The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-06 00:00:00

LITER 4TU.RE.

A Great Sensation. By Edward Heneage Dering,
Author of "Lethelier." 3 vols. Hurst and
Blackett.
The novel reader in search of variety will be
pleased with these volumes, for there is much origi-
nality met with in their pages, and the knowledge
of society displayed is very considerable. Some of
the scenes are very ably described, and the persons
who figure prominently on the stage are often most
aptly pourtrayed. Sir John Campion, for instance,
is a first-rate character in his way. Ho was too
much a man of the world to possess any very great
susceptibility, but he was kind-hearted and gene-
rous, and under happier auspices would no doubt
have proved a worthy man, whom many respected,
and to whom all looked up; as it was, he effected a
great deal, and the promise he made by the death-
bed of his friend was indeed faith fully kept. It were
well far the peace of many if all such sacred treaties
were thus ratified. Lord Elfintower is a very ro-
mantic style; in truth, a veritable;h,eros de roman.
He was shamefully treated by Edith. When she
was engaged to him he had no title, and
urged on by her mother, who wished for some
one better, she turned from one devoted to
her, to gain the homage of Lord Ravensdale. This
latter man was a most disagreeable character, and
bitterly did the simple maiden regret the day that
made her his bride. Caterina is a striking illus-
tration of an ungovernable temper, and a jealous
disposition. It is most satisfactory to find her
direful plans frustrated, and her vile attempts
rendered of no avail. Sir John Campion here
shone conspicuous, and the efforts he then made
greatly redounded to his credit, and more than
compensated for many previous errors and short-
comings. Constance is a very superior style to her
sister ; and after the many troubles she met with,
and the sad disappointment she endured of finding
Edith- bent on rejecting her advice, and pur-
suing the path that led her on to misery, it is
gratifying to learn she is united to one in every
way calculated to render her happy. Rupert, the
brother, was a stronger nature than Lord Elfin-
tower. He made a great mistake in going after
Caterina, but then he had an excuse in avoiding
a house where Edith came, and thus he lost sight
of Constance. Mrs. Grahame is a very counterfeit
presentment of a weak woman, who was always
making absurd mistakes in her inordinate desire
to make a show,
and to gain. a position for herself
and family, among people who laughed at her
and derided her foolish pretensions. She threw
herself into a state of excitement which would
hardly have been justified by a direct calamity,
when she learned how she had been made game
of, and how those she cringed to and ardently
desired to number among her list of friends, had
been urged and solicited in vain to appear among
her guests. The grand event of the story is the
supposed elopement of Rupert with Lady Ra-
vensdale; this was in consequence of Caterina
sending Rupert's i letters to her on to Edith,
and thus making her believe they were intended
for her. Edith never had much sense or spirit.
She was maddened by her husband's conduct, and
enraged at finding out the visits of Caterina. She
was easily influenced by Rupert, on account of
her, whom she had
mother influenced her
Caterina's motive
against
s elhmeevbreldabetter judgment.
huhdihgs
emrbernott.
was revenge. Edith had taken her place. She
had always believed the specious promises of Ra-
vensdale that he would one day make her his wife.
Lord Ravensdale's object was still darker. He
the novelty of
sought to get a divorce from hi:s
Wtohoetrhuasdtinregsnwmifeed,
a more unworthy course, and
Never was a man
machinator meet with a more
Edith's
then
rintehl
,dhs he
cwohoaauyrl
nide
over
me
rha
ardr
hisy
we aamind,nteerd .n
whena
nstopped
did s hao rwt iyn
complete foil than did this wretched and subtle
ensnarer, when he encountered Sir John Campion,
assured from previous watching, Convinced by his
knowledge of old affairs, and intimate acquaintance
with the parties, fired with just indignation at the
villany of the affair, he spoke forcibly, acted warily,
held his ground inflexibly. This was the " Great
Sensation" in the London world, a sensation that lost
its sting of satire and its strength of scandal as the
fair noted one returned to her husband's house,
which, sad as it was, was her lawful place. From
thence she could defy the taunts of a cold world
and the sneers of a cruel set, who would have gazed
on her ruin as part of the spectacles of the season,
laughed, commented, wondered for a nine days' tur-
moil, and then put her aside altogether. This
gay brilliant lady who had adorned their circles,
this week their scorn the next their contempt.
They would have taken no heed of her temptations,
they would not have marked the shadows that fell
on her future path on earth, they would not have
mourned over the soul that had wandered away
and for ever lost the track that should have guided
it to heaven. Such was happily avoided, but peace
dwelt not within the halls of the ill-assorted pair.
This work is superior in many respects to ordinary
fictions, and it certainly can lay claim to present-
ing the thoughtless with a hint, the unscrupulous
with a lesson, and the selfish with a warning. Had
Lord Elfintower and his brother been more firm
and decided they would have lived happier lives.
Had Lord Ravensdale fulfilled the contract, to
which he was bound in honour, he might have
married the woman of his choice, instead of inveigh-
ling another to break off her engagement, and after
all to plot her ruin afterwards. Mrs. Grahame
had much to answer for, and her sufferings were
well deserved. Constance was too tame. Had she
roused herself she would not have sunk into that
hopeless state of lethargy which is almost the
worst ill that can befall humanity. Life was given'
her for nobler ends than to lose it in sighing
over one she did not think cared for her. Time
for its own sake far more in reference to its eternal
issue, was too valuable to be wasted in meaningless
complaints, when really she had no definite charge
to make ago
sinst Rupert, who had never had very
with her. Had Sir John Campion fixed
his affections on a better woman he might have
retired into a private sphere, surrounded by happi-
ness and crowned with prosperity. With the
strange events, the striking characters, and above
all with the great sensation in the midst of it, this
novel may well aspire to take a high rank, and to
become a favourite with many classes of the com-
munity. There is especial merit in the descriptions
of fashionable life, and some of the concomitants of
society are naturally pourtrayed. These volumes
are calculated to interest, especially towards the
conclusion, when the interest becomes most intense
and the events are of the most exciting kind. " A
Great Sensation" has sent many to their lonely
homes in tears, and driven many away for ever from
all the ties and friends of home, but when, as in
this case, it brings matters to a crisis, then it is not.
without a purpose, and may leave the various
spheres of action purer than before it came. The
author may he well satisfied at the result of his
labours on the whole, as he has succeeded in the
arduous attempt to paint the world as it is in most
cases, and while extenuating nothing, neither has
he set down aught in malice.

Hymns of the Church re England. Printed 11.
Spottiswoode, andnold by Longman. ;;;
At the present time the service of the Mutat is
greatly improved by the introduction of hynins
instead of the old method of the versification of the
Psalms being sang. The collection here placed
before us is a very admirable one, and there appear
some of those standard verses which should never
be omitted in any bymna2of the English Church,
some of those glorious pieces whose words are like
a trumpet sound to rouse her sons wherever her
faith is professed or her ritual followed. The pur-
pose of this collection seems rather to be the laudable
one of presenting us with some well-known favo-
rites whose praises have come down from genera-
tion to generation, than to bring forward some new
ideas and favourite plans of the compiler's own
fancy. This latter error is too often perpetrated
and it is much
general tastes,
notions predo-
minate noydbiwve
deplored,dllu- ma e
pa
rneijn ugads
insteadeers s, o
anns d
osefcnowadays,stuairtiianng
l
over the extended views and liberal spirit
which should actuate and animate all who minister
in holy things. Hymns rightly understood are not
the trifling things that many would persuade us
they are in the present day—so rife with levelling
doctrines, and so prolific in unbelieving strictures.
They may soothe and solace in the hours when
graver stuelies are impossible, and while gratifying
the taste with pleasing harmony may lead on the
eye of faith to the contemplation of that far off
time, when the Christian shall behold face to face
what now appears through a glass darkly, and
whenjwhatever great things are laid low, and grand
ones passed away, we are told that the voice of
praise shall resound for ever, and the hymns of the
redeemed shall cease not day nor night. All who
would desire an admirable collection of choice
minstrelsy would do well to procure this Hymnal,'
rejoice at its posses-
sion,a nd they
will
presenting, u nadso uibt teyddoles
so varied and profit-
able a selection, and so good an assemblage.

Dublin UniverBity Magazine.
"A Souvenir of Chapelizod" is continued in its
usual sparkling style. We meet with some amus-
inginstance,s
difficulties, which is
nMa
tr
iso. n Mmo
of
ic
tn. a
Daer:e'
reu x siikeee tine hs etsu,
baes ,
getting
into
dismay, and the ludicrous explanation
to be regretted, as he is a fine spirited fellow,
though often imprudent. " The Lady of La
Garaye" has a notice in these pages. It is written
in a very flattering manner, and it is truly said
that " it is a positive relief to meet with a writer of
poetry who imitates no one, and would have been
precisely what she 15 had Tennyson never written a