The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-07 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Fortune : A Romance of Life. fly D. T. Coul ton.
3. vols. Published for Colburn, by his successors,
Hurst and Blackett.
There is no doubt that this will prove the most
remarkr,ble novel of the season. Others may equal
it in style of composition, some may surpass it in
interest of narrative, but for power, for thought,
and for originality this stands unrivalled. It is to
be questioned if we have met with so brilliant a
work on the whole since the author of Coningsby
has ceased to enrich our literature. Although it
is far from attaining that standard, still we find
such real talent evidenced throughout its pages, so
much vigorous expression, and so vast a know-
ledge of life, that it is evident only a master-
hand could have executed what only a superior
mind could have conceived. The general im-
pression conveyed by the perusal of the story
is a melancholy one, but the moral is ap-
parent, that it is owing to the selfishness, the
deceit, and the foolish desires of the worldly, that
the world is so weary a desert to its devoted pil-
grims. if all they undertook was not so essentially
the " vanity of vanities," all they experienced
would not be so invariably " vexation of spirit."
The idea is a good one, of placing a young and
ardent being in the trying position of a sudden
accession to enormous wealth. Doubtless there
are many such now in existence, who fancy, like
Florian Tremore, that they would be miracles of
talent and virtue if placed in a high position, but
who would soon fail in the trial. The carrying out
of such a proposition is, of course, at variance with
the tenour of human affairs. This is the romance
of the tale, but the rest is sober fact. Caven-
dish, with his merits and crimes, his good im-
pulses and bad passions, is a creation of the
novelist, to a certain degree ; but there are
some hesitating yet honourable Bellstars, some en-
thusiastic unhappy Damers, some honest straightfor-
ward Smiths, while it is to be feared that there are
only too many spiteful and designing as Dudley, arro-
gant and ruthless as Laneton, crafty and unscrupu-
lous as Messrs. Flint, Stone, Rock, &c. It is a
relief to meet with men like Parkinson and his
class, as a refreshing contrast, after such an insight
into errors and abuses. It is not only in the
spheres of business that the author excels in his
descriptions and details ; the gay scenes of fashion
are vividly portrayed, and the votaries of its
trials, its trifles, and its troubles are ably de-
lineated. " All is not gold that glitters" is the
motto of its annals ' • and turning from the brilliant
Geraldine, a prey to unhappiness and discontent,
the heiress Una, surrounded with all that wealth
and position could attain, pining away in
secret misery ; above all, from the wretched
Florian, the hero of the day, the reader is
forced to acknowledge that rank so coveted,
wealth so prized, beauty and grace.so envied, posi-
tion so sought after and treasured, are useless to a
mind that is not at peace within, and a mockery to
the heart that is desolate. The part of the narra-
tive which relates to the two sisters, Millicent and
Griselda, is the most pleasing, and the best feelings
are therein displayed. The spirit of Millicent was
of the same heroic nature that has inspired the
world-renowned warrior, and crowned the immor-
tal sage ; but in her, action was denied. She had to
bear in' sickness poverty and distress what might
have shaken the resolution of men strong in feel-
ing, position, and friends. But she was faithful till
death ; and although she did not see the object of her
desires, she left her sister with a guardian willing to
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Patient, persevering, and loving, she had her work
to perform in a different way; but, although lower,
it was arduous to her. Her character is thus
beautifully described :—" Griselda's heaven was
not far off ; to her fancy the sorrows of life alone
were buried in the grave, while all that was peace-
ful, and joyous, and good upon the earth vanished
but to enjoy an immortal existence. They blos-
somed here, their fruition was above." Such de-
sires as hers may seem simple, and such thoughts
trivial, but it is to be remembered that she cherished
her visions of heaven while earth presented its
bitterest cup to her lips, and she dreamed of peace
in the midst of strife. Florian is totally dissimilar
to the companions of his youth ; his boasted gran-
deur of sentiment was at last reduced to a mere
grovelling impulse ; he only sank, and drew
others down with him. Fortune was his wish,
not that it might exalt him to the ranks
where he might aspire to fame, free from the
necessities of drudgery ; not that it might con-
duce to lettered ease and intellectual refinement ;
not even that he might gain friends and taste of
the enjoyments of luxurious hospitality ; but that
his senses might be gratified, his vanity indulged,
and his idleness unmolested by incentives to exer-
tion. The possession of his desire brought him
misery, and the deprivation of it entailed despair.
The experiment was not a justifiable one on the
part of Cavendish, although lie did endeavour to
counteract any evil tendency resulting from it.
His career terminated better than is to be feared is
natural. It is not often that after a course of wild
and unsettled vagaries reason resumes her sway,
and the haven of calm repose is found. It would
be well if all restless, repining dispositions possessed
the power to say with Una, when, contemplating
the sky where the clouds were shadowed, but
where the rainbow shone, she replied to Caven-
dish's murmurs of its similitude to life—" Clouds
to trouble, perhaps, she said, to perplex, and to
alarm, it may be ; but, by that splendid arch, to
overwhelm—never." It is thus that those who
rely on Fortune waver at the touch of trial, while
those who are indifferent to her smiles and inde-
pendent of her frowns can face the most appalling
reverses, for the spirit of unflinching constancy and
trust in Providence are in the canopy of life, as the
rainbow hues of present glory and future promise.

The Journal of Psychological Medicine and Mental
Pathology. Edited by Forbes Winslow, M.D.

There are various articles in this number ; all,
however, bear reference to the same subject—Ele-
ments of Psychology, the Dietetics of the Soul, 45c.
Insanity in India is considered, and it is remarked
that nowhere can a more extensive field for obser-
vation be found, but that, unfortunately, but few
discoveries have, as yet, been made concerning the
origin and existence of madness in the East. It is
mentioned in a paper at the conclusion that it is of
the most vital consequence to discover at the com-
mencement, the fact of insanity existing. Two cases
lately came to the hospital in which the friends of the
sufferers supposed the evil to be of a few weeks
date only, but it was soon discovered that it had
been dormant for three years in one instance, and
fifteen months in the other. In one case all hope
of cure was gone, in the other it was but a
distant prospect. To add to the horror of the
subject, it was believed that if measures had been
adopted at first, the disease might have been pre-
vented from spreading. It is of consequence that
such a fact should be known more generally than
it is at present. Friends and relatives should be
informed that it is false kindness to the afflicted to
hide the first symptoms of madness, as by such
inconsiderate conduct they produce the very evil
they wish to avoid.

. .
The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of

England:

. _
There are several articles of interest in this pub-
lication. " Hereditary Diseases of Horses," in
which a great deal of information is given to those
concerned in such details. On " The different
Breeds of Sheep," &c. " The Farming of Derby-
shire" is one of the most prominent papers, in
which a most elaborate account is given of the
different kinds of soil, and other matters relating
to the geology of the country. In conclusion some
remarks are made concerning the desirability of
increased plantations ; the following extract will
best serve to explain the writer's views
"The usefulness of plantations is admitted on the up-
land farms, and occupiers are looking forward to the
time when a thriving plantation will afford shelter to
his homestead, and protect his stock from north-western
blasts. The continued crusade going forward against
hedgerow timber renders it imperative some restoration
should be made, lest the country be disrobed of its syl-
van beauties, and entirely dependent on foreign supplies
for domestic use. The extensive plantations which have
already been made on the estates of the Dukes of Devon-
shire and Rutland, and at Stanton, Hopton, Middleton,
have, without any doubt, improved the climate, and
contributed in some degree (combined with other causes)
to hasten the time of harvest in the upland districts.
Nothing would be more interesting, in an agricultural
point of view, than self-registering thermometers placed
in immediate proximity to plantations, or within range
of their influence; and compared with others in exposed
and similar altitudes. This would be a valuable test,
and sufficiently show the advantage of giving shelter,
and explain the secret of growing wheat at the elevation
of Stanton-house. But then comes the question, would
it pay ? and what kind of trees would best flourish on
Derbyshire mountains ? 150 years ago the larch was a
stranger, and treated as an exotic, and confined to a
glasshouse ; and it is probable that many foreign trees
of the pine tribe, now luxuriating in the wilds of Canada,
or the snowy heights of Kamtschatka, or the Himalaya,
would flourish in the moorland waste or the rocky pre-
cipices of the mountain-lime and the millstone-,grit.
Sufficient at present is not known of these plants to give
a definite opinion as to their usefulness on English soil ;
but the inquiry is going forward, and will, without
doubt, result in the importation of many useful forest
plants from northern wilds. In accordance with these
views, I have the high authority of Sir Joseph Paxton,
who, in reply to my inquiry, states, " the red pine
(Pinus resinosa) produces the yellow deal of Canada, and
would, without doubt, grow well in the highest situa-
tions, but it has not been tried extensively." With re-
spect to the forest trees of the Himalaya, Sir Joseph
says, " Some would possibly flourish in Derbyshire ;