The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-11 00:00:00

LITERATUE.E.

Revelations of Prison Life. By George Laval

CheAterton.

Hurst and Biackett.

A deeply interestng record of prison experience,
by a well-known prison reformer, to wit, the ex-
Governor of Cold Bath Fields Prison. Numerous
characters are introduced, the incidents of whose
various careers are of a striking, some of them of
an appalling, nature, and the anxieties peculiar to
the then position of the writer, are shown to bo
such as to have called for no little support and
sympathy.. While of a character to attract the
unreflecting, and such as look merely for excite-
ment, these volumes possess claims on the atten-
tion of prison reformers. The writer undertakes
an inquiry into prison discipline and second try
punishments, his object being to unmAsk the falla-
cies of one over-lauded system (the separate), and
to caution the public from any exaggerated expec-
tation from any o. her. Altogether the work is
one deserving of general perusal, and well calcu-
lated by its exposition of bygone evils, and the
suggestions it contains for the future, to do
good service. Differences of opinion will always
exist on some matters, and, not least, such as seri-
ously involve the welfare of society ; but it would
be impossible for a thoughtful individual to read
this work without more or less profit. As a narra-
tive of individual achievement in the teeth of
powerful obstacles it possesses considerable value.

Letters on Military
_Education By Jacob Omnium.

Bradbury and Evans.
These letters on the subject of Army Reform
made their first appearance in the columns of the
Times, and excited as they successively appeared
a good deal of attention, and not a little contro-
versy. In their present form the public will be
better enabled to do justice to the views of the
author than they possibly could through the
medium of a daily journal, however popular and
extensively read, and we must say the letters are
deserving of the most thoughtful perusal and con-
sideration. One point is put with much force—
the danger under the existing system of favouritism
and incompetency of nominating a successor to
Lord Hardinge—a strong presumption existing
that such successor would either be a Prince of
the Blood, or a Peninsular Field-Marshal, in which
case, if incompetent, the nation would have to
endure (possibly) many a long year of military mis-
government before a Prime Minister could be found
resolute enough to disgrace by dismissal either of
them. Another proof of the necessity of Parlia-
mentary Reform, which, in our humble opinion,
must precede every other of a really thorough and
effective nature ! When will our public writers
come to see this ?

Healthy Respiration. By Stephen H. Ward,
M.D., London. John Van Voorst, Paternoster-

row.

A series of lectures delivered last winter in Lon-
don on a subject of the last importance to the wel-
fare of the community, since, on a proper appre-
hension of it, the.progress of sanitary improvement
largely depends. Mr. Ward possesses those im-
portant qualifications of a good lecturer, a lucid
style, brevity, and force, and knowing whereof he
speaks is enabled to fix the attention and fasten
his remarks on the memory of his hearers or
readers. Altogether the work is one which com-
mands our approval, and if everything met with its
desert would be sure to command also an extensive
sale. It is very portable, we may add, as well tit
calculated to be useful.

The Sabbath Question. By Henry Fulton. Dublin

WGlashan and Co.

An interesting brochure, in which the Sabbath
question is considered scripturally, without refer-
ence to its social, political, or sanitary character.
The writer seeks only for the teaching of Scripture,
and the result of his research is a noticeable ex-
po3ure of the fallacies which Sabbatarian divines
have pretended to draw from it. Whother the
writer be a member of the Society of Friends or
not we do not know ; but his views, we fancy,
pretty closely resemble those entertained by that,
body of religionists. The work has reached a second
edition, and is deserving of circulation.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

MADLLE. PICCOLOMINI'S BENEFIT.

This young lady may wall be proud and happy. She
has fairly won the hearts of her au lience. There could
be no mistake 21.1 to the warmth of sentiment displayer
last night, when, on the conclusion of her thrilling an.
marvellous performance, the whole house rose to do het
honour. Ladies were waving handkerchiefs ; men were
cheering; every one that had a bouquet cast it on th,
stage, till the favourite was weal nigh hidden by the
mass of flowers she attempted to cai iy. Again an,
ag was she called for, and in the thunders of applause
and in the ringing cheer, there was a volume, a warmth
a love, in one word, such as we have never before seen
evincfd within the walls of a theatre.

Midemoiselle Piccolomini was evidently deeply grati-
lied touched. She curt-ied her thagks with spa'k
ling eyes and grateful smile, that told how seru,ible she
felt that she was treated as an "enfant Cherie'"—e
darling. The actress and the audience, for once, ap
preciated each other, and reciprocated feelings as deep
as genuine.
The opera was followed by the new ballet of the
Corsaire," which " went," as the phrase is, better than
the first night of its production. Rosati was adanrabie.
She bounded, sparkled, enchanted.
" Her steps are of light, and her home is the air,

And she only par complaisance touches the ground. '
The scenery, costumes, dancing, acting, all combined
in their excellence to produce great entertainment and
great applause.