The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-23 00:00:00

pier's letter, and the Times' article of the 7th inst.,
has had no other beneficial effect than enabling
some sagacious parties to purchase what the more
timid sold.

The Salamanca Railway question is to be brought
before the Peers this week.

The exchanges for this packet are quoted—Lon-
don, 90 days', 531 ; Paris, 532 ; Amsterdam, 42.1 ;
Hamburg, 471 ; Genoa, 529 ; Rentes, 3 per cent.,
47 to 471; Coupons, 46 to 46k; Deferred, 331,-
to 33k.

LITERATURE.

The Mill on the Floss. By George Eliot, author
of " Adam Bede." 3 vols. Blackwood, Edin-
burgh.
It may be questioned if there is a more•hazardous
undertaking than that of the author of a pre-emi-
nently successful work re-appearing before the
public. It is _superfluous to say that " Adam
Bede" was the novel of last season, and its fame
did not depart with the end of the literary cam-
paign, but through the autumn and winter its
name was a household word in the various circles
of society. It is something to have achieved so
startling, striking, and singular a success. It is
idle to hint at favouritism, and whisper at over-
praise and exaggeration. So universal an acknow-
ledgment and so unanimous an approval bear
in themselves the triumphant confutation. A
work that thus attracts for the moment, and after-
wards remains indelibly fixed in the memory,
must contain some germs of the undying im•
planted in its being, must bear on its superscrip-
tion the divine impress of genius. It is espe-
cially delightful to find that the successor to so
wonderful a book is in every way worthy of it.
Indeed, in some respects, " The Mill on the Floss"
may
.be considered superior. There is more feel-
ing in it, more softness and sympathy, and thus
it possesses more power over the reader. All that
seemed harsh in " Adam Bede" appears to have
vanished from the pen that transcribed the vivid
pages here before us. We meet with life in its most
jarring scenes, its most weary toil, and its most
agonising endurance. We behold the stricken man,
weary of his burden, departing from amongst us till
we lose sight of him we have so long followed in
the shadows that envelop the valley of death. But
throughout all this, and the more fearful mental
struggles afterwards recorded, there is something
so earnest breathed into the sad sketches, something
so real in the sufferer and the suffering, that human
life seems unrolled before us in a chart that com-
prises the long vista of its years rather than we
seem to be beholding an imaginary scene, however
ably delineated. Great tact and discrimination are
displayed in the selection of the class of persons
who figure before us in this eventful drama. They
are taken from the ranks of the workers of the
world, and yet the superior ones. To evidence
the strongest passions, the darkest hatreds,
the most critical junctures, the most bitter
failures, to make wealth so gained that the
sting of poverty is doubly felt, and to render con-
nections so numerous that their subsequent deser-
tion seems the culminating point 'of insult, where
could the novelist seek better or find more power-
ful illustrations than among the mit4lle ranks of
society. Poverty, that has so many ills, has some ad-
vantages, it makes one of no consequence, and the
lonely cot, and humble room, are, for the most part,
unmolested by claimants or plotters. In higher
walks of life, in pecuniary difficulties, or in disputes
about succession to titles or holders of estates there
would not enter all the thousand rancours and heart-
burnings that envenom and empoison the dusty ways
and crooked turnings of the busy tribes who are the
medium in the scale of social gradations. Although
of a very hasty and fiery temper, Mr. Tulliver pos-
sessed many good qualities, and one feels distressed
at the misfortunes that overtook him, especially
When he had to serve under his enemy, the crafty
Wakem. This last calamity was brought about by
the officious meddling of Mrs. Tulliver, who,
although generally most supine, chose to exert her-
self for one occasion only, and bitterly did her
family rue the day. The difference that existed
between the brother and sister is well defined, and
in these nice touches of character we find some of
the author's most striking powers. The boy
gradually develops into a strong-minded and well
principled young man, but yet a most disagreeable
one. There was no softness in bis nature, no sym-
pathy in his soul. He did what wasright, and had
no pity nor patience for those who did not walk in
the same orthodox steps. Such a man could never
be of service in his generation, could never exercise
any good influence over others. His sister was
exactly the opposite, full of excitement, and in
short, a creature of impulse. Not that she is pleas-
ing either, but she seems to attract one, and she is
human in her kind feelings and quick instincts;
if erring, she is yet affectionate, if mistaken she is
more humble. With all her faults at last amount-
ing to errors, and with all his merits, some would
consider at length approximating to virtues, there
is the whisper of mercy pleading for her, while her
brother seems to put himself beyond the pale of any
gentle and gracious gifts, and to stand or fall by
the terrible laws of judgment. It cannot be con•
sidered that Philip Wakem is an acquisitian to the
story. There can be no advantage gained in hav-
ing made him so lamentable an object, and it is not
easy to understand the motives that induced such a
thing. It cannot be to account for Maggie's subse-
quent desertion, for she was not of a nature to be
influenced by outward appearance, and had she
renewed her acquaintance with Philip before
meeting Stephen Guest, in all probability the sub-
sequent casualties would not have occurred. There
are some passages in the work that stand out apart,
the milestones on the road of life that tell how far
the traveller is from the rest, yet how near an un-
imagined trial. Of these may be cited Tom's de-
partiree from school at the sad epoch of his father's
failure. It is entitled " The Golden Gates are
Passed," and this effectively depicts in the author's
graphic style how the transit from school to liberty
has been too often the apprenticeship to a harder
taskmaster than the thraldom of the most severe
pedagogue who ever inflicted a lesson. Maggie was
more fitted for suffering than her brother, who was
half stupified at the news. Tom had so often
thought how joyful he should be the day he
left school " for good," and now his school years
seemed like a holiday that had come to an
end. They had gone forth together into their new
life of sorrow and would never more see the sun-
shine undimmed by remembered tears. They had
entered the thorny wilderness, and the golden gates
of their childhood had for ever closed behind them.
One scene like this that brings life before one is
worth dozens of fairy sketches and ideal sorrows
like those which pile up the agony of continental
romances. Many who glance at these pages may
cast a backward glance through the long years and
again behold the day that ushered them into the
cold, hard, dreary, work-day world. Another of these
photographs of existence is the representation of Mr.
Tulliver's end. It seems to one's fancy as if a judg-
ment rested OA the father and son for the vow they
had dared to record on the opening page of the
volume in which it is written, " Vengeance is
mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." Whatever
befell the wicked man who persecuted them, it
could not be that such a sentiment could do aught
but draw down curses on themselves. Unhappily,
Mr. Tulliver nurtured hard and bitter feelings in
his fall. In a mind charged with an eager purpose
and an unsatisfied vindictiveness there is no room
for new feelings. Mr. Tulliver did not want spiri•
tual consolation, ho wanted to shake off the degra-
dation of debt and to have his revenge." On the
clay he did both his soul was required of him. He
had no after life left him to enjoy his ardently de•
sired freedom; and in the night following the day
of release from debt, to which the brother and
sister had looked forward with such anxious long-
ing they had to stand by their father's deathbed.
Sad as it seemed, it *as a relief 4o think his
worn and harassed soul had passed away from
a world, that he, poor man, with his dying breath,
declared had been too many for him, and it was a
relief to reflect th'at his rage had been impotent,
and had been wrung from him by mental tortures ;
and when his children saw that "his dimly lighted
soul had for ever ceased to be vexed with the pain-
ful riddle of this world," they might soothe them-
selves with the thought his sufferings had expiated
his errors in a great measure, and trust that the
family, whom the wicked had ceased not to
trouble in their sojourn on earth, might be re-united
in the land where the weary are at rest. The con-
cluding portion of the story is arranged with con-
summate skill, ana well displays the peculiar
powers of the author in representing the compli-
cated phases of human existence. At first sight it
would appear that a man like Stephen Guest could
never have aroused any interest ;n the mind of
Maggie, but then the attendant train of circum-
stances must be taken into consideration. She had
been an outcast from all the comforts of home, had
been treated with neglect ; and she pined for same
kindred nature, or at,least some friendly aid. Sud-
denly she was introduced to a cheel ful home, sur-
rounded by luxury, invited do nothing but enjoy
herself. It was just :when her overtaxed mind
was lulled to rest, when her over•strainecl faculties
• were quiescent in the now and delightful calm, that
she was the most easily impressed by all around her.
Then she was assailed Uy a new temptation, all the
more dangerous, because unsuspected. The lover of
her cousin how could he come in her waj p besides ho
was not the sort of person she could ever care for;
and again, were not her affections already engaged
Fatal reasonings, plausible excuses ; how many have
the few who havo'stood
fallenfor brthexl, lihre is