The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-31 00:00:00

LITERATUBE.

Books for the Country. Bees ; their Habits,
Management, and Treatment. By the Rev. J.
G. Wood, Author of the " Illustrated Natural
History." Routledge.
There is a considerable amount of information
on the management of an apiary, given in this little
publication, which cannot fail to be of service to
all who may desire to possess any knowledge on the
subject. Some illustrations are met with, and the
whole manner of describing the plans proposed is
clear and evident to every capacity.

Florian and Creseenz. A Village Tale, from the
Black Forest. By Berthold Auerbach ; tran-
slated by Meta Taylor. Chapman and Hall.
This is a pleasing little story ; some of the inci-
dents appear rather improbable to an English
reader, but no one can help being interested in
Florian's manoeuvres, and in Cresceny's endeavours
to make things go on smoothly, surrounded as she
was by difficulties and doubts. The unfortunate
Florian is thrown into prison, but escapes, only,
however, to be caught again. At last, after all
their confusions and counter-plots, all goes favour-
ably with the energetic, if not very prudent, hero
and heroine.

Clan Albyn. By Mrs. Johnstone. Routledge.
A very romantic tale is here presented to our
notice. It is rather a complicated narrative, and
requires attentive observation to comprehend it,
but it is exceedingly interesting. All the scenes
are sketched with vivacity and energy ; we are
taken into many countries with the hero, who is the
heir to the Clan Albyn estates, although he does
not know it till the conclusion of the tale. Moonie,
the old Highland nurse, is very ably described, and
contributes greatly to the interest of the part of
the story, which is laid in Scotland. Mrs. John-
stone has been very successful in her attempt to
depict the peculiarities of her own country.

Alderman Ralph. By A. Hornbook. Routledge.
This is a very entertaining little sketch of the
troubles and trials that befel the inhabitants of the
borough of Willowacre. The great cause of con-
troversy arose from a bridge-deed having been lost
many years before, in consequence of which the
unfortunate townspeople had to pay a toll to the
proprietor of the bridge, while in reality they
should have been exempt from it. The principal
members of the corporation used to meet at the
Wheatsheaf Parlour every evening , and universal
harmony used to reign among them, until one un-
lucky day, when Gregory Markpence made his sud-
den appearance among them, and "peace, perfect
peace, was never restored there." After a series of
events, some ludicrous and others melancholy, the
deed was discovered, but in the course of the trans-
actions so much ill feeling had been created, that it
was impossible for all the parties to meet as formerly
in their little conclave. May Silveston is a very
pleasing character, and excites great interest; but the
same praise cannot be awarded to Alice Pevensey,
who acted in a most absurd manner, and did not
appear to know her own mind. A great deal of
skill is exhibited in the description of Threap the
lawyer, Dingyleaf the great scholar, and Jack
Jiggs the fiddler. On the whole, there is much to
be pleased with in these two volumes, and they
will very probably become popular.

The _History of liungary. By E. L. Godkin.
Mark Sutherland. By Emma Southworth.
Cassell's Natural _History. _

The Alps : Switzerland and Savoy. John Cassell.
The history of Hungary from the earliest times
to the conclusion of the insurrection of 1848, with
which for the time it unfortunately closes must be
a work of interest to the historical student. The life
and reign of Maria Theresa (" the mother of her
people," as the enthusiastic Hungarians called her
on her according to them some civil rights) is fully
given. There are numerous illustrations, with the
portraits of the chief Lleaders and their enemies.
Mark Sutherland" is a story of American life ; it
is a tale of "power and principle." The hero, a
planter's son, releases his slaves, and the young
lady to whom he is attached . breaks off her engage-
ment when he is no longer rich. He fortunately
finds a worthier companion in the heroine of the
tale, who very inopportunely dies at the moment
he attains his highest ambition and enters the
senate.