnesses wore conducted by the officials in attendance to
the suite of private waiting-rooms on the South side of the
terminus, whore they waited for the carriages whigh had
been sent for.

THE KING' OF BAVARIA.--The young King of
Bavaria is suffering froma disease of the right foot, brought,
on by too rapid growth. He is obliged to bo carried in a
litter up the stairs leading to his apartments, and has b°c°
ordered out of Munich by his physicians, and desired to
remain for some weeks at his residence in the mountains'
He enjoys perfect health in every other respect, and w3°
present at several theatrical performances during his List
stay in his capital, at one of which the Queen mother made
her first public appearance since the death of her husband
King Maximilian.

His Excellency Baron Bentinck, Minister of the,
Netherlands, has left town for the continent on leave °1
absence. Chevalier Mazel will act as charge waffaires
duringhis Excellency's absenes.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Hastings hav°
left the St. George's Hotel. • •

Viscount and Viscountess Royston left town
.y.O--
torday to join the circle invited by the Earl and Countess
of Derby to Knowsley during the visit of their. Royal gigh"
nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. _ _

Viscountess Grey de Wilton left town yesterday
to join Viscount Grey de Wilton at Viscount and VS'
countess Chelsea's seat, Woodrising, Norfolk.
The marriage of Lord Howard with Miss Boyer
was celebrated this morning at St.. George's Church, 'W
•
over-square.

The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer
left town last evening for Scotland.
The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell left town yo'
terday evening for Oxford.

Cabinet Councils were held on Saturday and
yesterday at the Foreign-office. The Ministers present °Il
each occasion were Earl Russell, the Lord Chancellor, Vari
Right
Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Sir George Grey, tho
Hon. Edward Cardwell, Earl De Grey, Sir Charles wo°7
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Duke of Somerset,
the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, Lord Stanley of AlderleY7
the Earl of Clarendon, and the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers.
The private secretaries of Earl Russell are the
Hon. G. Elliot, and. Mr. C. G. Barrington.
THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE MINISTRY.-11'.;
have reason: to believe that at the Cabinet Coutle'
held on Saturday no opposition was offered to Earl Russell'S
proposals for the reconstruction of the Ministry. If lre'
aro correctly informed, Earl Russell will assume the ofnc°
vacated by the death of Lord Palmerston, Lord Clarendon
will be the new Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and )I,l‘'
Gladstone will consent to continue in the Cabinet as Cha''
cellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Con-
mons. In other offices, even to the Irish SecretaryshO
we believe there will be for the present little or no change;
Her Majesty's pleasure on these arrangements was,
suppose, taken by Earl Russell yesterday, as we obser,:l'
from the Court Circular that the new Premier had an
once of her Majesty at Windsor.—Times.
HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—Their Royal Ilight;
nesses the Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia honoured
the •performances at Her Majesty's Theatre yesterday c"311
ing with their presence. In attendance upon their 11°P a
Highnesses were his Excellency the Prussian Minister s°,
the Countess Bernstorff, M. de Katte, the Countess de
Hohenthal, the Count de Eulenburg, M. de Kusserow, °ll
Captain Norman.

DEATH OF MR. JUSTICE 'CROMPTON.—Mr. JllBtiee
Crompton died yesterday morning at 10 o'clock, -
his residence, Hyde-park-square. The deceased jatlse;
who had been very ill for some time past, was mad° -f
judge in the year 1852, and took his seat in the Court -r
Queen's Bench. He was previously without silk. -11•Ite,
the last circuit his health became impaired, and WWI"
assumed a very serious character. -Mr. Justice Byles
tioned, a fortnight back, at the Judges' Chambers, that
complaint was very serious, and that he was about to resigii;
The learned judge, however, lingered until yestera%
morning, when his death resulted from inflammation of t 11;
intestines. Mr. Lush, his successor in the Court of Qaee°
Bench, was yesterday sworn in before the Lord Chancellor'
OTTER HUNTING IN THE VALE OF ITCHEN.
few days since the lovers of otter hunting and theil.
hounds met at Bishopstoke at 6 o'clock, and, working
the valley, soon found traces of an otter. After a I°9;
hunt up and down ,a watercourse the animal was drlNr.,,
into a hole under an ash stump. From this it was sO'il t,
turned out by the hounds and killed. It proved to De
it
bitch otter, and weighed about 181 b. The spot Where
was taken was as near as posSible that where the first et'
was discovered last year. How the existence of the ott°,,
in our valley should have remained un)mown for so 101)9
years is indeed strange.—Hants Advertiser. ,
NEW DIVISIONS OF POLICE.—A change .I°-:
contemplated by the Commiisioners of the Metro,
politan Police came into effect yesterday morning. 1114.1,,.
new divisions, namely, W, X, and Y, have been crew
°r,
The W division, under the superintendence of Mr. Frg°ete
will take all that part of the metropolis from Olaplotno
Banstead ; tho X division, under Mr. Eccles, Paddiag,„'-.0
to Uxbridge ; and the Y division, under Mr. Webb, fr°o-
Kentish-town to Cheshunt. Other alterations are in
gross, one being larger police-stations, erected in Willie
parts of the metropolis, in which it is proposed to I°oo
a great number of single and married men attached t°
force.
FRIGHTFUL AMOUNT OF DRUNKENNESS IN „,
11'
POOL—JUVENILE DEPRAVlTY.—Yesterday to
ing there were no fewer than 112 cages of drunkonnesSel9
the charge-list of the Liverpool Police-court. Thougli
number is not above the average on a Monday l'I°fliffloo)
yet yesterday's charge-sheet was the more noticeablo
19
the fact that there wore an unusual number (20) of UtpK
and girls under the age of 17, all of whom were found
a"1164
in the public streets on Sunday, and incapable of
care of themselves.
TOO'
he managers of the New York places of apij
moat, with the exception of four minor ones, hair° tita
meeting, and resolved to withdrawall patronage froP"
New-York Herald.