The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-29 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

GERMAN IN ONE VOLUME. By Falck Lebahn.
Several very excellent works have already appeared
introductory to the German language ; nevertheless,
we can distinctly assert that the present volume ap-
pears to us to surpass every one of its predecessors.
Before we had leisure to examine the arrangement of
the different elementary principles comprised in the
pages of this grammatical compilatioN, we were per-
suaded that its publication must be almo.st superfluous,
and we were persuaded that it must be euperfluous
from a recollection of the inimitable introduction to
"a theoretical and practical knowledge of the Ger-
man language," written several years since by •S.
Reisender. So fully were we convinced of the advsto-
tages of the system adopted by Herr Reisender, that
we could scarcely conceive to-ourselves the necessity
for anything more simple, more perspicuous, :or more
symmetrical in the shape of a German grammar.
We have carefully examined the volume just issued
by Lebahn, and we confess 'that we were alto-
gether mistaken in our anticipations. Numerous
and admirable as are the works of this description,
which have from time to time come under our obser-
vation, we do not remember any one that has afforded
us equal satisfaction with that given by the present.
There is a novelty about its classification of a very
striking character; the parts of speech are placed in
the happiest order; and the arbitrary rule; illustrated
with the most appropriate examples. Besides this,
the volume has these additional attractions : it is fur-
nished with a vocabulary of 4,500 words, synonymous
in German and English; it contains a translation of
the opening chapters of "Rasselas" and "The Vicar
of Wakefield," and the entire of Fouque's beautiful
tale of " Undine." As a pioneer to the conquest of a
glorious literature, we consider this volume to be
without any competitor.

THE PAST AND FUTURE OF THE BRITISH
IVAVY. By the Hon. E. Plunkett.
Any book with such a title-page cannot fail to
arouse the interest, and to excite the curiosity of
even the least patriotic among Englishmen. And
when, on a perusal, it is found to contain so much
that is candid, honest, sagacious, and startling, and
that it proceeds from the pen of an observant Com-
mander in the Royal Navy, it will inevitably illicit
commendation. Captain Plunkett is wholly precau-
tionary in the nature of his present production ; he
conceives that there is an intense necessity for active
and energetic improvements in the glorious service
of which he is a member, and, solicitous alike for the
safety of his country, the glory of the navy, and the
maintenance of our naval supremacy, he has braved
all the perils of authorship, and boldly launched his
present work upon the dark and mysterious ocean ofcri-
ticism. However much individuals may differ from the
writer, in his estimate of what is requisite in the way
of the modification and advancement of the sea-ser-
vice, it will be impossible for any one to deny him the
possession of the most patriotic sentiments, or to
believe that he has been actuated by any other than
the most generous motions. We all know perfectly
well that the Prince de Joinville wrote many home-
truths in his pamphlet, as well as many erroneous
notions, and many expressions that might be readily
contorted into mere bombast and braggadocio. We
all know, moreover, that the science of naval tactics
has been marvellously changed by the adoption of
steam-power in our armed vessels. Those alterations
and those home-truths necessitate a corresponding
activity in the service ; an activity ambitious of keep-
ing pace with the advancing spirit of the age, and of
not being baffled by the encroachments of science
Although we are confident, therefore, of the con-
tinued vigour of our navy, and of the valour and
efficiency of our seamen, we must, nevertheless, ob-
serve that there are many suggestions contained in the
present brochure deserving the serious Consideration
of the Right Hon. the Lords of the Admiralty.

FINE ARTS.
THE CHRISTIAN IN PALESTINE.
Part VII.

This most attractive serial is continued with una-
bating excellence. We are doubtful whether we
should more admire the learned and interesting letter-
press, penned by Dr. Stebbing, or the brilliant and
picturesque illustrations copied from the original
sketches by W. H. Bartlett. " Mount Thabor, look-
ing towards Gilboa and the Jordan," is a delicious
composition. From the quaint and characteristic
cluster of Arabs and goats in the foreground, the lat- I
ter dipping their long beards in the pool ; from the
cool umbrage of the half-distance, to the remote
mountain and horizon bathed in sunlight, everything
imparts an additional beauty to a scene which, from
its mere undulations and its manifold associations,
would have been strangely interesting. The other
engravings are of almost equal purity.

ROYAL GEMS FROM THE GALLERIES OF
EUROPE. Part VIII.

The contents of the present number are more in
keeping with its sonorous and ambitious • title than
any of its predecessors. Two of the masterpieces' of
Murillo, and one from the brush of Claude Lorraine,
have furnished prototypes for three magnificent en-
gravings. In only one of these do we observe any
very glaring deficiency ; and that deficiency is the
expression imparted to the countenance of the " Good.
Shepherd." There i s a clumsiness in the features,
and an earthliness in the whole character of the phy-
ioga oiny, which are altogether at variance with the
delicate pencilling and seraphic expression of that
childlike face which we have so frequently gazed upon
with rapture in the National Gallery. The counte-
nances of the " Spanish Peasant Boys," from the ori-
ginal in the Dulwich Gallery, are, on the contrary,
inimitable—the gleaming teeth of the vagrant urchin,
and the sulky and crust-munching face of his com-
panion. " The Sylvan Calm" is a most exquisite—
we may say a most masterly—engraving, by Samuel
Bradshaw. As far as black and white can possibly
convey any notion of the luminous embroidering of
the sun, and the gelid gloom of the shadows of Claude
Lorraine, this engraving does. This single plate is
worth more than the price of the entire number. It
would conjure up the glories of summertide and the
loveliness of Andalusia during the November fog in
the ultima thule of Whitechapel.