The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-20 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Edgar Bardon. By William Knighton, M.A.,
author of "Forest Life in Ceylon." 3 vols.
Hurst and Blackett.
This is an autobiographical novel, and furnishes
an interesting subject for perusal. There are vari-
ous people met with, some of whom are well por-
trayed. The gentle aunt Honor, who waa like a
a guardian angel to the unfortunate children of
her sister, and the fierce and harsh father, Mr.
Bardon, are life-like sketches. Mr. Tupsemuch
is more unusual, being in many points rather ori-
ginal, but he is an excellent character, his quaint-
ness of deportment and oddity of taste not being
able to tarnish the innate worth of the man, nei-
ther depriving his heart of its warmth, nor his na-
ture
from its genial and true development. He
was the friend of aunt Honor, and for her sake he
took a lively interest in her nephew and niece.
Some of their happiest remembrances were those of
their childhood, which was watched over by their
benign aunt, and cheered by her eccentric acquaint-
ance. The account of their visit to the old bache-
lor's domicile, where were collected the treasures
of his solitude, all the curiosities he could discover
in the shape of old relics and articles of vertu, of
every class and character, is very ludicrous. He
kept on accumulating his hordes till space failed,
and he had to contrive impossibilities to effect the
entrance of new ones. It wai not the fate of these
friends to complete the term of their earthly course
in the tranquil interchange of the courtesies of
social life. Disappointed by the intervention of rela-
tives from forming in youth a closer tie, they had
fondly hoped to close their years in peace, but it
was far otherwise. As the children grew up, and
Edgar Bardon, the hero of the tale, was about to
be fixed in some profession, the father, who was
of a disagreeable temper, and had embittered many
an hour of early youth to his children, contracted a.
second marriage with a haughty, imperious woman.
Miss Particle, the lady in question, was the sister
of the master of the school to which Edgar had
been in his early days. She became his enemy
then, and ever remained so. It did not matter to
him, however, who ruled at home when he was in
India ; but the tidings struck a death-blow to the
unhappy aunt, and overshadowed the path of
Emma, her niece. Fortunately for the former, her
troubles were nearly over when the intelligence of
the ceremony reached her. For months the pros-
pect had weighed on her mind, but a peaceful death
removed her from the scene where her enemy would
have persecuted her to the rest the wicked may not
disturb. Aunt Honor was a nameless martyr,
sacrificed in youth and slighted in later years, but
she contrived to direct her steps in such a way that
her life was more useful to others than many a
happy one has proved. The life of Emma Bardon
was not much more fortunate. If she had for a
few years some enjoyment, her troubles were
heavier and her anxieties were more than double.
She was attached to a Polish Count. Her father
opposed her union with this noble man, with whom
he could find no fault, and insisted on her being
married to a friend of his in business. After her
aunt's death Emma Bardon remained in France,
where she again met with Count Kofalevski. She
thought she had no duty at home to her father,
who had forsaken her, nor to her brother, about to
depart for India. She therefore having informed
her father of her intention was married to the
Count, and went to his castle in Poland. There,
after a few years, the unhappy Count fell a victim
to the cruelty of Russian tryanny. What little is
mentioled of him is pleasing ; he appears a genuine
enthusiastic lover of his country, and kind-hearted
and generous. Edgar, the hero, is rather of a fickle
disposition. He was led away by first impressions,
and not always constant in his good resolves when
he had formel them. His adventures in India are
varied and exciting, and his acquaintance
with the Signora proves the danger of being
conlie,aed with a treacherous and deceitful set. The
cor.seoluences of having entered the wily circle of
general Cardani were not easily surmounted, and
it was long before Edgar could undeceive Miss
_Perry, his English friend, to whom he had been
engaged before embarking, as to the non-existence
of any attachment to the Italian. Maria Perry is
of a quiet, unassuming nature, very different to
Emma Bardon in intelligence and spirit, but pleas-
ing and gentle, and determined when she had
made up her mind. The character of Mrs. Bardon
the second is a good sketch of a strong-minded
woman, such it was her pride to be considered,
and woe to the weak minds who came in her way,
whether, like Mr. Bardon, they were deceived by
her vaunted superiority, or, like his gentle sister,
they were an obstacle to her progress. There was
retributive justice meted out to the tyrant, when
he was tyrannised over. She drove away his chil-
dren, repulsed his friends, and subverted his estab-
lishment. On the whole, ample scope is given in
the narrative for the introduction of exciting
scenes, and strange incidents, as well as events of
a softer style, and persolages of a higher nature.
The story is written with spirit and animation.

Men of the Hour. By Angus B. Reach.
Wonderful People. By Horace Mayhew.
Sketches of English Character. By Mrs. Gore.

Ward and Lock, Fleet-street.
These cheap volumes are essentially " very "
light reading—so light that the greatest lover of
such productions may possibly be induced to wish
they were a degree heavier. Mr. Reach's pages
may be skimmed by the eye as the shallow pool is
by the insect, the attention of both being equally
ephemeral. Wonderful People, by Horace May-
hew, is somewhat more attractive ' • as a specimen
of the average tone we give the following from
" The Model Governess :"

" The whole life of the governess is a living sermon upon
the holy text of the forgiveness of injuries. Her amuse-
ments are few ; for singing cannot be called singing when
it is done by command, and dancing is but sorry dancing
when you are requested to join in it merely to fill up a side-
couple. Her accomplishments, however, are manifold,
though exercised for the benefit of others.
"She is an Encyclopaedia in bombazeen, which must be
ready to be referred to at a moment's notice by every one
in the house upon every passible and impossible science,
including the very latest improvements, corrections, and
additions that may have taken place in philosophy, poetry,
or puddings. She plays the harp, piano, and accordion ;
teaches calisthenics and hair-curling, dances tho newest
fashionable dances, from Bohemia or Andalusie ; under-
stands glove-cleaning and dressmaking ; is clever at Berlin
wool-work; in short, roust have every female accomplish-
ment at her fingers ends. She knows eight to ten lan-
guages, but mustn't talk rudess spoken to. Her greatest
talent should be di 'played in listening cle,ve-ly. .Ikr sym-
pathy should In all on ono side, like the Irishman's una-
nimity. She must have no views of her own, but only
reflect, like a looking-glass, those of the person who is con-
sulting her. Her whole life is a heritage of petty mean-
messes. She has not the consideration that is paid to a
cook, and very frequen ly not hilt' the wages tiro' t are paid
to a housemaid ; in feet, the housemaid has the advantage
of the two, fa. she is entitled to at least a month's warn-
ing, whereas the poor governess is often dismissed at a mo-
ment's notice. The Model Governess is literally the maid-
of-all-work of fashionable society. Ladies, think of your
own daughters, and treat her kindly !"
Mrs. Gore's sketches is by far the best of this
trio of evenesceut " trifles." We get a few more
of the individualising ratifies, and a smack of the
alcoholic esprit, co necessary to facilitate the di-
gesting of many literary confections. Mrs. Gore
possesses a masterly hand in delineating the most
ostensible characteristics of society ; and, while
freely availing herself of the licence of exaggerating
loquacity, seldom loses sight of a wholesome and
perspicuous meaning. This short extract from her
gossiping discussion, touching " The Banksr," we
think, Will illustrate our opinions :
" Be it noticed, among the notabilia of the moneyed
world, that there are in London one or more banking
houses, whose books of business
extend back from the
reign of Victoria to that of Elizabeth, where, under the
name of goldsmiths, curious items of credit appear therein,
tankards, and apostle speonas, as goblets,
such
books
as in certavienP"
constitute invaluable historical archives, besides cone
a patent of commercial nobility; when,
stances we could point out, the banker of to-day descends
in direct line, and inherits the identical patronymic of the
goldsmith his ancestor.
" This is the very legitimacy and conservatism of the
kingdom of Mammon. This is an indisputable attestation
of hereditary prudence and probity. Such a standing in
commercial Three
life becomes a sort of second conscience. Th
centuries of trustworthine_ss.! Twelve
_reigns of financial
discretion !
in business-iife to a barony con.
nected with 1
gan aoCuliaarte, in the aristocratic !
St m ousts
" Most of the prorailent financial demigods, however,
are whom Fortune has
rolled men of yesterday—individuals
rolled to the top of her
tth similar precipitation.
gr
wheel by a single turn, perhaps to
be rolled back again, el world ae eeatest Jewish names with
the ruone y r
unknown to the eighteenth century, and which the nnamine-
s
teenth may be reserving to ' point a moral, and adorn a
tale.'
c
" Even Rothschild commenced his prosperity at Frank-
fort at the coronation of the late Ltgeror of Austria, by
copper medals commemorative of
selling
,se o
_th.
thee eventcity. (in
company with his sister), at a beer-hot.
"The thriving London banker of the outte order is, in
fact, a Sir Oracle. Your Privy Councillor slugs small to
him—your learned magistrate defers to his decree—the
disposal. thews and sinews of the war of life lie at his At
his nod the sluice gates close or open which controlh the fate
of a country and the destinies of thousands.
is not more absolute. When he concedes the world Sultan
ap-
plauds his liberality—when he withholds,
His penuriousness is foresight—his weakness magnanimity.his pru.lehte,
Whether close-fisted or open a great banker can do eo
e., till his docket is struck).
"The life, influence, and connections of Coatts will one
day become historical; conveying a great moral lesson as
regards the frailties at which the worshippers of Mammon,
even of the highest grade, wil connive in pursuance of
their idolatry—bevy they will strain at the gnats buzzing
round the head of unintlueatial penury, and swallow the
camels forced upon them by a rich banker."

sent time. We heartily subscribe to the sugges- ,
tion offered in the first paragraph :
" We have often thought that if our Reviews would
devote some portion of that space which is freely given
up to disquisitions on the institutions of other times and
countries, to the presentation, in a condensed form, of
the vast amount of useful, iwportant, and interesting in-
formation cent lined in the vajuable Reports of- the
various public offices, printed each year by order of the
Legislature, the public service would gain in popularity,
and the public would gain a fitting knowledge of the pro-
gress and position of those establishments which the
nation supports."
We have in this article instructive and copious
details of the management and general working of
the Post-office. We learn amid innumerable con-
densations of intelligence that 22,547 officers and
servants are attache to this vast commercial de-
partment, 2,800 of whom belong to the chief-office
in London ; exclusive of agents in foreign coun-
tries, and that there are 10,498 Post-offices in the
United Kingdom.
Cupid appears to be one of the most active re-
tainers on the staff, for Valentino week affords an
influx of 80,000 letters. There was an increase of
13 millions of letters last year, the number of let-
ters sent to the Dead Letter office was 2,400,000,
and the number of newspapers deposited at the
same depot was 600,000.
It appears that the Postmasters-general during
the time of the wars with France were quite as
much troubled with strange matters consigned to
their care for conveyance, as we read of occa-
sionally now. For instance, we find in the list :
" Imprimis.—` Fifteen couple of hounds going to the
King of the Romans with a free pass.'
"Item.—' A. box containing three pounds of tea, sent
as a present by my Lady Arlington to
the Queen
Dowager of England at Lisbon.'
"Item.—`A case of knives and forks for Mr. Step-
ney. her Majesty's Envoy to the King of Holland.'
"Item.—` A. box of medicines for my Lord Galway in
Portugal.'
" Item.—` A deal case with four flitches of bacon for
Mr. Pennington, of Rotterdam.' "
Altogether this article claims attentive perusal,
and fully illustrates the line of the modern song—
" What a wonderful man the postman is."

An important and competent digest of the " Con-
vict" subject, touching " Transportation and Re-
formatories," is presented to us, wherein the diffi-
culties attending th 3 question as to which is the
most proper and redeeming treatment of criminals
are ably met. These chief papers, with a variety
of others, render The Irish, Quarterly as excellent
and welcome as ever.

The National Review. Chapman and Hall.
In the table of contents we meet this month
with an interesting selection of topics. The open-
ing article takes for its subject the " Gowrie Con-
spiracy," one of those mysterious events in history
which perplexed all contemporary sagacity, and
which the collective wisdom of posterity has failed
to unravel. To all lovers of historical research
the paper offers considerable attractions, for it is
written in a fair and impartial spirit, and
the writer has evidently been at some pains
in collecting the evidence, though he is himself
unable to express a decided opinion. His suppo-
sition, however, appears to possess the merit of
probability. The picture he draws of the wild and
disordered state of the Scottish kingdom fully dis-
plays the total inability of the weak-minded and
pedantic, though well-meaning, king to cope with
his unruly nobles and prejudiced people. A criti-
cism on M. Victor Cousin's recent work on the
illustrious women of the 17th century renders full
justice to its ability and attractions. Special reve-
rence is paid to Madame de Hautefort, afterwards
Duchess de Schomberg, one of those rare examples
of high principle and nobility of mind that the
most different tastes admire and the most opposite
critics approve. The present writer can only find
one companion to her in history in the person of
our own Lady Rachel Russell. This criticism is
followed by the longest, and perhaps most remark-
able article in the number. It is entitled " Percy
Bysshe Shelley," and is devoted to a careful and
elaborate analysis of the psychological and mental
peculiarities of that poet. Though without much
enthusiasm for his poetry, the author appears to
have deeply studied the eccentricities belonging to
his temperament, and is doubtless correct in many
of his deductions. Many of his remarks, too, are just
and striking, as in the distinction he draws between
the efforts of fancy and imagination, and in the
comparison between the poetry of Shelley and
Keats. Most of the readers of Shelley will doubt-
less join with the critic in regretting that he be-
stowed so much of his time and labour on long
poems, while all his happiest efforts are either
fragmentary or lyrical. His two beautiful odes,
" The Cloud" and " The Skylark," are sufficient to
prove how great were his powers of lyrical compo-
sition. De Foe, as a novelist, affords the subject
of another literary article, which summons before
the tribunal of criticism one who has long become
independent of it ; for who could make " Robin-
son Crusoe" unpopular ? The writer, however, is
more inclined to attribute its universal success to
the subject than to the writer, though he
admits the genius of the writer, and remarks
that there must le something very singular in a
work that both the chimney-sweep and the peer
can read and find interesting, but he asserts that
the same man has exercised the same power
over more complex incidents, and the works are
little read. A paper on the present state and
prospects of Italy will be interesting to the poli-
tician.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, SATURDAY MORNING.
IRISH RAILWAY PROGRESS.

The ceremony of opening the branch line of the
Belfast and Ballymena Railway to Cookstown, on
Tuursday last, was performed by the Earl of Car-
lisle, and a goodly array of the nobility and gentry
of the district took part in the day's proceedings.
At the deje,uner which followed his Excellency de-
livered one of his usual felicitous speeches, which,
however, like all similar addresses, was suited to
the special audience, and confined to matters of
purely local interest. Here is an extract :

"It does seem to the that the opening of a new rail-
way communication in a district whit% has not hitherto
partaken of its advantages is a most fair uccasi in for
public rejoicing and social. fe,tivities. (Applause.) Fur
just think ho .v much the proceeding in which we have
joined really comprises ? I leave out of consideration
for the moment the calculations of mere profit and future
dividends, all very important and interesting matters in
their proper place and season, but such as the directors
and areholders may be safely left to arrange together.
(Hear. bear.) I leave out of view, too, what might
SO-111 to smell too much of my own shop—the advan-
tages which railway communicttion may contribute to
the peace of the country in carrying military and police
for the repression of outbreak or the detection of crime ;
for what need have Re to think of outbreak and crime
in connection with a district so justly distinguished by
peacefulness, industry, and habitual tranquillity as
that which lies between Randalstown and Cookstown ?
(Cheers.) But think upon the kindly ministrations of
usefulness arid benevolence which a line of railway
in its ordinary 'every-day operation is in the habit
of discharging—how it brings the homeward-bound
father, or husband, or son yet more speedily to
the straining eye and impatient embrace of those he so
long loved and longed for—(applause)—how so much
time the earlier comes the skilful physician or surgeon,
so as just to set the limb or save the life—(hear)—how
it may summon the poor sorrowing relative just in season
to ca`ch the dying glance and receive the parting blessing.
(Cheers.) These are the operations which the railway
may daily bring more and more close to all our hearths
and homes ; and ought we not to bless that wise order-
ing of human actions and motives which may make our
most eager speculations and our most sharp-sighted
interests thus contribute to support new treasures of
activity and plenty between extensive neighbourhoods,
and to promote offices of bounty and love among a
thousand families ?" (Cheers.)
Among the guests present at the dejeuner was
Mr. Dargan, the constructor of the line, and who
replied to the toast of " Nm. Dargan and the Irish
Rasil way Interest."