The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-14 00:00:00

THE SUN', LONDOV, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 14, 1854.

LITERATURE.

the Iron Cousin • or, Mutual Influence. By
Mary Cowden Clarke, Author of " The Girlhood
of Shakspeare's Heroines," &c. Routledge.
This is a very interesting story. The incidents
are ingeniously narrated, and the events occur in
a natural and truth-like manner. The Squire, with
his good-natured, easy character, was just the sort
of person to go on heedlessly from day to day, un-
thinking of the morrow, and unmindful of the exi-
gencies of future demands. Kate Ireton, the
heroine, is a delightful being, full of enthusiasm,
energy, and intelligence. In the delineation of
this truly natural disposition the authoress has
been eminently successful. We meet with no sen-
timental maiden and no romantic damsel, but a
genuine woman. Her great fault was wilfulness,
but it was one easily accounted for and readily ex-
cused under her circumstances. Her uncle, the
good old Squire, thought of nothing else in the
world before his niece. He wished her to be happy,
supremely happy, and he erred in judgment, not
in feeling. Kate was happy for a time, but not
with the joy that lasts. She amused herself with
the eager excitement of a young and ardent nature,
impatient of remonstrance and indignant at con-
trol. The only person who did not yield a ready
compliance to her wishes was Fermor Worthington
—" the Iron Cousin," as Kate playfully styled
him, in consequence of their relationship and his
being of a lofty and commanding temper. With
this latter individual the young heroine kept up a
perpetual skirinish. After many misunderstand-
ings and mistakes on all sides, Fermor went abroad.
During his absence the Squire, Heathcote, died
suddenly. As he had left no will of his personal
property, all went to the heir in entail, and the
unfortunate object of his solicitude in life was by
his death reduced to beggary. Kato Ireton, how-
ever, possessed a spirit which, although overbear-
ing in prosperity, was strong in adversity. She
supported herself, and was as calm and collected in
trouble as she had been sportive and fearless in
gayer hours. After great troubles and hindrances,
she was enabled to establish herself in a small com-
petency in the village near which she had once re-
sided in a style of princely magnificence. Fermor
Worthington returned to find his valued cousin as
nertrly perfect as seemed possible. Trial had re-
moved the only unworthy attributes of her noble
character. Solitude and reflection had taught her
wisdom that all her uncle's wealth could never
have procured her. Fermor Worthington himself
had somewhat softened down in the interim. His
manner had lost that sternness and harshness
which had before been its chief defects. A more
attractive heroine than Kate Ireton can hardly be
imagined, and it is therefore with pleasurable feel-
ings that the reader beholds a brighter future rise
before her at the conclusion of the story. The
" Iron Cousin" may well sustain the fame of the
authoress by the elevation of its sentiments, the
ability of its descriptions, and the charm of its
pathos and expression. I

Philip _Rollo ; or, the Scottish Musketeers. By
James Grant, Author of the " Romance of War,"
"Jane Seton," &c. 2 vols. Routledge.

This novel is of the romantic style in incident
and personages. The hero is neglected by his
family, and accordingly abandons his home and
country, and sets out with a cousin to join the
Scottish forces, then abroad assisting Christian,
king of Denmark. He met with a variety of re-
markable adventures, and when made prisoner by
the enemy's forces on one occasion he was taken
to the mansion of a Count, whose acquaintance he
had previously made during the war. He was here
introduced to his host's daughters Ernestine and
Gabrielle. He contrived to escape, and, the tide of
fortune changing, the fair sisters were afterwards
made captive by Rollo's friends. Philip was soli-
citous to return them the kindness they had pre-
viously shown to him in trouble, but the impru-
dent maidens left his protection, and set off to seek
their father, whom thoy believed dying. A very
interesting scene takes place when Ernestine, the
most spirited of the two, contrives to make the
brigand who had betrayed them swallow the drug
he had prepared for her. She then escaped, and
soon made her way back to her captors, but also
her'friends. Poor Gabrielle, the other victim, was
not so fortunate. She was murdered by the wretch
who had devised the scheme of getting the sisters
away to fulfil his own purposes of self-aggrandise-
ment. The termination is more satisfactory than
the reader expects, for Ernestine, who is reported
dead from cholera, to the great joy of her father,
and Philip Rollo recovers suddenly, having only
fallen into a stupor. The party returned to Scot-
land, where, in their native land, they endeavoured
to forget the stormy scenes they had passed through
in foreign countries.

My Friends and Acquaintance. By P. G. Pat-
more, Author of " Chatsworth," &c., 3 vols.
Saunders and Otley.

These volumes belong to a class of works which
has lately increased in number. Some critics ob-
ject, and perhaps with reason, to their publication,
on principle. It is demurred that literary men will
never be able to indulge in social uureserve with
their friends, if their words and peculiarities are
treasured up for the subsequent information of the
public. Others affirm that authors are public cha-
racters, and that every detail of their life and con-
versation is the privilege of their admirers or
critics. Setting aside this disputed point, few will
deny that the present work is written in a suffi-
ciently impartial spirit, and that it contains many
interesting remarks and anecdotes. It professes to
be a collection of " memorials, mind-portraits,
and personal recollections of deceased celebrities of
the nineteenth century, with selections from their
unpublished letters." Among these memorials we
find many well-known names. The following is a
list of the chief sketches :--Charles Lamb, Camp-
bell, Lady Blessington, Plumer Ward, H. and J.
Smith, William Hazlitt, and Laman Blanchard,
with some recollections of Richard Brinsley Sheri-
dan. The latter include some selections from un-
published papers, which do not seem likely to en-
hance the author's reputation. Among some
curious incidents mentioned is the fact that the
famous Rejected Addresses really deserved their
title, having been rejected by several publishers
successively, "not one being willing to take upon
himself the risk of publishing, amounting to some
twentyth
rooru g thh isrotiyn e
tpnhoiungd pounds
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oi had
nt s
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money, tle rbme lof the
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ea
thousandthirty-firstpo edition."und pounds, ati the
Perhapsvolnm volume
th
is
ss
notsince
generally
reached
a
known that the last novel of Mr. Plumer Ward Ward,
" De Clifford ; or, the Constant Man," was written
when he was between seventy-five and seventy-six
years of age. It must be remembered that it was
published in four thickly-printed volumes, equal,
it is observed, to mole than two ordinary novels of
the present day. Many such anecdotes or pieces
of information will be found in these volumes,
which, if not possessing the highest qualities of
style or subject, will afford the reader much enter-
tainment, and serve to occupy agreeably an idle
hour.

Ambrose the Sculptor. An Autobiography of Artist
Life. By Mrs. Cartwright, Author of " Christa-
belle." Two vols. Smith and Elder.

This work is not, as its title would lead us to
suppose, entirely devoted to art. It partakes more
of the character of a romance, as may be judged
from the motto, which is—" Set me as a seal upon
thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm ; for love is
strong as death ; jealousy is cruel as the grave ;
the coals thereof are coals of fire, which lath a
most vehement flame." Ambrose Arnold, the
autobiographer, is born in Italy, his father a reck-
less genius, his mother a virtuous and devoted
parent, who, nevertheless, is the cause of great un-
happiness to her son. He inherits his father's
rgeniusel hu sftourdsi
ec
su lapti u
there,
houseand a fotfe rvi histe deathVitelli,
an old friendqtiar-
ina
and distinguished
teacher. He becomes attached
to Carmen Vitelli, his master's
only daughter, a
prima donna at the Opera. Before he has con-
fessed his feelings,
Carmen becomes seriously ill,
and Ambrose is summoned by his mother to accom-
pany her to England. She is of an old Welsh
family, and her only brother has at last forgiven
her imprudent marriage, and invited her and her
son to come and live with him. They accordingly
depart, to the great mortification of Ambrose, and
Carmen, who has lost her voice from illness, accom-
panies her father to Havana. There they are both
seized with yellow fever, and the father dies. Car-
men is also reported to be dead. Meanwhile, Am-
brose hearing this report is persuaded by his
mother on her deathbed to marry his cousin Lilith,
his uncle's only child and heiress. On the eve of
the wedding-day he discovers that Carmen lives ;
and feeling himself committed to her from a letter
be bad written to her father, the unhappy sculptor
is placed in a most awkward position. Lilith ex-
tricates him from it by assuring him that he is in
honour bound to Carmen, who, poor and destitute,
has arrived in Europe. To the indignation of his
uncle lie breaks off the engagement with Lilith,
departs from Wales, and marries Carmen. They
live happily for some time, but doubts, jealousies,
and misfortunes arise, and they emigrate to Ame-
rica. After some years they return, and after many
complicated events Carmen poisons herself from
jealousy of Lilith. Ambrose subsequently rises to
eminence in his profession, and at length ends his
career full of honours. _

It will thus be seen that those who expect to
find in this work a record of the toils and triumphs,
the sufferings and successes of the artist, will be

disappointed. It does not trace the variations of
temperament, the high aspirations, the struggles of
the sensitive spirit and inspired mind with a pre-
judiced and calculating world. It will be, there-
, fore more :‘ttractive to the lover of romance than
to the student of art, to the novel reader rather
than to the psychologist. Most readers wilt agree
iu preferring the gentle yet high-principled Lilith
to the passionate and imperious Carmen, whose
suicide extinguishes the pity that might otherwise
be felt for her. At least the author spares the
reader the marriage of Ambrose and Lilith at the
conclusion, which is but too general a termination
to such tales. The authoress has, however, had
sufficient good taste And discernment to avoid this,
for which she is highly commendable.
The following extract is from the introduction,
in which the position of art and artists is con-
sidered;:—
" Are such gifted men, then, to be honoured amongst us ?
Have such men not in every age been found worthy of
all honour ? Do not the names of Apelles, Phidias, Ra-
phael, M. Angelo, Bramante, Wren, and many others,
attest it ? In old times : but are they now so honoured,
especially in England ? The question is not new, and has
been answered, Yes, and No.
" Art is great, intrinsically great, It may advance from
rude beginnings—develope itself from simple germs—im-
prove in its scope and in its details—may become sta-
tionary, retrograde, degenerate, and recover itself again.
"Art is a life, not of one man but of generations : it is a
history of mind and men. But one man can embrace in
his career but a small portion of the long progress of art.
Every artist must begin, and it is long before he can reach
oven the outskirts of high art. Can the patronage, the
honour which is willingly and deservedly bestowed on the
profession and the highest names in it, be indiscriminately
lavished on the working majority ere they have attained
the eminence of fame ? It is impossible : general patronage
is all the majority can look to until the celebrity of some
work raises the name of its author to public notoriety.
Now, this working part of his career is of necessity the
greater part of the life of the Artist—and if he meets due
honour in the latter half of his career, it is unreasonable
to complain of neglect in the former portion when the
pinnacles of fame were occupied by an older race.
"It may be disheartening, but it is not cruel : it can
hardly be ordered otherwise. The man who shows most
mental courage in persevering through long yeah of severe
training, and whose strong heart braves the suffering of
disappointment and delay, has already proved that force
of mind which is the highest moral qua!ification of an sO4-
co mplished Artist."

Terningham : a Story._ 2 vols. Chapman and

Hall.
This novel has every appearance of being a first
work. It has all the energy, vigour, and diversity
of a new author, and, we must also add, some of
the faults usually to be attributed to inexperience.
Suc h
some asrtei,.
ka i
nga n tof
improbabilities
connection
ot he
the incidents,
plot, and
w hie
h
mar the effect of a great variety of characters and
events. It opens with the christening of the only
child of Mr. Jerningham, a landed proprietor. A.
large circle of friends are met to celebrate the joy-
ful occasion, and the gay party go in great state to
the old church, where the infant heir receives the
rite "with the priest before and the dead around."
All these festivities are, however, soon stopped by
the sudden death of Mr. Jerningham ; his wife
sinks under the shock, and the hero is left an
orphan. We next meet him running away from a
school where he had been placed by his guar-
dian, Lord Haverdale. After Mr. Jerning-
ham's death it was discovered that owing to
a pas.sion for gambling his entire fortune had gone,
and the old family estate was lost. Jerningham
comes to London to try his fortune as an author,
and makes many strange acquaintances, one of the
strangest being a young girl named Marie, who
lives alone in an old house. Jerningham under-
takes her education, and she subsequently becomes
an actress. They are much attached to each other,
but Lord Haverdale refusing to sanction their
union, Marie, unwilling to interfere with Jerning-
ham's prospects, becomes the wife of a rich baronet.
,
After some years he dies, but Jerningham refuses
to be reconciled. He has meanwhile, advanced
in his profession, and is a successful author. At
length he overcomes his anger and they are mar-
ried, and, like the good old fairy tales, " live
happily ever after." But this romantic history does
not occupy all the volumes. It is a sufficient proof
that the author is not wanting in invention, as the
above plot would be sufficient for many three
volume novels. Many literary characters are
introduced, some of them evidently being meant
for portraits. There are also many exciting scenes
respecting French politics about the year 1820.
Jerningham accompanies Lord Haverdale to Paris,
and becomes engaged in secret meetings and plots.
The murder of th Due de Berri is described, and
many other striking events of that period, together
with an attempted insurrection, which fails. The
least agreeable part of the story is unquestionably
that relating to Lord Haverdale, who does not win
either admiration or interest. The episode of
Ayesha, the Gipsy Girl, is one of the unlikely
incidents to which we have alluded. The writer,
however, is evidently possessed of talent and infor-
mation, and much inventive power ; and if he
will be more careful in the construction of his plot,
and avoid the improbabilities, we might even say
improprieties, which at present interfere with
the other parts of his narrative, we may ex-
pect from him a much higher production than
"Jerningham."

IMPERIAL P RLIAATENT.

HOUSE OF LORD 6—( YESTERDAY.).
BANKRUPTCY BILL.
This bill passed through coimnittee.
CONSOLIDATED FUND CHARGES BILL.
Lord BROUGHAM objected to this bill being read a
third time, till they had fairly and calmly considered in
committee what officers should be exempted from
schedule B, so that they would not have to depend for
their salaries on the annual vote of the House of Com-
mons.

Lord CAMPBELL expressed his satisfaction that the
Masters of the Common Law Courts were to be ex-
empted from the operation of the bill. But there were
others who should also have been exempted, as the Coin-
missioners of Lunacy.
Lord LYNDHURST said that a minute inquiry
would be necessary to ascertain what particular officers
should be exempted.
Earl GRANVILLE said, that if such was the feeling
of the house, he would consent to postpone the third
reading till Monday.
Lord MONTEAGLE said that lie hoped then the
Lords would be summoned for Monday, as the measure
was a most important one. He would on Monday move
that the bill be referred to a select committee.
The bill was then postponed.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY BILL.
On the motion for the third reading of the bill,
The Earl of CARLISLE said that oh a former occa-
sion he said that the private halls would be "retreats"
for Dissenters. His wish was that the Dissenters should
be fused with the general body of students in the univer-
sity. But if they were excluded from that by the impo-
sition of conditions which they considered to be incom-
patible with their religious belief, he said he hoped, and
he did not shrink from the word, that the now private
halls would be "retreats" for the Dissenters themselves.
The bill was then read a third time and passed.
ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
IRISH LAND BILLS.
The Earl of MALMES BURY rose for the purpose of
calling the attention of the house to the conduct of the
Government in reference to the Landlord and tenant,
the Leasing Powers, and the Compensation for Im-
proveinent Bills—all of which referred to Ireland.
These bills were introduced by the late Government,
and when that Government left office they were re-
ferred to a select committee of their lordships' house.
That commitee, of which the noble duke, the Lord
Privy Seal, was a member, and who was considered
to represent the Government in respect to these
bills, recommended legislation with respect to the two
former bills, but they did not think legislation was ad-
visable with respect to the third. He understood the
noble duke to say that he did not think it necessary to
press the passing of the Compensation Bill. The noble
duke, the Secretary for War, said the Government took
upon themselves the responsibility of the two former
bills. An opposition was raised to them in the House
of Commons on the part of a certain portion of the Irish
members, which the Government ought to have treated
in a manly way. He thought those bills would have
passed in the present session, but he was awakened out
of that delusion the day before yesterday, when the
Secretary for Ireland announced that the Government
would not press them this session. He had first repu•
chated them as Government bills, and then expressed
an opinion entirely at variance with that of the noble
duke, that there was no absolute necessity for the mea-
sures. From subsequent communication with the noble
duke, he learnt that he knew nothing of what was about
to be done. This was a gross instance of insubordination
on the part of an inferior officer of the Crown. Sir
J. Young said there was no time to go on with the bills;
but the delay, if any, must have been in the other house.
He wished to know from the Government if it were true
that these bills were to be abandoned, and why, and
why Sir J. Young had taken upon himself to do this in
contradictio❑ of other members of the Goverment.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said the noble earl had
signally failed in making out any charge against t`►e
Government in reference to these bills, great as was
the ingenuity he usually displayed in getting up such
charges. He had misrepresented what took place last
session on those bills. When the bills came from the
other house, he agreed to take them up, not as Govern-
ment bills, but as measures of which he approved. He
had consented to do this at the request of Mr. Napier,
understanding that there was little or no opposition to
the bills ; but when they went into the select committee
the opposition was so great that it was necessary to
withdraw the bills In fulfilment of his pledge, he had
brought in the three bills this session, in precisely the
same forms•—not as Government bills, but in fulfilment
of the pledge be had given in the last session. Now it
was said the whole responsibility rested on the Govern-
ment, because the bills were introduced as Government
bills. This was not so. They were referred to a select
committee, presided over by the Duke of Argyle ; and
on his representation that the bills were good bills, the
Government had taken on themselves the responsibility
of sending the bills down 'to the other house. But
there they were taken charge of by Mr. Napier, who
would not allow the Government the credit of them, so
long as they were thought good bills, and likely to pass.
They continued his bills up to Tuesday, when the dis-
cussion in committee came on. It was said they had
gone down to the other house earlier than they came to
this house last year, and that they had been thorougly
sifted by their lordships. But the House of Commons
could take no cognisance of that ; they must make their
own investigation, the same as their lordships did.
Down to the very last stage Mr. Napier had charge of
the bills, and had actually given notice of eight pages
of amendment, no less than two hundred in number.
It was said the bills had been withdrawn ,by the
Government. This was not so ; Mr. Napier would not
allow the Government to withdraw his bill. They were
still in the House of Commons, and were probably then
under discussion. All that Sir J. Young did was to
state that if the bills had been in his charge he should
not, after the view expressed by the house, have pressed
them further. He was of opinion that the bills, though
good in themselves, could not be carried this session, and
that to the present state of Ireland they were not abso-
lute!y necessary. He (the Duke of Newcastle) believed
them to be good hills, and should regret if they did not
pass this year.
After a few words from several noble lords, the sub-
ject dropped, and the house adjourned at a few minutes
past nine.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY.)
The house resumed at six o'clock.
PETITIONS PRESENTED.

ASSISTANT-SURGEONS IN THI NAVY.--By Mr. C. P
VILLIERS, from the medical profession, to improve the po-
sition of junior assistant surgeons in the navy.
BILLS OF EXCHANGE.—By Mr. HORSFALL, from the
notaries of Liverpool, against the re-enactment of a clause
in Bills of Exchange Bill, giving attorneys the privilege of
notaries.

PRESENCE OF ALIEN ENEMIES IN ENGLAND.
Mr. I. BUTT gave notice that on going into committee
of supply, he should submit a motion that this house con-
siders it necessary to declare that to encourage. the presence
of an alien enemy of the realm, except with the license and
safe conduct of her Majesty, is inconsistent with the spirit
of the law and dangerous to the security of her Majesty's
dominions. (Cries of " Oh.")
BLOCKADING OPERATIONS IN THE BLACK SEA.
Mr. Hurl' asked the Lord President of the Council
what was the actual state of the blockading operations un-
dertaken by the British Government in the Black Sea,
and whether the Government contemplated an immediate
blockade of all the ports in the Black Sea and the Sea of
Azoft ?

Lord J. RUSSELL—In respect to the first question of
my hon. friend the answer I have to give is, that there is
au effective blockade of the mouths of the Danube, which
has been regularly notified : but with regard to the second
question, namely, what are the intentions of the Govern-
ment with regard to an immediate blockade of all the ports
in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azoff, I am obliged to
speak with reserve. Admiral Dundas came to an agree-
ment with Admiral Hamelin on this subject, but it was
necessary that the proposition should be submitted at
Constantinople and at Paris, as well as here, for the
purpose of coming to au agreement on the subject.
On the arrival of the proposition at Constantinople,
Lord Stratford had some doubt whether the propo-
sition as made by the two admirals was in strict confor-
mity with the law of nations, and he thought it necessary
to refer it to this country. .My noble friend, the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs, has taken an opinion on the subject
which is now being transmitted to Constantinople, and
after that the intentions of the Government will be
declared.