The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-22 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Irish Quarterly. No XI.

Although so young, the Irish Quarterly is already
flourishing. The specimen before us is quite a
model number in general excellence and versatility.
A seventh instalment of the serial about " The
Streets of D üblin," conducts us opportunely enough,
now that William Dargan's Exhibition is luring so
many across St. George's Channel, through several
of not the least interesting quarters of the Irish me-
tropolis. An admirable survey is taken of " French
Social Life," through a criticism on Louis Reybaud's
popular narrative of " Jerome Paturot." Under
the suggestive title of " Fashion in Poetry and the
Poets of Fashion," we find allusion to the rhymes
of William Spencer and Henry Luttrell, names re-
membered only through some such aid as a couplet
in " English Bards," or a parody in " Rejected
Addresses." An entertaining contribution is dedi-
cated to the consideration of the literary labours of
the Rev. Samuel Madden—volumes published be-
tween 1729 and 1745—carrying the reader back
across the interval of a momentous century to a
tragedy on " Themistocles," and a panegyrical poem
on Boulter's Monument." Apropos, not of Boots,
but of the great Industrial Exhibition, we have
presented to us in the recently published instal-
ment of the Irish Quarterly, a timely reference to
Maguire's views as to the Development of Industry
in Ireland, and as to the views of a great many
more than the Mayor of Cork, as to the progress of
art in Dublin, and as to the feasibility of a scheme
for creating and organising a National Gallery in
that metropolis. Altogether the editor and con-
tributors to the new periodical under notice could
scarcely have produced a number better qualified
than the one last issued from Mr. Kelly's establish-
ment in Grafton-street, to justify past success, and,
in doing so, to augur admirably for its future de-
velopment.

Slavery at Some. By a Woman of the World.

T. C. Newby.

The authoress of this little volume has, we can-
not but think, done herself an injustice ; and this
too upon her very title-page. She appears either
to be unconscious of, or to have forgotten, the fact
that the phrase " A Woman of the World" is
rather disparaging than otherwise in its mean-
ing—at any rate in its general acceptation. A
woman of the world, indeed, may be regarded
as synonymous with a heartless woman—a woman
with her sensibilities blunted, her susceptibility
dulled, and her character rendered masculine just
as in an opposite way a man's may become effemi-
nated. A downright woman of the world, in fact,
we take it, may be viewed as a personage rather
more disagreeable than a downright blue-stocking
—as in reality a specimen of the dreadful genus
typified at the commencement of " Chuzzlewit" in
the person of " the strong-minded woman." Re-
garding the phrase, therefore, in this light, we
repeat that, to our thinking, the writer of the little
volume before us has libelled herself upon its very
title-page. For it is impossible to glance through
the pages of the book without recognising that the
anonymous deprecator of " Slavery at Home" has
a large heart not less than a keen intelligence.

Victor 11 ugo's Rhine. Translated from the French,
by D. M. Aird. With a Guide for Tourists.

Ingram, Cooke, and Co.
Any formal criticism upon a work as celebrated
as Victor Hugo's popular and brilliant narrative
about the " Rhine," would—to use a long but ex-
pressive word—be quite a matter of supererogation.
It would be altogether as out of place in noticing
the present translation as it would be to weigh in
the balance the merits of Buiwer Lytton's " Pil-
grims," or of some among the earlier stanzas of
" Childe Harold," relating to that silent highway
through the great Vaterland. All that is here
permitted us is to commend the excellence of Mr.
Aird's translation. It constitutes another of those
marvels of cheapness presented of .late in such
profusion to the railway traveller, and in the issue
of which some of our most distinguished publishers
have vied with each other in the display of enter-
prise. Thousands are already familiar with the
gorgeously emblazoned volumes supplied by Messrs.
Ingram, Cooke, and Co., for what Montague Tigg
would call " the ridiculously small amount" of
one shilling—Jerdan's " Yankee Humour," and
Mayhew's " Letters Left at the Pastrycook's."
Another of these little volumes is the one here
partiteralculai
translation
rsed an eloquent r and uugos,sffic,i,ennthliynoli-
,,,
by D. M. Aird, followed by a really useful,
because practical and matter-of-fact, " Guide for
Tourists." Like its companions, the volume is
adorned with a number of illustrations.

The World. A Poem. In Three Cantos. J. 0

Clarke.

According to the laconic Preface to this effusion,
the author declares that " fame is not his object,"
adding in a tone of somewhat monotonous tauto
logy, "I need hardly add that I have no pecuniary
object." We are heartily glad of it, for his sake, as
in that case he cannot be supposed to suffer any
disappointment. " Patience," saith the Hermit of
Bellyfulle, " wanting a nightingale—watched the
egg and the bird sang !" The " World" has yet
to discover whether this egg is addled, or whether
it will give birth in time to a nightingale.

Notes Explanatory and Practical on the Book of
Daniel. By the Rev. Albert Barnes. Critically
Revised and Corrected. 2 vols. Routledge & Co.
The object of this work is to show the intimate
relation between the two important books of ancient
prophecy, Daniel and Revelations. These two
books, it is observed, have ever been the most diffi-
cult to comprehend fully, and hence the learned
author has devoted his most earnest endeavours to
their description, in order to enable the student to
surmount the difficulty they present. This work
will most profitably be welcomed by the theological
inquirer. It should be studied in conjunction with
" Notes on Revelations," which were published
last year.

Percy Effingham ; or, The Germ of the World's
Esteem. By H. Cockton, Author of " Valen-
tine Vox," " Stanley Thorn," &c. 2 vols.
Routledge and Co.
The style of this story is very free and flowing ;
many of the incidents are sufficiently ludicrous ;
but, notwithstanding, it is evident that the author
has a purpose beyond amusement. It is apparent
to the reader, after a short perusal, that the hero
is held up as a warning to all whom it may concern
to profit by his experience and avoid his errors.
The unprincipled, yet supposed respectable, set of
idlers or hangers-on to the rich and generous is
very well shown forth in this tale. They keep up a
splendid appearance and go into very good society ;
but it is all tinsel and falsity. In reality, they are as
much to be stigmatised as the midnight marauder,
for they enter the dwelling only to despoil its in-
mates. From the Major another lesson may be
learned not to slight a friend in adversity, nor to
follow the example of a misjudging, cold-hearted
world, who keep to a man while in the act of com-
mitting folly, and then when he suffers from the
consequences, turn away and upbraid him. Helen
is a very striking character, and it is to be feared
a very true one. Rather than be baffled in her
plans, she cared not what misery she might inflict
upon those she really respected, and who considered
her their friend. Flora, the heroine, improves on
acquaintance ; at first she seems too much attached
to masculine sports to be altogether ladylike, but
afterwards she is agreeable and pleasing, in contra-
distinction to Helen's fierceness and assumption.
In the time of trial she proved herself worthy, ex-
cepting when she gave way to jealousy. It must
be confessed that the scene alluded to is rather un-
natural. Percy was indeed easily deceived to fall
into so evident a snare. On the whole, great
i amuse-
ment may be derived from the story ; and f a few,
possessed of large fortunes and many. friends, took
heed of Percy Effingham's mistakes, it might be of
eminent service to them.

HORRIBLE CASE OF CHILD MURDER. —Bridget Slattery,
a servant maid to Mr. Wellington Wallace, of Stoney-
acre, near Cloghjordan, Tipperary, stands committed to
the bridewell of Borrisokane, charged with the murder
of her infant, and concealing its birth. On the morning
of Sunday, the 11th inst., she complained to her mistress
of illness, and retired to bed, and it appears that Mr.
and Mrs. Wallace left home on that day and proceeded
to Clogbjordan, and about twelve o'clock she got up
and dressed herself, and proceeded to an old ruin
convenient to her master's farm, and when there was
delivered of a child, which she buried alive beneath a
heap of stones. She then returned to her master's
house, bathed her feet, and retired to rest. During her
absence she was accompanied by a dog belonging to Mr.
Wallace, which was observed on its return to he be-
smeared with blood, and on her being asked the cause,
she stated the dog fought with another animal, who cut it.
Some time subsequent to this a little boy, in passing by
the old ruins, heard cries of " squalling" proceed from
under the stones in the " ruin," and at once called to
his assistance a girl, and both proceeded to the feot.
They again heard the cries, and commenced taking off
the stones, but on observing a quantity of blood ran
away, and, strange to say, left the infant to its fate.
After some time had elapsed the spot was again searched,
but no trace, save the blood, was to be found, and a
number of dogs collected around the spot, by whom it
is supposed the infant had been eaten. The Cloghjordan
police, on hearing of it, went to the spot and arrested
Biddy Slattery in her bed, and took her before a magis-
trate, who took the informations of several witnesses to
the foregoing facts, and committed the unfortunate girl
for further examination at the petty sessions at Borriso-
kane on the 21st inst.
EXPORTATION OF GOLD.--It is expected that the
amount of gold about to be sent this week to St. Peters-
burg, via Hamburg, is upwards of 200,0001.