The Sun.
London, England, 1840-11-19 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

IRELAND, ITS SCENERY, CHARACTER,
ST.—PART I.
How and Parsons, London, 1840.

, .
So far as we can judge from a first Number,
this account of Ireland, which is from the pen of
Mrs. Hall, bids fair to be the most comprehensive,
and, at the same time, the most impartial work, of the
sort that has yet found its way into print. Impar-
tiality, indeed, observes the authoress in her intro.
duction, will be the main characteristic of the
book, and in order that she may be enabled suc-
cessfully to carry out this laudable object, she has
herself, accompanied by her husband, made several
recent excursions to Ireland, so that her descrip-
tions will be derived from her own impressions of
things, not from the loose hearsay of others. It is
high time, indeed, that party prejudice should cease
to influence the opinions of those who write upon
the subject of the sister island ; hitherto we have
had little more than the statements of Whig, Tory,
or Repealer ; and cannot give too cordial a welcome
to a lady who assures us that she has no political
objects to serve, but will judge for herself, in a
temperate and perfectly unbiassed spirit. 'We are
glad to see that Mrs. Hall bears testimony to the
great improvement that has taken place within the
last few years in Ireland. In the neighbourhood of
Cork—to an account of which the present Number
is confined—this improvement, she tells us, is par-
ticularly striking, one great cause of which is, of
course, to be ascribed to the facilities of communi-
cation afforded by steam-boat travelling. But there
are other causes in operation, and among them we
may mention the spread of Temperance Societies,
which are beginning to confer inestimable benefits
on Ireland. Of the Rev. Mr. Mathew, the great
apostle of this reformation, Mrs. Hall thus speaks :
" The expression of his countenance is peculiarly
mild and gracious ; his manner is persuasive to a degree,
simple and easy, and humble without a shadow of affec-
tation, and his voice is low and musical, such as moves
man. A man more naturally fitted to obtain influence
over a people, easily led, and proverbially swayed by
the affections, we have never encountered. No man
has borne his honours more meekly ; encountered oppo-
sition with greater gentleness and forbearance ;or dis-
armed hostility by weapons better fitted to a Christian.
His age is somewhat above fifty, but he looks younger ;
his frame is strong, evidently calculated to endure great
fatigue, and his aspect is that of established health—a
serviceable illustration of the practical value of his sys-
tem. He is somewhat above the middle size ; his fea-
tures are handsome as well as expressive."
In addition to several tales, sketches, and anec-
dotes illustrative of Irish character, which are in-
terspersed through the present number, there is a
map of the county of Cork, two highly finished en-
gravings, and a variety of appropriate wood-cuts.
Altogether, the work—so far as it has yet proceeded
—is got up in a very creditable style.

MAXWELL'S LIFE of WEL LIN G 7 ON. Fart 9,
Bailey, London. 1840.

A full-length portrait of the Duke of Dalmatia,
dressed in his splendid Marshal's uniform, is pre-
fixed to this Part, and if our recollection of the
original does not deceive
,us, is a most admirable
likeness of the original in every respect but that of
figure, which is rather too tall for Soult. The
expression of the thoughtful, sagacious counte-
nance, Lowever, which is more that of a statesman
than a soldier, is preserved with singular accuracy.
The Marshal is represented standing alone on a
battle field ; a map and a telescope he beside him
on the ground, and he is evidently busy in the con-
sideration of some comprehensive military scheme.
Possibly he is meditating the chances of his gain-
ing possession of the throne of Portugal, for which
he was at one time, it has been said, actively in-
triguing, but against which Napoleon resolutely
set his face. The portrait is carefully en-
graved by Lightfoot, from an original painting
by Rouillard. The first chapter is chiefly confined
to a description of the great battle of Salamanca,
which, says the biographer, " whether considered
in its military or moral results, was probably the
most important of all the P%-minsular triumphs."
This decisive conflict is detailed at great length, and
with Mr. Maxwell's usual vigor and perspicuity.
The Part closes with an account of the prepara-
tions for the equally decisive battle of Vittoria,
' and contains a remarkably spirited plate, entitled
" The Retreat from Waterloo."

THE HEBRETV GRAMMAR OF GESENIUS.
Translated by T. J. Conant.
London : Thomas Ward and Go., 1840.
This Grammar was originally written in German,
by the learned Hebraist Gesenius, and after pass-
ing through eleven editions, it was translated into
English, by Professor Conant, of New York, who
has added to it a valuable course of Hebrew and
English Exercises. Of the American edition,
which was well received by the soundest Biblical
scholars and critics, the present is a beautiful re-
print, and we can safely recommend it as a valuable
help to advanced students in Hebrew literature.
For, like the bulk of elementary books written by
German scholars, this Grammar is by far too ab-
struse for mere beginners, and rather calculated to
frighten than encourage the timid tyro who looks
aghast at the first view of the Hebrew alphabet.
We, had almost forgotten to observe that Gesenius
was a sturdy advocate for the retention of the Ma-
soretic points, without the aid of which it is next to
impossible for an European to read the Hebrew lan-
guage correctly. In fact, the Hebrew Scriptures read
without points in the way taught by Romaine and
Parkhurst sound as differently from the punctuated
text of Van der Hooght as Italian does from French.
Nor arc the points less requisite to determine the
sJise than the sound. Without points the same
word may be indifferently interpreted, the sun or a
wall,
gate or a lion, and thus
le a ocountlesso r a
a bbru
icrkd, a
ities in translation. To
tt he moon
s
students having some previous knowledge of He-
brew this Grammar will prove a valuable acquisition.

CO 0 ICE'S REMAINS. 2 Vols.
Longman, London, 1840.
We have perused these volumes with some at-
tention, but cannot take upon ourselves to say that
we have derived much benefit from the perusal.