The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-10 00:00:00

IS DAY.)

GREAT EXHIBITION SURPLUS.

THE UNITED STATES.

(Frominterest, not unmixed with astonishment, the recent re-
port ir, is amtehme Journal
berof t the eofs othc ie Society
e ty, haole Arts.)
p erused with
of the Royal Commission. It has fallen coldly upon
the public, been protested against by the learned bodies
of the metropolis, and is disposed of with more candour
than praise by our Council. When every one was on
the tip-toe
suoeofrpeluxr
of theknowctationGtoreatExhibition,
whatw
dldown upon
be
udoone
with the
theiranixousuptu
thrneadt sixty
-eight
andsh a half acrescomesower-bath,
the announcement of
land have been purchased at Kensington Gore, for a
fsourme
xwphlai cnha t
imo
no
sr,e a
nt hda nt
hee
yn tirerely absorbs
favoured
thTheythe lookmisty
outline of an impossible scheme, which it seems utterly
unaccountable how such men as compose the Royal
Commission could ever have given their sanction to.
Even assuming that an investment in land was neces-
sary, the selection of a site cannot be regarded as a
happy one. The masses were once attracted to Ken-
sington ; but did they go there conveniently to them-
selves, or with the favour of the inhabitants ? Was it
looked upon as a vulgar invasion or not ? and will they
go again ? Will students, who find it hard enough work
to struggle to Somerset-house and Marlborough-house
from the cheap suburbs, be able to reach Gore-house
day after day ? Does the organisation of this vast me-
tropolis, which is constantly changing, justify so enor-
mous an expenditure as is contemplated for a site which,
twenty years hence, may be the least accessible part of
town ? It appears to me that the Royal Commission
have deliberately sacrificed the surplus of which they
were the trustees to the conveniences of Government.
Government wanted space for the new National Gal-
lery, and for portions of the British Museum, and they
rush with the shillings of the millions to help it, without
inquiry whether such an alliance is necessary or desir-
able. They commit the proceeds of a great voluntary
effort to a dubious partnership with State establish-
*tents, which have never been satisfactorily managed.
What can the people think of an act which associates
their contributions with ideas of Trafalgar-square archi-
tecture, picture-cleaning carried out with the scrubbing-
brush, railings that cost 14,0001., the jobbery, and the
bickerings—extended to the surplusage of the Old
Curiosity Shop in Bloomsbury ? Then, as if all this was
not sufficient, the most triumphant success of modern
times is to be associated with the Government School if
Design, hitherto an admitted failure, and the Govern-
ment School of Mines, which has already had a home
provided for it in Jermyn-street, far more comfortable
and splendid than by its usefulness, it has yet been able
to justify. Even if these schools had given much clearer
evidences of a suitable return for the vast outlay upon
them, surely the Royal Commission need not have
interfered with the State as long as it felt disposed to
act as their wet nurse. I feel satisfied that the applica-
tion of the Great Exhibition surplus to any scheme
dependent on Government co-operation is a monstrous
mistake. It chills all the enthusiasm of popular sym-
pathy ; it substitutes the idea of taxation for that of
voluntary contribution ; it puts the industrial arts under
the shadow of a State machinery ; it refers to parlia-
mentary votes what every man who lives by labour
would like to honour with his independent support.
But let us assume that this union is a right one—that
the Commission and the Government between them may
properly spend 400,0001., or more, upon a site of 150
acres, without having commenced to lay one brick upon
another ; what remains to be done afterwards, and how
is it proposed to proceed ? Buildings are to be erected,
museums to be formed, a great university to be en-
dowed, and the learned societies of the metropolis to be
brought into "juxtaposition." The most magnificent
schemes must submit to the vulgar test of practicability ;
for that, after all, is what distinguishes greatness from
charlatanry. Mahomet went to the mountain when it
would not come to him, but the Royal Commission have
no such alternative. Suppose the learned societies object
to be exhibited as a happy family,—the Geographicals
refusing to lie down with the Geologicals, and the
Asiatics, the Chemicals, the Engineers, the Antiquaries,
the Agriculturals, each preferring their own fig-tree,
as they at present possess it. The Royal Commission
have included these bodies in their plans without even
the formality of consulting them. They make the
supply of a want which they have not ascertained the
existence of a plea for a land investment at Kensington.
Again, take the money question,—where in the name
of all that is fortunate, are the funds to come from with
which to construct immense buildings, collect great
museums, and salary a pompous array of professors ? It
is not, surely, expected, that all this will be done by
voluntary contributions. Then you fall back upon the
public purse—Government interference mismanage-
ment, failures ! Alas ! for the Royal Commission !
They have sunk the money with which they were
entrusted in a land speculation, and they will never get
it back again. Something might be hoped for if they
turned market-gardeners, or if they came to terms with
some " disinterested Mr. Kelk," who would cover their
estate with houses. But the cheese-paring economists
of Parliament will never vote supplies to relieve them
from the position in which they have so hastily involved
themselves. Even the first appeal to the House of Com-
mons on this subject excited murmurs -which could not
be mistaken ; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer had
to give assurances which will not be forgotten hereafter.
Yet I am willing to argue this question as if all that
has been done is right, and as if all that is contemplated
were feasible. What then ? Is this vague scheme that
has been put forward without details, and defended by.
an appeal to the most doubtful continental experiences,
so desirable after all ? Is it the best way of going to-
work for the promotion of the Arts, and of industrial
education ? Will it most help on the objects to which
the Great Exhibition was dedicated, and thus satisfy the
public as to the discretion with which the Commission
has discharged its trust ? I think not, and will state
shortly why I think so. It appears to me, that the ques-
tion of industrial education has been entirely misappre-
hended ; that you cannot successfully teach the arts of
life in schools, or safely hand over the principles upon
which they rest to professors. The tendency of all col-
legiate systems is to dogmatise, and dogmatisms are
fatal to progress. The first men in every branch of in-
dustry, and the best and surest instructors in it will give
their lessons to apprentices in the workshop, not to pupils
in the class-room. It must always be so. They will
labour where the rewards of their exertions and talents
are greatest ; so that to inferior hands, or to pretenders,
the chairs of the proposed University will be surren-
dered. Our schools and colleges may with advantage have
the present course of instruction given in them widened.
Science, in its various branches, may share more equally
with literature the attention of our youth ; but any at-
tempt to introduce into this country the technical edu-
cation of the Continent, must prove an egregious failure.
There is not only no adequate proof that the want of
such a system is felt, but the whole weight of evidence
is in the other direction. Even the facts collected by
Dr. Lyon Playfair abroad tell more against than for
the views of the Royal Commission • and I do not hesi-
tate to say, that an inquiry of the kind, less partially
conducted, would have dealt a decisive blow against the
whole scheme. In this country our experience runs en-
tirely in the opposite direction. We have never tried
anything' of the sort without its being followed by a
disastrous break-down. We have taken and still hold
the highest place as an industrial community, without
any such aids. Our great manufacturers and engineers,
for the most part, look down with disdain upon the feeble
efforts made to help them by a body which, if they
really wanted the thing done, they would begin by dis-
pensing with. They know very well that if technical
education was desired, they themselves must supply it ;
nor will they readily consent to spoil the training of the
workshop by making it a school, or that of the school
by turning it into a workshop. Except in very rare in-
stances, the two things are incompatible, for when labour
commences, scholastic instruction terminates ; and in
learning to earn his bread by his own industry, the boy
becomes a man. He will give or take information upon
equal terms, but he can no longer be taught. I believe
in the desirableness of a more liberal, and less purely
classical, or mathematical course of education in schools
and colleges. I believe in a more open and expansive
system of study at our Universities ; I think the exist-
ing machinery may be made more useful, and more ap-
propriate to the wants of the age : but a new university,
new professorships, new degrees, and a new curriculum,
can no more be made respectable in the eyes of English-
men, than a new empire or a new aristocracy. The whole
thing would have a Brummagem character at once, and
even the west end site, the enormous expenditure, and
the influence of museums and galleries of art, would not
save its reputation. If more science is wanted in this
country, the want will create its supply in the natural
way, without any State forcing ; if scientific men do not
meet with adequate encouragement and support, it is
because they have not condescended to give to practice
the full benefit of their abstract labours.
Among a free community like ours everything that is
worth knowing soon finds its way into print ; and a
rge, intelligent, and increasing body of readers offers
to intellectual effort the strongest incentives on the one
hand, while the pressure of necessities, as they arise, sti-
Tiulate on the other. Our system of voluntary associa-
on for the promotion of all public objects, guarantees
us against the neglect of any flagrant evils in our social
state ; and it is far better that we should try to and strengthen the means we have got for accelerating
improve
the progress of the arts, than to embark all our resources
in new and doubtful ventures.
As a member of the Society of Arts, I feel indignant
at the treatment which it has received from the hands of
the Royal Commission. The scheme of the Great Exhi-
bition originated in our Council—its success was largely
due to members of that body. The early responsibilities
of the undertaking were allowed by the Commission to
rest heavily upon us, and if a strong claim existed on the
appropriation of the surplus, it was ours ; yet we are
coolly placed on a level with all the rest of the world,
and a formal application which we made was not even
whdi,uhthtehreefßoreep,oartt
treated by surprised,
the Council.
formally replied to. I am not
tehfetguhearcdeemd
mtoinsseieonf inhdaespebnedeenncet
The freedom of a correspondent writing on his indivi.
dual responsibility exempts me from their resuheirvmedoa;tteannrsd
elfilnthdatvette ci.nordiithcet
soefeioeptyin,sionjsouornnar.i.
iqsthuoiesustlwidon the sinceritywiththweihridchuttihese;RbouytallCznmkitshsieinrt
have sought to dischargebuzfinfio developed,l.—the shad
Ihma
gz y
surplusch i m wr ao
f;
ascnhdeml em,
osuorfnarovaseritthheasl
the masses—sunk in a cabbage-garden at Kensington
Gore.

ARRIVAL OF THE AFRICA.
The British and American Royal Mail steam-ship
Africa, Lott, commander, arrived in Liverpool last
night direct from New York, having left that port
at noon on the 29th ult.
She brings 51 passengers, 104,000 dollars in
specie on freight, and the mails from the United
States and Canada.
The Africa, in steaming up the Mersey, ran foul
of a ship, by which considerable damage was sus-
tained, and great detention in the landing of our
newspaper dispatches.
By this arrival we have four days later intelli-
gence than that brought by the American mail
steam-ship Arctic on Wednesday last.
We have to state that the health of the newly-
elected Vice-President King had considerably im-
proved, and that great hopes are now entertained
of his recovery.
In Congress nothing of interest had transpired, it
having been arranged on the adjournment that no
business of importance should be entertained till
after the close of the year, the last week of which
were usually kept as holidays.
By the Africa we have news from California to
the Ist, conveyed by the American steam-ship
Uncle Sam. She reports that there was then on
the way to the United States specie to the extent
of nearly three millions in gold dust. The news
from the mines continued to be very favourable,
the rebuilding of the lately burned portion of the
cities was progressing very fast. Business was
good, but produce and other articles of import
commanded high prices.

Intelligence from the Sandwich Islands to the
6th of November had also reached New York by
the same vessel. The news is, however, unim-
portant. From the West Indies we have: also
news via New York. From Jamaica, the dates
are to the 22d of December. The island is re-
ported more healthy, and business unchanged.
From Barbadoes we learn that the yellow fever is
very prevalent, but business fair.

THE FRENCH EMPIRE.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]—Diseases of the Kidneys, Blad-
der, &c.—Dr. Denis Cronin has removed from Leicester-
place to 35, Bruton-street, Berkeley-square, where he
may be consulted, as usual, from ten till two, on his
treatment of affections of the kidneys, bladder, and
prostrate gland, in their connection with diseases of the
stomach and liver. Urinary Analysis (the importance
of which to the successful treatment of disease is now
fully acknowledged) conducted daily, in accordance
with Dr. D. Cronin'a now theory..

TILE SUN, LONDON, IVIONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 10, 1853.

night dews, a little intemperance, and the annoyance of
musquitoes, there is no wonder that this tropical scourge
sets its seal on so many of our unfortunate seamen.
The garrison, like the city, is comparatively quite
healthy."
From Barbadoes we learn that the yellow fever
had not ceased its ravages, and the death of Colonel
O'Brien is reported by this mail. The West Indian
of the 4th ult. fitst 3s :

whether the responsibility of the agents of Govern-
ment was real or not.

A decree on the press of a somewhat liberal
nature was about to appear.
Madrid Bourse, Jan. 4.---The Three per Cents.,
421 ; Deferred, 231 ; Exchange on London, 51
paper. _

" With sincere regret we hear that the mortality
among the officers and men landed from her Majesty's
ship Dauntless continues to a dreadful extent. Since
the death of Mr. Flood, the first Lieutenant, the fever
has carried off three more officers (making 13 officers in
all), viz., Mr. Crispin, midshipman ; Mr. Kent, second
lieutenant ; and Mr. Davis, third engineer, and several
seamen. Additional cases of a severe type are brought
on shore daily."

•
The latest reports of the state of the Dauntless
mention that her crew were still very sickly,
and
she had lost 13 officers and 60 men.
"About 110 men of the crew had been landed and
placed under canvas on the ground aback of the Brick
Barracks at St. Ann's. It has been the misfortune also
of the mail steam-ship Great Western to have had yellow
ever among her crew for some time past, and she had
lately lost her second officer, Lieutenant R. Dudman,
from that malady, and since her arrival in Carlisle Bay
from Demerara several of the crew were reported ill.
The troops of the garrison were still under canvas, and
reported in good health."
St. Thomas' was very sickly, but the fever was
chiefly confined to the shipping. The island of
Grenada continued healthy. Mr. Holligan, who
had been suffering from yellow fever at Barbadoes,
had resigned the office of Attorney-General of Gre-
nada. St. Vincent also continued free from disease,
and the Ist of December was observed as a day of
general humiliation and thanksgiving
for this merci-
ful preservation. From Martinique we have papers
of the latest dates. The yellow fever still pre-
vailed in that island.

- Private letters from Madrid, dated the 4th, state
that the Government had submitted to the Supreme
Council of War and Marine an expostulation ad-
dressed by General Narvaez to the Queen on the
subject of the mock mission which has served as a
pretext for exiling him from Spain ; and that the
opinion of the Council has been asked as to whether
the writer may not be prosecuted criminally for
the language made use of in that document. The
General is residing at Biarritz, near Bayonne, in
the house of a friend.

From Guadalope we have received L'Avenir
(Pointe h Pitre paper) to the 4th of December.
The yellow fever had committed sad havoc among
the officers and soldiers of the garrison of that
town. It has been forbidden by a Government
order for persons to be in the streets of any of the
towns after 11 o'clock at night, and all taverns and
grog-shops are to be closed at 10.
The Admiral was at Trinidad in the Cumberland
on the 14th of December.
On the morning of the 28th of November a pro-
nunciamento took place at Tampico, and was
effected without bloodshed, the civil governor be-
ing deposed and driven out. The new authorities
had issued a decree reducing the export duty on
specie two per cent. The whole country, with the
exception of the cities of Mexico and Vera Cruz,
was reported to be in a state of insurrection. There
appeared to be a general feeling throughout the re-
public in favour of a reduction of import duties,
and also of the duty on circulation, which is three
per cent. from town to town.

The Moniteur announces the official reception at
he Tuileries of the Tuscan, Baden, and Hanove-
rian Ministers. The same paper mentions, too,
that M.Kisselef, who hitherto held only the station
of privy councillor on extraordinary mission,
charged with the direction of the Russian embassy,
has received the title of Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent of the Grand Duchy of Baden.
The following electoral colleges are convoked for
the 30th January, in consequence of vacancies oc-
casioned by one cause or another :—Basses Alpes,
Cotes du Nord, Eure et Loir, Gard, Ille et Vilaine,
Mayenne, Oise, and Bas Rhin.
Captain Belvege is appointed chief of the naval
division at Newfoundland, and Captains Clavaux
and d'Ubrago receive seats at the Board of Ad-
miralty.
Authority is given for the holding of Synods,
metropolitan and diocesan.
The death of Madiai, the martyr, of :Florence, is
announced by the Opinione, of Turin, in terms of
just reprobation for the bigotted Grand: Duke and
his Government, which, it is needless. to say, no
Paris journal dare reproduce. •
The Turkish Ambassador has received his cre-
dentials. Abd-el-Kader has received permission,
at the request of the French Ambassador, to go to
Constantinople, to have an audience of the Sultan.
The grand ball to be given to the Emperor by
the Senate, is fixed for the 25th inst. Preparations
on a grand scale are being made for Cods event at
the Palace of Luxembourg.
The Pays has a long article on the recent depres-
sion in the public securities. The object of this ar-
ticle is to show that the depression is neither to be
attributed to a want of confidence in the Govern-
ment, which, says the Pays, is the strongest that
has ever existed in France, nor to the state of the
finances, which it represents as exceedingly bril-
liant. There is not, according to the) Pays, the
slightest political cause for the fall, which it de-
clares is to be traced to over speculation.
The Ambassadors of Bavaria and Vurtemberg
have prescated their credentials to the Emperor.
Tkey ver..e coiducted in the carriages be3longing to
the Court, and accompanied 'oy the haroducer of
Ambassadors, by w:_tom they were prese:ated to the
Emperor.
It is believed that the disappointment with re-
spect to the Pnir cess Carola Vasa was n ear costing
the French Minster (M. de Lacour) his. place. _lt
appears that the diplomatic agent was., to the last
moment, unacquainted with the unfavourable turn
matters had taken, and of the probability of the
preferred suitor being Prince Albert of Saxony. A
letter from Vienna received in Paris mentions that
a person connected with the German Court wrote,
about two months since
to the French Minister at
Vienna, in order to warn him of what was going
on, but that, owing to some unfortunate accident,
or, as is also alleged,.
by d
reach its destinption.
i The matter was managed
with so much caution and secrecy that the party
esi2a, the latter did not
Fmroesnteinhtemiresntesd t e Irvasrenino.,tinaeci to
wareofththeeksfatet,pearsnuad
persuaded
that the Princess Vasa Was to be the future Em-
press of the French.
By private letters received from Brussels, it is
stated that the Belgian Minister of War has given
notice to the French officers in the service of that
country that they will receive permiss'on to return
to France with a pension for past services. There
is an exception made in the case of those who have
become naturalised Belgians, and who are allowed
to remain in the service. It will be remembered
that
that a similar measure was adopted some time since
with reference to the Polish officers va the same
service.
The Emperor seems determined that people shall
be gay. The political world is entering on the
season of balls and fetes. Each Minister will give
a ball, in conformity with the expressed wishes of
the Emperor, and each will give a banquet. The
Minister of Finance has had the precedence, as is
but just. He had given. a dinner .to upwards
of 50 guests. Most of the Ministers were prese it,
and there was a very fair sprinkling of Senators,
Deputies, r.nd Councillors of State, and members
of the Diplomatic Corps.
MM. Recordon and Dugand, Protestant minis-
ters, sentenced to 16f. fine and costs, by the Tri-
bunal of Troyes, for having made part, as chiefs
and directors, of an association of upwards of 20
persons, who assembled on stated days, at Estissac,
for religious purposes, appealed against that de-
cision to the Imperial Court of Paris. On Satur-
day their case came before the Court, when their
advocate, M. Berthelin, stated that the persons
who composed the meeting were bond fide Pro-
testants, that the two ministers had been invested
by the General Consistory of Meaux with the
necessary powers, and that the community had
been actually installed by the atithorities in the
hall of one of the municipal buildings. When
the new mayor was appointed, in 1852, they had
been deprived of the use of that ball, and obliged
to remove to the house of a carpenter, named Solay,
where they continued to meet until the 13th June,
when the prefect of the department ordered their
meeting place to be closed. M, Gaujal, the Attor-
ney-General, defended the decision of the Court of
Troyes, contending that those Protestants were
Socialists, who assumed the mask of religion to
disguise their subversive designs, and that the prin-
ciple of freedom of conscience had nothing to do in
the case. The Imperial Court rejected the appeal,
and confirmed the decision of the first judges.
Among the recent cases tried at the Correctional
Police Court of Paris for language offensive to the
Emperor, was one charge. against a man of having
called Louis Napoleon "Boustrapa." The Court was
at first exceedingly puzzled to know the meaning of
that strange term applied to His Majesty, and
which, it was thought must conceal some formidable
menace against the Chief of the State. It was
however, at last explained thus—Bou, meant Bou-
logne ; Stra, Strasburgh ; Pa, Paris—and was sug-
gestive of the three important events in the career
of the. Prince.
Another case was that of a man who had in some
wine-house, and before some person, drawn lines
with a knife across the effigy of the Emperor on a
sf. piece. As the line was drawn across the neck,
the act was taken as expressive of malicious motives
or designs.

It was still doubted whether the Cabinet would
last till the elections. The civil governors of pro-
vinces have been consulted as to the feelings of the
country, and as to the probability of the Govern-
ment having a majority in the Chamber of Depu-
ties. If the contrary be shown, it is thought the
Ministers will retire.

LITERATURE.

Broomhill ; or, the County Beauties. 3 vols.
Colburn.
There is
_something very attractive about this
novel ; it is simply narrated without affectation or
display—its purport being to chronicle the spina
time of two fair sisters, who "grew in beauty side
by side" in the shelte'r of their country house.
From that - peaceful retreat they passed into the
troubled scene of society, where their careers were
singularly unfortunate. Ellen the elder had, in-
deed, finished her brief role as young lady before
Flora was introduced. It would have been far
better for both sisters to have appeared together,
as many mistakes might not have been committed
by them had they thus acted. Ellen was deceived
by a most despicable character, who was actually
engaged to his cousin, while he trifled with the
affections of the- fair Miss Mulcaster. Subse-
quently, excited and maddened at the idea of ap-
pearing to wear the willow for such a man, Ellen
was married to an old friend and playfellow,
in spite of the entreaties of her friends ; she was
unhappy and dejected, conscious she had neglected
her duties, and at last sunk into an early grave.
In the bloom of youth and loveliness she was laid
' to'rest in the stately halls of Caversham, amid her
husband's ancestors. Flora was nearly broken
hearted at losing her only tie to life, but time at
last soothed her grief. The character of i this
heroine is by far the most pleasing of the two ;' she
has more energy, gaiety, and brilliancy about her
manner ; likewise she had better feelings and higher
principles than her unfortunate sister. Both lovely
to an unusual degree, —both surrounded by; ad-
mirers, pouring into their young, inexperienced
minds every species of false praise and insincere
adoration, without a relative to counsel, or a friend'
to advise,—their position was very trying. In the
balance, however, the youngest was not found Want-
ing, while the eldest was, with all her haughtiness,
very vain, and quite aware of her own value. With
different circumstances Ellen might have done well,
but it was Flora's triumph to make the best of all
that happened to her. The former sunk under the
world's trials, and yielded to its temptations ; the
latter had faith to endure her afflictions, and
spirit to rise and overcome all difficulties. , Her
lot was as painful as her sister's ; for many years
she had to encounter misunderstandings on all
sides ; death did not snatch her from the scene of
her labours ; she had her work to finish, and it
was not till nearly ten years after our first meeting
her as a gay, light-hearted girl that any prospect of
peace is offered to her. The most agreeable part
of the story is, perhaps, the episode of the aunt of
the sisters, Mrs. Tronbridge, who had brought
them up from infancy, at their grandfather's
estate. She had been engaged in early youth
to a favourite friend of her father's, but owing
to the young man's godmother not leaving
him her property, as had been anticipated,
the relentless Mr. Heneage refused to allow any
further intercourse. Twenty years passed away,
the father had long since been consigned to his
family vault ; the sorrowing and disappointed Mar-
garet yet led a single life, when her faithful and at-
tached lover at last returned. It was a struggle to
the affectionate aunt to leave her nieces, but at last
she yielded, and departed for India, whither they
were compelled to return, in consequence of a bank
failing in which Mr. Tronbridge had placed his
money. The character of Cecil is very well given,
likewise his brother deserves approbation ; it is to •
be feared that there are many to serve as proto-
types to Lord Allw3rif Conyers, thoughtless, un-
principled, and reckless, was really designing evil,
perhaps, but perfectly indifferent when it does re-
sult from their actions. On the whole, few can fail
to be interested in the perusal of these volumes, for
their heroines are not fabled houris, or emanations
of a poet's dream, but life-like creatures, whose lot
is cast in the world around us. Many such may
be seen daily, in our paths, if we except their sur-
passing loveliness, for it is an acknowledged fact
that, when the novelist would pourtray the beauty
of the face, he best succeeds who draws inspirations
from imaginings ; but when lie would describe the
sorrow of the heart, reality will afford the best
suggestions, forthe experience of every age attests
that, while many may doubt the vraisemblanes
of beauty, none will deny the truth and sober
earnestness .of suffering :

" We must devote a few lines of description to the
lovely creature now standing before us. She was plainly
dressed in white, though the elaborate simplicity and per-
fect freshness of her toilet displayed more foreign than
English taste. The corsage a l'enfant showed the long and
slender waist to great advantage ; and the bright scarlet
opera cloak, as she held it negligently round her, con-
trasted well with the snowy neck, the soft and alomht
transparently pale complexion, with but a faint tinge of
colour on the rounded cheek. Every feature was faultless :
the low forehead, the nose and chin, chiselled as though
modelled by a Grecian sculptor, accorded well with tho
curved and haughty upper lip. When in repose, beautiful
as was the face, the expression of the mouth was hardly
pleasing until„,she spoke or smiled, and then it changed to
one of extreme softness and gentleness.
" We must now describe, as concisely as possible, our
favourite Flora. If one sister was a perfect specimen of
a brunette, the other was as completely a blonde ; no one
could look at her and for a moment mistake the country
and nation whose child she was. Her features were not
so faultless as her sister's ; they could hardly indeed boar a
comparison with them. Still, though the nose might not
be Grecian, and the forehead a shade too high, the sweet-
ness of the well-cut mouth, dimpled chin; and bright coral
lips ever beaming with smiles, and the joyous light of eyes
of that rare shade of veritable turquoise blue, constituted
Flora an undoubted beauty, without the addition of the
brilliant pink and white complexion, and clouds of golden
ringlets, which, curling, naturally increased her. resem-
blance to the celestial beings the old artists so delighted in
pourtraying."

Reginald Selwyn ' • or, Lights and Shadows of Lite-
rary Life. By Alex. H. P. Girvan. Saunders
and Otley.
After a perusal of the first few pages of Mr. Gir-
van's production, which posesses considerable merit,
it is impossible not to fed a strong desire to devour
the contents of the_ whole ; the reader is led on by
an irresistible impulse from chapter to chapter, so
great is the interest felt in the adventures of the
hero. The author avows in the preface that his
object in publishing the work is to strip the literary
profession of some of the absurd illusions with which
it is often invested by those who are ignorant of a
writer's struggles and vicissitudes, with the view
of inducing the young and ambitious not to relin-
quish certain and remunerative employment for
the precarious livelihood derivable from letters.
Reginald Selwyn is a young man of refined percep-
tions and cultivated mind. He has been brought
up under the fostering care of a friend of his de-
ceased father—a Mr. Merton, who, not succeeding
in his profession as an advocate, has retired to a
small secluded village on the sea coast. He has a
pretty daughter, called Cecilia, and it is almost
needless to add, that the two juveniles become ar-
dent lovers, and that their affection for each other
strengthens with their growth. An inward con-
sciousness of superior mental fa,cultios, combined
with the applause which a maiden speech had
elicited in a discussion society, unfortunately in-
duced Selwyn to select the calling of an author for
his advancement in life ; and neither the persuasio*
of his guardian nor the tears of Cecilia could alter
his determination.
So after many blessings from Mr. Morton, and
professions of endearment by Cecilia, ho pro-
ceeds to London, buoyed up by the brilliant
prospect which he conceived would open to
him. He reaches that universal haven of
struggling genius, afterraany discouraging reverses
obtains literary employment at the magnificent
remuneration of 2/. a-week. Proud of his good
fortune, he visits his native village with the inten-
tion of claiming the hand of Cecilia, but he finds
that he has been supplanted there by a beau from
town, a Mr. Villiers, who bears the reputation of
being rich and well connected. Selwyn returns to
London in the gloomiest of moods. The next
event in his life is certainly somewhat startling.
On his way to his lodgings one night he hears the
pitiable cry of a female—he runs down a squalid,
dirty street, inhabited by the refuse of the neigh-
bourhood, bourhood, and there discovers an unfortunate
creature, who had been turned out of her lodgings
was dead.
being ill-used by a band of intoxicated and in'
furiated wretches. He releases her from
grasp, and subsequently discovers that she is his
mother, whom he had long supposed
His mother adores
He rescues her from her degradation
her under his own roof. To add to placeshisamliclisery he
is thrown out of employment,
him with an intensity which is almost unnatural,
and, in order to relieve his anxiety) endeavours to
maintain both by the aid of her
ferdom a consciousness of
easiness of mind, arising needle. That
un-
away, added to in-
eelnroads upon her health,
error which cannot be wiped cessant labour, soon madd
and the body soon yielded its spirit. Selwyn
is once more thrown friendlessli on the world. He
is on the pointsm
smile throw
ethommitiing suicide, when fortune
seemed to haw, arourrdglitlis
begins to
tfteturme.urkAy
pcialoyutdhatthlaet
had long ag.al;ritten, and almost forgotten, is ac-
theatres.y
cepted b
He
.manager of one of the West-end
present when the production is first submitted to the public • it is successful, and
the author is called before the curtain.
sooner does lie make his appearance ' but no
than the
audience is startled by a shriek from a lady. She
•
is no other than Cecilia, who, being overcome by
the sudden recognition of her former lover,
Swoons away in one of the boxes • Selwyn
that she became the
isth
en needlesstol,a
nvt
doe
renews the intimacy so long broken, and
Villiers,learns
behind him a small
the effects of dissipation, leaving
who sadly neglected her, andw ife
whoolt had died from
climax ; but it Was fb •
property, which she inherited.
?,ir, Villiers become husband
and ilird twihafte.SelHwYisn lalanPdPul.'ssappeared.
s o lief
almost reached its