The Sun.
London, England, 1836-05-27 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

ROOKWO OD. A ROMANCE.

BY W. HARRISON AINSIVORT,I, ESQ.
This London : Macrone, 1836.
popular Romance having reached a fourth edi-
tion, is now published in a single volume, embellished
With:a variety of George Cruikshank's admirable illustra-
tions. The artist has realized every description of the
author, upon which he exercised his pencil, with a gro-
tesque fidelity superior to the very best of his own inimi-
table illustrations of Don Quixote. The figure of the old
sexton in the vault is one of those fearfully interesting
objects which Cruikshank invests with a power and a
truth of which no person would believe him capable
Who studied only his more laughable sketches. The
Pile of coffins arranged on each side of the vault ; the
"Mil upon which he sits ; the implements of his
calling scattered on the ground at his feet ; the sleep-
111g cur, in which we see the superior influence of the
hour to the place, and the situation of his master ; and
the dim outline of the knightly effigy in the back
ground, are merely appaling objects : but in con-
junction with the human figures introduced—the
shrivelled sexton, and his lawless looking companion,
who in the abode of the (lead rests upon a musket,—
she impression which they make on the mind is that of
undefined horror. The rescue of Lady Rookwood is
an admirable performance. The clenched hands and
kneeling attitude of the lady, are in excellent keeping
with the stern look in which fear, hate, and curiosity
are equally well depicted. The calm determination of
Luke—the dare-devil courage of Doctor Titus Tyrcon-
nell, flourishing a poker, and delighted at the prospect
of a " scrimmage"—the horror of poor Coates the
attorney, at seeing himself in, the, presence of robbers
actually intent on bloodshed—and the hesitv.tion of
Turpin as he prepares to level his pistols, evidently
amazed at the strange part acted by his quondam
associate Luke—are inimitably well executed. The
" inauguration" and the " Bridar' are not altogether
• so good. In the former Turpin is altogether a different
looking person from what he is represented in the other
sketches of him ; and the sexton of the " Bridal" is no
More the sexton of the " Vault" than we are George
Cruikshank. Turpin's Ride to York is the subject of
four capital sketches. The "Leap of Hornsey-gate," less
to the amazement than the vexation of the toll-taker,
who is thus deprived of the toll ; the " Flight through
Edmonton," in which Black Bess is clearing a donkey
and his cart, to the delight of the gaping town's-folks ;
"Black Bess at full speed," her rider smoking a pipe,
and his three indefatigable pursuers in sight ; and, last
of the four, the " Death of Black Bess"—unquestion-
ably a master-piece. Tthe grief, the despair, the abso-
lute misery with which the wearied, half-famished,
haggard-looking highwayman regards his faithful steed
lying dead before him, cannot be communicated by any
• Power of words.
Of the literary merit of " Rookwood" it is unneces-
sary for us to offer an opinion, after the reception it has
Met with from the public. The present edition is,
however, greatly superior in every respect to any.that
preceded it. The author himself, in the introduction,
leads us to suppose that it has received his last touches;
so that it is now as perfect as he intends it to be. The
work, he assures us, is to a certain extent re-written ;
and we ourselves can bear testimony to the introduc-
tion of several lyrics of unquestionable merit in their
way. The following is by no means the best, but we
are obliged to select it as most suitable to our co-
lumns
THE HAND OF GLORY.
From the corpse that hangs on the road-side tree,
(A murderer's corpse it needs must be)
Sever the right hand carefully :
Sever the hand that the Aced bath done,
Ere the flesh that clings to the bones be gone;
In its dry veins must blood be none.
Those ghastly fingers white and cold,
Within a winding sheet enfold ;
Count the mystic count of seven ;
Name the Governors of heaven,
Then in earthen vessel place them ;
And with dragon-wort encase them,
Bleach them in the noon-day sun,
. Till the marrow melt and run,
Till the flesh is pale and wan
As a moon.ensilvered cloud,
As an unpolluted shroud.
Next within their chill embrace,
The dead man's awful candle place ;
Of murderer's fat must that candle be,
(You may scoop it beneath the road-side tree)
Of war, and of Lapland Sisame.
Its wick must be twisted of hair of the dead,
By the crow and her brood on the wild waste abed.
Wherever that terrible light shall burn,
Vainly the sleeper may toss and turn,
Hi.; leaden lids shall he nc'er unclose,
So Jong as that magical taper glows.
Life and treasure shall he command,
Who knoweth the charm of the Glorious Hand
But of I:lack cats' gall let him aye have care,
And of screech-owl's venomous blood beware

OLD TOBY'S ADDRESS TO HIS FRIENDS.

London : Houlston, 1836.

This unpretending little volume contains a number
(3f familiar essays on the common business of life, put
in the form of the paternal councils of an old man ad-
ilressed to his young friends and acquaintances. The
essay on taking things quietly" is the best. The
l
u°ok througl.out is replete with the germ of good
Bense, and the evidences of an enlarged humanity. It
-13 embellished with a portrait, and well adapted to the
apacity of children.

Any.—The provincial papers contain several ae-
Qclunts of this scoundrel's swindling transactions. He is send-
ing out his letters in every direction. It thus appears, that
Lue mercy which was shown this vagabond by commuting the
lcutence passed on him, is likely to be very mischievous to the
Public. The policy of .clemency exercised in the cause of a
notorious and convicted cheat, may be justly questioned. Why
','lllll the fellow permitted to remain in the country ?
'THE Cow CABBAGE.-L—The papers have lately
announced the introduction into the agricultural world of this
4'gantie vegetable production. A specimen of the stem was,
few days ago, exhibited in the Canterbury market. Its
ileight was upwards of ten feet, and its bulk equal to the
Ituntion hop-pole, of which it was stated it would prove an
eeu • substitute. The proprietor, in speaking of the
nomicaa
;,ITep or ten cows a whole day, with proper management.
;s"e • g •f • -to nine to twelve feet high, and about fifteen feet
v,""_eni.)reiirnlteincee.." It is affirmed that the extra quantity of
u I produced by sheep reared on this article is more than
double what is produced from their ordinary food.—Kentish
'Gazet;e.
THAMES TUNNEL.--1113 stupendous un-
ta.king is proceeding slowly but steadily towards comple-
, " nor has any umserios obstruction occurred since the works
-ere
-e-oeeed. The en work night
.a,nd day ; there are
'Zeeltght sotof men employed, which relievt. each other every
hoses J.
FiehLet constits of 112 men, and there are
e ueroug supernumeraries, ready to supply any casual vacancy.
Pingthtil the eight hours of work they are allowed only a single
hour for refreshment, which is brought W the4mr_on the spot.
per week,
aode Wages ptrid- are high, as much as 40s. and
4,„ hence the engineer is enabled to command tahl services of
f ,Lrate b-icklayers. The men are not cane upon to per-
tall h • • d.• that they
4t as --work; tat is require is,
Thwork, and that the bricks be laid in u workmanlike manner.
I,e cement furnished is of the very best quality, only aboutt
/4,'‘arrel of fine sand being used to 100 barrels of cemen
te:lAeeoncrete thus formed hardens very rapidly, and within.
hours after any new work is completed its solidity put
of 1. very severe test. The overseers go round with harnmer.s
o°,llrteen pounds weight, with which each separate. brick is
Tor-,e„'' a hard blow. If the cement yields so as to disclose the
sli,"st fissure between the bricks, the workman is imme-
ahllY called back to repair tire defoct, and is, besides,. tined one
tell4l,llg to the sick fund. If the brick shakes in its place oin
*'l.l7' struck, nothing but a special plea in excuse can save.t the
tro',', Tr' an from an immediate discharge. With every exertion,
%10,— 'tB peculiar nature the work is unavoidalste- tedious and
•;• It is considered a good piece of work when at end
Th""eit, tY-four hours the shield can be advanced nine inches,
teZsiiliel.l contains 36 boxes, and the work is being simulta-
slii Cair;ed on in each, so that the pushing forward the
feet:,:,' - can onl take place when the work d at) arch is pe•-
kr4-"; to tin/extent from the bases to the key-steno, It will
liappen that a whole day is occupied in the
trf, pushing forward the shield. The extent of archway
41L0 is above 620 feet, mei what remains to be done is
ue u
ye i,,1
'1',200 feet, but of this e*t4,l4. a large portion being
")w-water mark and through a 544 stratum of earth,
141 e "arried forward without such estreow r:w,ition as at
Cess,t
114(11';:e'''..t. part of the work, through a loose seedy 44.64, P. 4!"
t"i Very centre of the bed of the stream, is indisperwailitY
ary.re