The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-21 00:00:00

LITE RATURE.

Cuzco and Lima. By Clements R. Markham,
F.R.G.S. Chapman and Hall.
. .

r A highly interesting work, abounding in curious
information, amusing anecdote, and picturesque
description. Under the first heading (Cuzco) we
have a pleasing narrative of a journey to the an-
cient capital of Peru, with an account of the his-
tory, literature, and antiquities of the Incas.
Under the second, the record of a visit to Lima
(the modern capital of modern Peru) and the pro-
vinces, with a sketch of the Viceregal Govern-
ment, a history of the Republic, and a review of
the literature and society of Pegu—the whole
illustrated by beautifully-executed lithographs
and a useful map. The author, already known
to a portion of the reading world by a
work entitled "Franklin's Footsteps," has cer-
tainly made a step in advance—the graphic manner
in which he has delineated the character, govern-
ment, and lineage of.the Incas, and the present
physical, social, and political aspect of Peru, being
well calculated to introduce him to a wider circle
of readers. In his account of the state of literature
in Para we are told that " the unsettled state of
the country has to a great extent prevented the
finishing touch being given. to the education of the
people of Peru by European travel, and their in-
formation is principally derived from translations
of English and French works. At Arequipa," he
goes on to say, " I saw young lady reading a
translation of "Uncle Tom" (El tio Tom) with the
deepest interest. Since the Independence Mr.
Ackermann has shown great enterprise in the pub-
lication of a series of illustrated works full of gene-
ral information, for the use of the South American
Republics."

The Franklin Expedition, from First to Last. By

Dr. King, M.D. John Churchill.

Dr. King, whose suggestions and intelligent
conjectures, in connection with the fate of the
missing expedition, have entitled him to much
praise, has, it would appear, volunteered his ser-
vices to command an expedition by land down the
Great Fish River to Montreal Island in search of
traces of the above expeditilo n, and had his offer
rejected by the Lords Comnabsioners of the Admi-
ralty, who do not deem such an expedition advisable.
In the work before us, reviewilog all the conjectures
and proceedings in relation to the Franklin Expe-
dition, the adventurous doctor pretty clearly makes
out a title to the confidence of the public, and main-
tains that, "in all human pre bability, the history
of the Franklin Expedition st ill lies buried in my
Cache (a hiding-place construa ted by Dr. King in
his visit to Montreal Island in 1834, subsequently
visited and opened by Simpson in 1839, and known.
to Franklin) beneath the rock:7 shore of Montreal
Island, and that it is within Ca .e bounds of possibi-
lity that this record may be :recovered, and that
the discoveries of the ill-fated expedition may yet
be published for the advances lent of science, and
the narrative of their probably unexampled suffer-
ings be made known to the rorld." The reader
will probably remember that t;onie slight traces of
the lost expedition have been, found on the banks
of the Great Fish River and on Montreal Island,
and will doubtless concur with us in thinking it a
great pity that Dr. King was•inot permitted to lead
an expedition to the spot in. 1847 or 1848, what-
ever may be thoaght of th'a rejection of his pro-
posal in January last. Had permission been
granted to him in either (ef these years there is
valid reason to believe the lives of a portion of the
members of the expedition might have been saved.

A Week at Bridge of Allan.. By Charles Roger,
LL.D., F.S.A. Edinburgh : Adam and Charles
Black.

A fifth and improved edition of this very inte-
resting descriptive work— which comprises an
account of the Spa and a aerie s of six excursions to
the picturesque and romantic scenery within a
radius of twenty miles round it. In this central
district are to be found Stirling, the Windsor of
Old Scotland, Dunblane, the seat of an episcopal
see, Doune Castle, once a royal residence, the
battle-fields of Stirling, Milton:, Falkirk, Bannock-
burn, and Sheriffmuir, the Roman Camp of Ardoch,
Drummond Castle and its gardens, the Trossachs
and the neighbouring lakes, and the Cascades, and
Rumbling-bridge of the ,Devon, buildings and
localities suggestive of memorable and deeply in-
teresting events, and scenery of the most pictu-
resque and magnificent descriptions. Intending
tourists cannot do better than purchase this work,
and resign themselves to the direction of so intel-
ligent and communicative a guide as Dr. Roger,
who, to a fine appreciation of natural beauty, adds
a thorough knowledge of the history and peculiari-
ties of the localities he describes. The work is illus-
trated with numerous well-executed engravings.