The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-17 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

LIFE. AND ITS LE.SSOiVS.

back.

By Mrs. Hub

3 Vols. Shoberl.

We were much interested, some little time back,
by the perusal of Mrs. Hubback's novel, "The
Wife's Sister." The main incidents of that story
were not of the most pleasing nature, it is true, but
the narrative revealed a degree of power on the part
of the authoress which led us to expect from her
some yet more attractive compositions. We can
hardly affirm that "Life and its Lessons" has quite
realised our expectations in that regard. The two
stories into which it is divided are deficient in that
powerful and pathetic interest which gave such a
fascination to the former volumes. Nevertheless,
these stories have other and, perhaps to some, not in-
ferior attractions. "Kate Penrose," the first tale, is
characterised by its exceeding simplicity, a simplicity
not without its charms, especially as regards the portrait
of the heroine. An heiress,' married to a worthless
fortune-hunter, tho history of Kate, like that of the
succeeding heroine, Mildred, is intended as a
lesson, and not one of the least important " lessons of
life," to young ladies on the choice of a companion.
The story of Mildred is more interesting, for,Mildred
marries a man whom she does not love, because the
individual of her choice has given his heart to her
young end favourite sister. Yet in both cases, as
Mrs. I: übb ck forcibly shows, mutual misery is the
result of marriage entered into without mutual affec-
tion. The manner of the narration is in both in-
stances natural and graceful. If Mrs. Hubback will
carefully exert her best powers and avoid that mis-
take which our modern novel writers are so griev-
ously addicted to, namely, of imagining that a story
to be natural must be filled with common-place
details, and that simplicity of style is akin to stupi-
dity, she will, we confidently expect, become a fa-
vourite with a large circle of readers, and will have
no occasion to affix to her name as a title of recom-
mendation, " niece to Miss Austin."

LECTURES ON DANIEL 'and LECTURES
ON THE SEVEN CHURCHES. By Dr.
Cumming
The eloquent lectures of Dr. Cumming upon texts
relating to the above subjects have been published
in two handsome volumes, and are well deserving of
the attention they will doubtless obtain from the ad-
mirers of the Reverend Doctor. The most valuable
characteristic of these lectures is their practical ten-
dency—they are not addressed to the scholar, but to
the multitude.

QUAKERISM ; or, the Story .of My We. By a
Lady who for Forty Years was a Member of the
Society of Friends.
" As a fire which has not been stirred," says the
authoress in her preface, " will burn away and be-
come so choked up with ashes as to be incapable of
yielding warmth or light, and requires not merely a
gentle application, but a strong and vigorous stirring
up to dislodge the burnt-out and rekindle the good
,coals, so I conceive the Society of Friends needs a
thorough good rousing ; for the ashes have accu-
mulated, and well nigh put out the fire." •To effect
this desideratum is the object of this volume ! how
much truth it may contain, and how far it may be
calculated to benefit the Society, we, not being in
their secrets, cannot pronounce.

DEATH OF THE KING OF HANOVER.
Yesterday intelligence reached Windsor of the de •
mise of Ernest King of Hanover and Duke of Cum-
berland. In consequence of the melancholy intelli-
gence, the usual performance by the band on the
troops mounting guard was countermanded, and the
etiquette on the death of one of the Royal Family ob-
served. His Majesty Ernest Augustus was the last
surviving son of Ring George the Third, and only
surviving uncle of her Majesty. He ascended the
throne of Hanover on tbe,demise of his late Majesty
King William the Fourth, 20th June, 1837, the Salle
law (which governs the Hanoverian succession) for-
bidding a female to ascend the throne.
His Majesty was born June sth, 1771, he was con-
sequently in the 81st year of his age, and the 14th of
his reign. By his demise pensions and salaries to a
considerable amount, and royal residences at Kew and
St. James's Palace, revert to the Crown. The suc-
cessor to the throne is George, the Crown Prince of
Hanover. His Majesty being blind, it is expected
that a Regency will be appointed. His Royal
Highness Prince George of Cambridge being next
of kin, will, it is imagined, be called on to fill that
office.—Advertiser.

FEROCITY OF A Fox.—A few days since a fox
entered the house of a man named Murphy, near Dangan,
where an infant was asleep in a cradle, both parents being
out at the time, and, seizing the infant by the throat, carried
it away. An instant pursuit was made, and reynard was
compelled to abandon his seizure, but when found the child
was dead; the throat was greatly mangled.—Clare Paper.
GLASGOW UNIVERSITY.—THE RECTORIAL CHAIR.
—lt is understood that Mr. Sheriff Alison is to be re-elected
without opposition.—Reformer's Gazette.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following
gentlemen, having undergone the necessary examinations
for the diploma, were admitted members of the College at
the meeting of the Court of Examiners on the 14th inst.:—
Messrs. Edward Ross Prance, East Stonehouse, Devon ;
James Edward Tuxford, Boston, Lincolnshire; James Collie,
Aberdeen ; Joseph William Eastwood, Chesterfield, Derby-
shire; William Edward Day, Bristol; James Martin Roche,
Fermoy, county of Cork ; and Charles Chibnell, Tothill-
street, Westminster. At the same meeting of the Court, Mr.
James Wilkinson Elliott passed his examination for naval
surgeon : this gentleman had previously been admitted a
member of the College, his diploma bearing date November
1-, 1847. Erratum.—ln our list of successful candidates
published on Thursday last the name of John Black Pater-
son, of Edinburgh, was omitted.
Lira IN THE WEST.—Our Yankee traveller, who
saw the live hoosier, has again written to his mother:—
"Western people go their death on etiquette. You can't
tell a man here that he lies, as you can down east, without
fighting.. A few days ago a man, was telling two of his
neighbours in my hearing a pretty long story. Says I,
' Stranger, that'e a whapper Says he, 'Lay there stranger !'
and in a' twinkling of an eye, I found myself in the ditch, a
perfect quadruped, the worse for wear and tear. Upon ano-
ther occasion, says I to a man I never saw before, as a woman
passed, That isn't a specimen of your western women, is it?'
Says he,' You are afraid of the fever and ague, stranger,
an't you?' Very much,' says I. Well,' replied he, that
lady is my wife, and if you don't apologise in two minutes,
by the honour of a gentleman I swear that these two pistols,
(which he held cocked in his hand,) shall cure you of that
disorder entirely—so don't fear, stranger.' So I knelt down
and politely apologised. I admire this western country
much ; but curse me if I can stand so much etiquette; it
always takes me so unawares."—Chieago Democrat.
CONSUMPTION OF WINE.—The quantities of wine
entered for home consumption in the nine months ending
the 10th ult. was less by 52,701 gallons, as appears by the
trade and navigation accounts, than the quantities entered
in the corresponding period of the preceding sear In 1850
the quantity was in the nine months 5,063,818 gallons, and
in the.present year 5,011,117 gallons. The decrease in wine
and spirits in the nine months of the present year, com-
pared with last year, was 125,550 gallons. The principal
article that increased in consumption during the Exhibition
was tobacco.
In the musical circles of Berlin it is reported that
Meyerbeer is engaged in composing a comic opera, his first
work of the kind.
In December last an Englishman named Howard,
with a multitude of aliases, was tried before the Tribunal of
Correctional Police for cheating at play, by using prepared
cards. He was acquitted. As, however, frequent complaints
had been made of him to the police, he was ordered to leave
France. 'A few months` after it beeame known that he had
carried off to England a yang girl, daughter of a lady of
some property, and that he had offered to restore her to her
mother in return for a sum of motley. Directions were giVen
'that he should not be allowed to return to France; but a
short time ago the police, heard that he had come back to
Paris. A warrant was issued against him, and a few days
ago he was arrested in an isolated house in the Isle des
Cygnes, at Neuilly. Yesterday he was tried by the Tribu-
nal of Correctional Police for violation of the law of the. 3d of
December, 1849, relative to foreigners, and was condemned
to three months' imprisonment—Galignani.
On Saturday evening last a countryman visited
Burnley, and was complaining of the trouble a drunken man
had given him. "How. do you know he was drunk? " said
a bystander. The countryman indignantly replied, , "What
could he be else, when. he asked for the shoe-horn to put
hie bat on with? "
SCANDAL.—We are desired to contradict the repOii
that the Nova Scotia giant, on exhibition in Boston, carries
a ton of coal under earch arm daily. The proprietor of the ,
exhibition say's he can do it, but it might impede his growth!
—American Paper.
EXTRAORDINARY DAYS SPORT AT ENYILLB,
STAFFORDSHIRE.—The Earl of Stamford and Warrington,
H. C. Taylor, Esq., Thomas Hollyoake, Esq., Rev. C. Jes-
son, and H. W. Foley, Esq., killed on the 6th instant, on
Lord Stamford's estate, 262 partridges, 24 hares, and 10
rabbits.

Several serious shocks of earthquake have been
experienced of late in Albania. The town and castle of
Vallona, according to a letter from Zara of the sth, have
been utterly destroyed, and 2,000 persons have perished.—
Qalignani.

CHARLES DICKENS.—It is pleasant to communicate
pleasant news, (says the Leader), and our pen glides over
the paper with unusual animation as it hastens to announce
that Charles Dickens is about to issue a new work. Upon
what delighted ears that sound will falt! To how many
thousands it will make the first of every month a day of
expectation!

TRH CRYSTAL PALACE.--We believe that when
the Glass Palace is entirely free of its present lagging oc-
cupants, the public will be freely admitted withal its
portals.
IMPERIAL SALT AND ALKALI COMPANY.---A meet-
ing in this matter was held on Saturday before Master in
Chancery Tinney, when the list of contributories was fuither
settled, and instructions taken for the realization of assets
from the sale of the company's property. It is understood
that the arrangements making are such that there will be a
return of money instead of a call on the unfortunate share-
holders, who were led to believe that "soap" could be made
out of" flint."

VINES IN POTS.—I am surprised tbat grape vines
are not more extensively grown in pots than they are, for
they are easily managed, and bear abundantly; they can be
trained round Sticks or hoops, to as to occupy a very small
space; and they could be grown by the cottager as well as
by the gentleman's gardener. They would present a very
ornamental appearance set about a garden or lawn. Some
might be removed early into the house, to accelerate] their
ripening, and others left out till the last moment; in this
way successional crops of this very beautiful and useful fruit
might be obtained during a great part of the year.--.Gar-
data ' -

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