The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 1, 1865

sufficient for the crisis she has now
a grand opportunity before her. The internal re-
latiorts of Germany must be put upon a new foot-
ing , and the national independence of the peoples
mwt be no longer subservient to the caprices of
petty despots. It is quite time that the mother
,States awoke to the danger which threatens them
from Berlin, if they would escape the fate which
they themselves have helped to bring upon Den-
mark and the Duchies.

Sir HUGH CAIRNS was fully justified in bringing
before the House of Commons the subject of the
imprisonment of Consul CAMERON in Abyssinia.
A worse-manged affair than this has been on the
part of our Government cannot well be imagined,
and, it seems very desirable that some notice should
be taken of it before the session closes. Sir H.
CAIRNS truly described his subject as one which was
a matter of interest to many families, and which
would be one of interest to the whole country if
the circumstances of the case were better known.
It is almost incredible that our Foreign-office
should have so misconducted this affair ; and the
faulty arrangement is the more to be deplored be-
cause the unfortunate captives are not yet set at
liberty. How long, may we ask, is this state of
things to continue, and how often are we
,to hear
the same jargon about the danger of alluding to
the affair because it will exasperate the authorities
in Abyssinia. Many accounts have reached this
country concerning the treatment of these unhappy
individuals, and yet no progress is made in effecting
their liberation. They are not only in confinement,
but are subjected to most harsh and rigorous treat-
ment, so that it would appear impossible for the
EMPEROR to augment his cruel course unless he put
them to death, which is not likely, though his
assumption is great, and our reception of it most
tame and unsuitable. It has come to a pretty pass
if we are to permit an English Consul, the repre-
sentative of our country, to be chained. A tempo-
rary detension in prison might perhaps be passed
over if the circumstances of the case were
very peculiar, but to allow such insults as these is
really intolerable. Mr. LAYARD'S reply was as un-
satisfactory as it well could be, and, indeed, about
on a par with the remarks of Earl RUSSELL, when
the question was taken up in the House of Lords
some time back. He seemed anxious to throw the
blame of the affair upon Captain CAMERON, as if
because he had exceeded instructions, or mistaken
orders, he was to be treated in this fashion. Besides,
all the Ministers who address Parliament on this
topic appear to forget a very important thing, which
is that the honour of the country is concerned
in this affair, and that it is scandalous to allow
matters to proceed to such a length, and then not
to take any active steps to mend them. Sir H.
SEYMOUR very properly put the case when he said
that it was very desirable to know what the Govern-
ment intended to do in the matter for the future.
This is what we all want to know ; and the public
are not likely to be satisfied with Mr. LAYARD'S as-
surance that all that can be done "in prudence"
will be done. There is a time when action is called
for ; and this is one of those cases in which it be-
hoves a Government to be up and stirring, and not
to compromise the rights of individuals and tamper
with the honour of the country.

American Literary Intelligence.

From Trubner's American Literary Record.

Miss ABIGAIL DODGE !—Gail Hamilton, whose terse,
vigorous writing and masculine way of thinking led a re-
viewer in the Athemettni not long since to speak of her with
a masculine prefix is really a Miss Abigail Dodge, a resi-
dent in the quiet town of Hamilton, Massachusetts—quite
a heroine in her neighbourhood, and we have no doubt an
earnest, sincere, and devoted woman. Sho has made for
herself quite a name in American periodical literature, as
nearly half-a-dozen books testify. Her latest contribution
appears in the last number of the " Atlantic Monthly,"
under the title of " A Prose Henriade," really a paper,
written with remarkable freshness and vigo tr, upon hens.
Why do ladies persist in adopting fanciful titles ? " A Paper
on Hens or Chickens" would have been an infinitely more
attractive prefix, and would really have told its own tale,
while that given may be turned by wicked wits, with very
little alteration, into one by no means flattering to the
author. It is astonishing how anxious many authors are
to mystify the public as to their writings, by the adoption
of far-fetched combinations which really give no idea as to
the meaning of their effusions. A title, to our thinking,
should be a plain, straightforward explanation of the sub-
ject of the volume. Of course there may bo instances where
prudence requires some slight modification. Wo remember
when the " London Review" was in embryo, difficulties
arose in consequence of there being a quarterly review
bearing the same name. The projectors were advised to
call the new bantling the " London Weekly Review ;"
but one of our most distinguished travellers, who was as-
sociated in the undertaking, quietly suggested that there
was a capability of a bad pun in the word " Weekly"
which might be used to damage the forthcoming journal,
and hence this title was tabooed. Gail Hamilton's latest
book, " Skirmishes and Sketches," consists of a collection
of papers on various subjects. Here is one under the title
"Pictor Iguotus," a warm-hearted, thoroughly appreciative
essay on Poor Blake, the artist. " When William Blake,',
she writes, " flashed across the path of English polite so-
ciety, society was confounded ; it had never had to do with
such an apparition before, and was at its wits' end. But
some Daniel was found wise enough to come to judgment
and pronounce the poet-painter mad ; whereupon society
at once composed itself and went its way rejoicing." Ano-
ther essay, bearing the name " The New School of Bio-
graphy," is a very smart criticism on the mushroom bio-
graphical literature of the war. "We aro thrilled to-day,"
she says, "with the telgram announcing the brilliant and
successful charge made by General Smith's command, and
according to that inevitable law of succession by which the
sun his daily round of duty runs wo shall be thrilled to-
morrow with the startling announcement that General
Smith was born in —" kte. &c. With a keenly satirical
pen she dissects this biographising brood. Her work en-
titled "A New Atmosphere" is the least agreeable of all
her books. She fancies she has found a grievance, and she
nurses it with a vengeance. The status of woman she
considers most unsatisfactory, the marriage system which
prevails equally so, and she forthwith denounces both one
and the other. We agree with her that there is, and always
has been, a groat deficiency in the education of woman with
regard to marriage. It is a serious question for society to
consider in how many marriages the wives are fitted to
perform the duties of the married state. It becomes a sub-
ject worth inquiring into, whether there ought not to be
some systematic training with marriage as the end in view
—but to denounce marriage because so many are unfit to
to fulfil its duties is alike illogical and unwise. Her other
works are entitled "Stumbling Blocks," " Gala Days,"
and " Country Living and Country Thinking."

LIVES OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.—In addition to the
numerous Lives, Sketches, Poems, &c., which have been
issued to meet the demand for information as to President
Lincoln which his untimely death has created, we are glad
to observe that there is a promise of something more sub-
stantial and more worthy of the man and of the country he
governed. It is with pleasure we note that Mr. Robert
Dale Owen, author of that well-written and able book,
"Footfalls on the Boundary of another World," and more
recently of a book not yet sufficiently appreciated, " The
Wrongs of Slavery," is engaged upon a Life of the late
President, which it is expected will form two 12mo. volumes
of about 500 pages each, and be issued within two years
by one of the largest publishers in Philadelphia. In addi-
tion to this, Mr. S. G. Holland, better known as " Timothy
Titcornb," is also at work upon a smaller " Life," while the
Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, of Illinois, is preparing a History of
Mr. Lincoln's Administration. In England we have had
numerous newspaper articles upon the late President, ser-
mons and addresses on his death, and a biography by Mr.
Bacon. This last, however, has been too hastily prepared
to be of permanent value, but still it is one which will for
a time satisfy the public demand. In France we notice a
publication by Achille Arnaud, "Abraham Lincoln, sa
naissance, sa vie, sa mort : avec une recit de la guerre ;" the
first part of a Biography, by Alexander D'Englehem ; and
also a Life by Lesperut. In Germany, as yet, we have no
formal biography, but the national admiration for Mr.
Lincoln is sure to bo met very shortly by a full and suit-
able biography.

TIIE GENERAL ELECTION.--The dissolution of
Parliament will take place on the day of the prorogation,
and the writs for the new elections will be sent out on the

sumo evening.

WOOL FAIRS.—The country wool fairs have now
commenced. At Swindon the supply was small, though
there was a large attendance of dealers. Sales were effected
at the following rates :—South Downs, 50s. the tod ; half-
bred ewes, 535.; half-bred tegs, 5Gs. At Newbury, on Tues-
day, about 3,500 tods were on offer. Prices were from 495.
to bls. ; and for long wools, 565. to 595. At Hungorford on
Wednesday there was a good supply and a good demand,
prices lasing much as At ether fairs.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

SPA-IN.

MADRID, June 27.

The Novedades still maintains the existence of a
crisis in the Ministry, arising from the Italian
question, and points out the vagueness of Senor
Posada Herrera's reply to a question put to him on
the subject in Congress. His reply was by no
means so positive as the declarations of Marshal
O'Donnell on the subject of recognition, which
proves, says the Novedades, that the Ministry have
been obliged to amend their first utterances, and
that this concession is the beginning of many others
that they will have to make in order not to succumb.
" Their plan is to gain time., avoiding for the
moment the settlement of the Italian question until
the Cortes are closed in order to prevent their fall."
The Gobierno, a neo-Catholic organ, believes
that the Ministry have hastily undertaken more than
they can accomplish both with respect to the Italian
question and that of the ecclesiastical liquidation,
an expression which is shared by the Novedades.
A meeting of 50 members of the monarchical and
dynastic section of the Progressist party was held
last night at the office of the Progress Constitutional,
at which resolutions were adopted condemnatory of
the policy of withdrawing from political action, and
stating that this fraction would go to the elections
in order to promote the organization of the Liberal
party. They would also support all liberal mea-
sures proposed by the present Government, which
they believed was more liberal than before, having
having profited by experience.
It is publicly stated among the Progressists that,
provided the Ministry do not abandon the course
upon which they have entered, the great majority
of the party will quit their retirement and take part
in the elections.

The Novedades, however, one of the Progressist
organs, publishes an article, in which it maintains
the policy of withdrawal, and considers Marshal
O'Donnell's accession to power as dangerous to the
country as that of Narvaez. " Both," it says,
" have falsified the constitutional system, both have
introduced political immorality in official quarters,
and both have left blood-stained pages in our con-
temporary history."
The Epoca says :—" Judging from information
received from abroad and from Logrono (the resi-
dence of Espartero) two different tendencies exist
among the Progressists. One desires a radical
change in Spain, the other a great constitutional
modification. Neither the recognition of Italy nor
the election by provinces do away with the obstacle
which the present constitution of the Senate offers
to the Progressists. Should it be found impossible
to pass the electoral law under the present state of
things, and it be decided to issue it by royal decree,
the Progressists wish in the latter case that a step
further should be taken by the re-establishment, of
the Constitution of 1837."

" It is needless to add (continues the Epoca) that
unless extraordinary events arise the Cabinet can-
not carry their policy to such an extreme. For our
part, we believe, that the conflict with the Senate is
far from being incapable of settlement upon con-
stitutional ground."

LITERATURE.

The Uttermost Farthing. By Cecil Griffith. Three
Vols. Saunders and Utley.
. _

After wading through ably-written sensation
novels, in which probability is sacrificed to effect,
and wilful crime is sought to be rendered interesting,
or the less attractive productions which publishers
send into circulation in the hope that the announce-
ment of their being written by " ladies of rank"
may secure a remunerative sale, it is refreshing to
the critic to meet with such a book as the one under
notice. Of " The Uttermost Farthing" we may
conscientiously say that, taking story, style, and the
skilful manner in which the plot is worked out
together, there are few existing novel in our lan-
guage which may justly be accorded a higher rank.
The power with which the various passions which
agitate the human heart are delineated—the horror
of crime, the pity for suffering virtue, and con-
tempt for worthless vanity, excited by turns in the
minds of its readers, combined with the morality
untainted by a morbid justification of vice which it
inculcates—are certain to secure for this book, not
an ephemeral popularity, but an enduring and
honourable place in the light literature of our
country. The story is essentially sad—perhaps it
might have been well were it relieved by some
scenes of passing happiness—but its sadness points
a moral, and no one can rise from its
perusal without having a firm conviction engraven
upon his memory that murder, even when perpe-
trated not from premeditated intention, but from
giving way to the unrestrained violence of an ill-
regulated temper in a chance encounter, carries with
it, even though publicly undiscovered, it own secret
but terrible punishment, Catherine Mahen, a rich
and beautful heiress, without fixed principles,
humanity, or heart, and only influenced by vanity
and self-love, after rejecting many good offers has
arrived at an age when she desires to be married
merely to avoid what she considers the disgrace of
being classed as an old maid ; and, for want of
other admirers, encourages the attention of Alan
Vallery, a mere boy, many years younger than
herself, of reduced family and wayward temper,
until he becomes madly attached to her. While he
is absent, having obtained a situation in London,
two Italians—one, Regagni, her cousin—the other,
Varese, a former playmate of Catherine's—come on
a visit to her family place in England. Regagni is
a conspirator for Italian liberty, and knowing that
his relative, at the death of a very old grandfather
who resides with her, must be rich, introduces his
friend, in the hope that should his suit prove suc-
cessful his future's wife's fortune may be devoted
to forwarding the cause he is so desirous of pro-
moting. Varese wins the consent of Catherine to
their union, on the eve of his departure for London,
to accompany Regagni so far on his way to Italy.
Alan Valery overhears the engagement, and mad
at the frustration of his hopes, wanders from home,
unfortunately meeting Varese on a lonely pathway
which he had been directed to take to shorten the
route to the station. An altercation ensues, and
the Italian dies strangled in his adversary's grasp.
From that undesigned crime arise the complications
which render the life of Alan miserable, and entail
temporary misfortune on every person connected
with him. To quote extracts would give no idea
of the book ; to be appreciated it must be read.
This work is reported to be the first attempt in
literature of a very young author ; we can with
pleasure say, that it gives ample promise of a bril-
liant and successful career.