The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TITESDA EVENING, JATLY 29, 1856.

LITERAT URE.

THE BUSINESS OP TIIE SESSION.

Physiology and Calisthenics for Schools and Families.
By Catherine E. Beecher. Sampson Low, Lad-
gate-hill.
It is well known that physical deterioration, too
frequently accomoanied by mental and moral in-
feriority, is, in the aggre,a,e, to be imputed to our
want of knowledge of the construction of the human
body, and the neglect of tl'e simple laws of health.
Heads of families seldom pay sufficient attention to
the habits And practices of those under their charge,
I which are connected with exercise and dietetics.
Mrs. Beecher's 'volume is just the work which
ought to be in the hands of all who desiro to
thoroughly and healthily develope the constitution
of a rising generation. It imparts a system of
physiology and social treatment well adapted to
interest the uneducated, and at the same time fully
satisfy the intellectual and enlightened mind.
It embraces the gist of all that is to be found in
the works of eminent English, French, and Swed-
ish professors ; but rendered in such a plain and
popular form as to be perfectly comprehensible to
the most uninitiated reader. It contains a chap-
ter of well-directed censure against the old and
crying evil of tight lacing of girls and wome❑
in order to procure a " beautiful figure"—such a
figure, by the bye, as Rubens or Titian never
selected to grace their invaluable canvass, and
which our modern artists of real genius quietly
sneer at.

(Front the Times of this day.)

Commenced while the country was still engaged
in a sanguinary though "just and necessary" war,
the duration of which no mrtn could predicate, the

session which will be brought to a close to-day will
be chiefly memorable for the ratification of the peace
with Russia and the recurrence of the nation from
the strife and din of arms to the more genial occu-
palions of peace.
At its opening the Government gave ample indi-
cations that in the recess matters of domestic legis-
lation had not escaped their attention, and many
measures of fair promise which had been much
called for were early introduced. At the same time
energetic steps were taken to maintain our mili-
tary and naval forces in a state of efficiency, and to
enable us to prosecute the war with vigour.
When Parliament assembled the great subject of
the mignty conflict in which we were engaged en-
grossed everyenergy, and when at length peace was
proclaimed our senators with one accord seemed to
arrive at the conclusion, although but two months
had elapsed, that the great object of the session had
been accomplished. One after another important
measures fell through and were withdrawn from
the sheer disinclination of the House to devote
itself to sober and serious legislation; and the desire
of every one appeared to be to bring the session to
a close as speedily as possible. Hence the sitting
has been especially remarkable for its brevity.
' Among the bills which have, however, received
the Royal assent are the Exchequer-bills Funding,
the Annuities, the Joint-Stock Banks (Scotland),
Sir W. F. Williams' Annuity, the Reformatory
Schools (Scotland), the Juvenile Convict Prison
(Ireland), the Public Health Supplemental, the
Draughts on Bankers, the Factories, the Industrial
and Provident Societies, the Joint-Stock Companies,
the Grand Juries, the Police (Counties and
Boroughs), the Mercantile Law Amendment, the
Drainage (Ireland), the Grand Juries (Ireland), the
Statutes not in Use Repeal, the Encumbered Estates
(Ireland), the Coastguard Service, the Bishops of
London and Durham Retirement, the County
Courts Acts Amendment, and a considerable num-
ber of private acts.
Included in the extensive category of measures
abandoned, rejected, or withdrawn, are the Local
Dues on Shipping Bill, the Partnership Amend-
ment (Nos. 1 and 2), the Divorce and Matrimo-
nial Causes, the Agricultural Statistics, the Lon-
don Corporation, the Scotch and Irish Paupers'
Removal, the Juvenile Offenders (Ireland), the
Education (Scotland), the Wills and Administra-
tion, the Appellate Jurisdiction, the Criminal Ap-
propriation of Trust Property, the Dulwich Col-
lege, and many other measures of capital impor-
tance introduced both by, the Government and by
private members.
Having assembled upon the 31st of January, the
House of Commons has sat upon 106 days, extend-
ing over 8381 hours ; while the House of Lords
has sat upon 88 days, extending over 223/ hours.
The average duration of the daily sittings of the
Commons, therefore, has been nearly 8 hours, and
of the Lords about 2i hours. When it is consi-
dered that the Commons never sit beyond six
hours on Wednesdays, it will be seen that the
average on other days must be more than the 8
hours which we have given. We are not surprised
to find, therefore, that the " vicious system " of
sitting past midnight has been practised to a great
extent,- and that legislation has been carried on by
the Commons during this short session through 88i
hours after midnight, or 11 days of eight hours
each. The Lords have only exceeded in this way
to the extent of some five hours snatched from the
period of natural repose. Mr. Brotherton having
made a futile attempt when the session was young
in favour of the " early closing movement" aban-
doned his position in despair ; the call for " Bro-
therton" ceased to be a watchword with our less
wakeful senators, and Mr. Bouverie's view that
more business was got through after 12 o'clock.at
night than before appeared to be generally ac-
queisced in with a species of reluctant despair
which was unanswerable. The "No House" phe-
nomenon has been realised upon only three wel-
come occasions, but the " counts out" have
amounted to seven. Some of these, however, were
at a very late hour in the morning, when the
House was literally in a state of complete exhaus-
tion and fatigue. The divisions have been 23 in
the Lords and 193 in the Commons—a smaller
number than has occurred for some years past.

The abuses of Dress are also sensibly pointed
out ; but we fear that Fashion, like an insolent,
presuming ignoramus, as she is, will ever hector
and bully that simple old lad; Nature, into the
background of Civilisation. Fashion is the most
mischievous tyrant that ever damaged and distorted
the perfect productions of our Almighty Master.
Now, she insists on divesting us of the black,
brown, and golden tints distinguishing our tresses,
and treats us as a cook does soles for frying—with
a horrible smotheration of flour and lard. Anon,
men must carry a "pig's tail," in addition to the
human proportions • and women must walk about
with story upon story raised upon their cranium,
looking as though they were hired to exhibit a dirty
model of the Tower of Babel. Stashed velvets and
trunk hose must be donned at Fashion's bidding,
and satin trains of ridiculous awl inconvenient
length obsequiously tolerated. Cocked hats and
knee buckles are ordered, and forthwith are deemed
the only available "mode." Hoops and toupees
are pronounced to he elegant, and of course are
" the rage." Some years since, the Damons were
to charm the Sylvias by the aid of blue coats and
buff waistcoats, and the Sylvias were to fascinate
the Damons beneath the shadow of an Oltlenburgh
Poke. At present, the aspiring gallants offer their
devoted hearts under cover of a free and easy
tweed Paletot, and gentle dames parade the city
streets in the modest concealment of feature be-
stowed by a gauze or silken imitation of a scallop
shell. Fashion is truly a capricious, inconsistent,
vulgar (deity to worship ; but, we repeat, that it
will be a hopeless endeavour to convert her fol-
lowers to the creed of Common Sense.
Such works as the one now under notice are
efficient agents in disseminating the practicability
of " knowing ourselves ;" and parents and teachers
would do well for their children and pupils in
amalgamating a portion of such knowledge with
the Music, French Fancywork, Dead Languages,
Mathematics, and Logic, so eagerly pursued in
the present ago, and so frequently of little benefit
when acquired.

Ths Channel Islands. By Octavius Rooke.
Booth, Regent-street.
How many there are who, like Johnny Gilpin,
"on pleasure bent," go prancing off to Italy,
Switzerland, Germany, South Africa, North Ame-
rica, and other far-away, foreignation places, with-
out possessing any knowledge of the beauties closer
at hand I They rave of Chamouni, but are igno-
rant of the exquisite mountains and dales of Der-
byshire and Wales. They indulge in extatics about
the Lagoons of Venice, but have never seen the
moon rise over the lakes of Westmoreland. They
can dilate largely on the Rhine, bat cannot expa-
tiate on the Wye. In fact, a prevailing notion
appears to exist that we must go a very long way
off to see anything worth looking at.
The little volume before us has suggested these
remarks. We are often surprised that among the
myriad of Continental tourists so few should take
the Channel Islands in their route. Jersey, Guern-
sey, and Sark contain scenery of the most varied
and charming character, and, moreover, they lie
within a short and inexpensive distance. Lot any
lover of nature perambulate the bays and valleys
of Jersey, and he will confess that the little island
is an enchanting one, and that he might go much
farther and behold less beauty. Mr. Rooke has
supplied us with a very acceptable guide-book iu
this publication, for we believe there is no work of
the kind in print relating to these fair spots of
earth. The illustrations are faithfully given, and
are unmarked by the romantic exaggerations too
frequently evident in such sketches. The letter-
press gives much useful and entertaining matter,
and those who wish to derive healthy enjoyment
at moderate expenditure during a short recess can-
not do better than put Mr. Rooke's book in their
carpet-bag and take a ramble through the Channel
Islands.

Subjoined is a resume of the more important
events of the session :

JANUARY.

31st, Parliament opened by the Queen in per-
son. The Address, which was moved in the House
of Lords by the Earl of Gosford, and seconded by
the Earl of Abingdon, and which was moved and
seconded in the Commons by Mr. Byng and. Mr.
Baxter, was agreed to in both Houses without an
amendment. In the Lords, however, the Speech
was closely criticised in an address of considerable
length by the Earl of Derby.

Davidson's Musical Opera Books. G. H. David-
son, Peter's-hill, Doctor's-commons.
This publication is a great boon to the opera-
frequenting public. The Italian and English
libretto, with the music of a considerable number
of the finest melodies in each opera, are presented
at the lowest price possible ; and a prefatory ex-
planation of the story,' so generally needed in these
mysterious lyrical dramas, together with the full
description of scene and action, are given ; form-
ing the most complete and desirable brochure
extant, as an operatic band-book. The most
"verdant" novitiate and the yawning habitue may
alike congratulate themselves on the issuing
of this useful work, which we aro glad to see is
supplied, to the audience at her Majesty's Theatre
in lieu of the old and far less elacidatory style of
opera books.

Tasso and Leonora. By the Author of " Miry
Powell," &c. Hall, Virtue, and Co.
This author is already favourably known to the
public by her success in a new and peculiar depart-
ment of fiction. Her narratives are for the most
part the histories of some well-known characters,
supposed to be written by themselves or by some
one immediately conaected with them. Of course
this style of narrative requires a greater degree of
talent than a simple story, as well as necessitating
a thorough acquaintance not only with the main
incidents of the lives of the chief actors, but also of
the manners and customs of the age in which they
lived. In the arduous task she has undertaken
she has, however, been very successful, as the his-
tories of Mary Powell, the first wife of Milton, and
of Margaret Roper, the heroic daughter of Sir
Thomas More,, will, among others, prove. The
subject she has this time selected is one not infe-
rior in interest to either—a subject that has been
the theme of poets and romancists, of historians
and biographers, that has excited the sympathies
and aroused the indignation of every successive
generation of its readers, and that still retains the
undying interest due to poetry, love, and sorrow.
The book is supposed to be written by Ser Panta-
leone, gentleman usher to Madama Leonora d'Este.
He is, or professes to be, a sober and peaceable
personage, little disposed to share in the jealousies
and factions of a court,. He takes a lively interest
in the fortunes of Tasso, however, both from por-
.
sonal friendship and, from an early acquaintance
with his father, Bernardo Tasso, the author of
" Amadis de Gaul." The story is simply and natu-
rally told, or rather sketched—the little incidents
and speeches, though described and recorded with
ease and fluency, carefully preserving the indivi-
dual characteristics. Leonora is sketched with
much skill and delicacy, which is a matter
of some difficulty, as it is not easy to inain-
tain a high strain of romance in the descrip-
tion of domestic details. The character
of Tasso also is described with effect • the vehe-
mence and absence of suspicion that belong to his
character being forcibly contrasted with the male-
volence and craftiness of the Duke, so heedful of
the honour of his family; and, observes Ser Pa,nta-
leone, " When a prince, and that prince an Italian,
gets into his head that the honour of his house is
affronted there is no knowing what may come
next." The volume conclUdes with Tasso's release
and arrival at Mantua, where he meets his old
friend, Ser Pantaleone, who is about to retire to a
monastery, being disgusted with the World, owing.
to the death of his august mistress, the cruel im-
prisonment of his friend, and specially attracted
by the excellent soups made by, the brethren of
St. Olivet. It has been objected to this style of
work that it is apt to produce an injurious effect
on its readers, leading them to Suppose it real, and
if not it cannot be interesting. Few, we should
imagine, among the middle class of readers would
be ignorant enough to fancy that this work was the
veritable production of Marlania Leonora's gentle-
man usher, yet still fewer, we should imagine,
would compla'n of want of interest.- It may, in-
deed, he instructive to some by impressing the
leading events cn their memories add directing
their -attention to historical subjecti. The
thoressau-
may
be con,grattilated on having beau sac-
.
cessfnl in, an .exploit .which was certainly adven-
turous, 'considering die, diatanco of the age and
country and the celebrity of the characters. She
has not, however, proved unequal to the un.dertak-
ing, and thu present volume to.enhance
her reputation,