The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-09 00:00:00

The first part describes her quiet life in the little
country parish, and the principal characters of her
father's congregation. After a time, however, she
loses this beloved parent, and is forced to depend
upon ungenial relations who tax all her energies
in their service, and yet persist in claiming her
gratitude. She resolves to obtain a more indepen-
dent position, and accepts a situation as governess,
which excites their greatest indignation. She is
fortunate in her duties, and still more so in the
married life which happily concludes her vicissi-
tudes. The stsry is written with simplicity and
feeling, and those who like to turn from the ex-
citement and adventure which often distinguish the
pages of fiction to the quiet records of an every-
day life, will find Rose Douglas one of
the ire ost pleasing novels of its kind. There
is sufficient promise in this first instalment of
the Shilling Series to encourage hope for future
portions, and the general reader will rejoice in this
prospect of a re-issue of many delightful works of
fiction that have been successful in their several
styles for some years past; and it is to be expected
that this new and attractive edition will be emi
nently and deservedly popular, contrasting as it
does so forcibly with the inferior and deleterious
publications of a cheap sort that often issue from
the press now-a-days, and which render the appear-
ance of a first rate class of novels doubly welceme
and especially attractive. This Series can be creafi-
dently recommended to all who desire an amufiing
and edifying source of perusal, and the high st
dard of merit that pervades these volumes imparts
additional excellence to their purport, and adds
lustre to their already desirable advent. It is tt) be
hoped that the enterprising publishers who kaTe
inaugurated this edition, will meet with the sucQess
that their attempts deserve, and that this may be
but the beginning
of a long and flourishing course
of reproductions of pleasing and profitable woHo.

The Four Georges. Lectures by W. M. Thackeray.
Smith and Elder.
These lectures are already so well known and
have been so widely circulated both in this country
and in America that criticism is quite needless. 'We
need only say that the form in which they are now
offered to the public is convenient, cheap, and at-
tractive ; and that the illustrations are plentiful ,and
well worth looking at. Thos© who had not the
advantage of hearing Mr. Thackeray deliver them
viva voce, will do well to secure this volume, while
those who were among his numerous audience will
probably be very willing to obtain a memorials of
those popular and successful lectures.

Love?, the Widower. By W. M. Thackeray, author
of " Vanity Fair," &c., with illustrations. Smith
and Elder.

The readers of the Cornhill l'agazine are already
familiar with this story, which, we must confess, is
not likely to add to Mr. Thackeray's extended re-
putation. It would be difficult, indeed, for an
author of such ability and humour to produce any
volume without witty sayings and clever passages,
but, as a whole, "Love], the Widower," is certainly
unworthy of the writer of " The Newcomes " and
" Vanity Fair." Still, those who wish to possess a
complete series of Thackeray's works, may be glad
of this opportunity of securing it is a convenient
and elegant volume.

The Lady's Guide to the Ordering of her Household.

By a Lady. Smith, and Co.
Since the discussion which took place some years
ago in the columns of a London journal on the
merits and demerits of our English dinner-tables of
the middle classes, several very useful works have
appear: d for the benefit of perplexed housekeepers.
It is our English fashion to be the first to declare
eur own mistakes, mismanagement, and failures,
but also to be the irst to seek the means of reme-
dying such defects. Accordinkly we cannot doubt,
from the number and popularity of these guide-
books, that the maligned housekeepers have readily
accepted the offers of enlightenment and assistance
made to them, The work before us is intended for
the use of ladies who possess incomes of from one
to two thousand per annum, who attempt occasional
dinner parties, but, being entirely ignorant of the
principles of cooking, have the mortification of
seeing their guests served with greasy soup, doubt-
ful entrees, and tepid jellies. The " Lady's Guide"
undertakes no less than to direct the inexperienced
lady how to instruct the ignorant cook, and that
without herself having to undertake any of the
practical part of the business. With the fall and
clear directions here laid down there is little risk of
failure, and the numerous cartes de diner appended
will be found of great service to the mistress in
ordering a dinner for any number of guests. There
are also some general remarks on the management
of the household, but we must premise that the
work is only suitable for the use of the tipper mid-
dle classes, and not calculated for the service of an
establishment where economy is requisite. It may
prove, however, in the hands of an intelligent lady
of the class for whom it is designed a great acqui-
sition to domestic comfort.