The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-16 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Australian Facts and Prospects, to which is pre-
fixed the Author's Autobiography. By It. H.
Horne. Smith and Elder.
IVorks on Australia are now tolerably common,
and the public mania for anything connected with
the gold-fields has subsided. Still, when really
authentic and reliable information can be obtained
it should not be rejected. Mr. Horne's information
on matters relating to the goldfields, mining leases,
and the gold miner himself, are of this nature, in fact,
his position, as commissioner on several gold
fields, commander of gold escorts, &c., render his
evidence trustworthy. His anecdotes of his experi-
ence amongst the miners are amusing and interest-
ing, and his strictures on a certain Frank Fowler,
who, some time bank, gave to the Australian public
some startling information of the resources of their
country, are both severe and just, but when he
comes to treat on the vexed land question and other
colonial matters, his information is not always cor-
rect, nor his views very lucid. In fact there is a want
of energy on the part of a people possessed of
greater political freedom by far than England, with
universal suffrage and vote by ballot (hardly neces-
sary in a country where every man considers him-
self as good as his neighbour), who will hold public
meetings, &c., but of whom many do not take the
trouble to register themselves, nor to lose a day's
work to vote for a representative; the fault lies in the
want of patriotism on the part of the people, who
complain of the bad management of a government
whom they refuse to assist, and let the squatters
sendi n a legislative assembly to represent their in-
terest, and refuse any opening of the public land
when the ministry introduce a bill to that effect.
But the bulk of the population of Australia have no
desire to remain there nor make it their home.
" Oh, it will serve my time, why should I bother
about it ; I shan't be here always," is a common
answer .when a party is requested to use his influ-
ence in any matter. The main agitators are the
loafers, who will not work, but who gain by any
popular agitation. These persons have no social
standing; and consequently these popular ebullitions
end in smoke.

The Vicar of Lyssel. Saunders and Otley.

This is a clergyman's diary of the last century,
which is written with a simplicity that in itself
attracts, and is replete with feeling and tenderness.
The short and simple annals here recorded should
not be regarded with a disdainful smile, for they
exhibit in a forcible manner the true picture of life
in all times. Although here the lot is cast in plea-
sant places, many cares intrude, and divers sorrows
invade the sanctity of the sequestered parsonage.
The Vicar of Lyssel was not a man who would
under any circumstances have been hardened by
suffering ; but as it was his vocation to teach others
to look forward to another life, he did not give
way to despair when his own beloved ones were
called away to that land of promise of whose glories
he had so often spoken. Mary, his first wife, was
a charming character, and a feeling of melancholy
pervades the mind when one reads of her premature
end ; but she was one of those gracious, gentle
beings, who seem especially the favourites of
Heaven, in their serene life and their early death.
After the two families are dispersed in the high-
way of the world, and the Vicar's second wife is
laid in the grave, in the pretty churchyard where
Mary and his son were placed before, the Vicar
and his eldest daughter Polly lived alone for
many years. They still took an interest
in the living ones who were parted from
them, but their sphere was narrowed to their home
circle, and their years glided peacefully away.`_The
last to leave them was Caleb, the youngest son, who
went to sea to be a sailor. He never returned;
but, writes the vicar, " He is not dead to his faithful
sister ; always to her he is sailing away, and far
away upon blue seas, where the breeze is soft and
laden with spice, and the sun always shines on his
path." The chronicle of this peaceful existence is
so touchingly narrated and so beautifully ex-
pressed that no one who appreciates sketches that
are true to nature will be otherwise than gratified
with its perusal.

Memoirs of a Lady in Waiting. By the author of
" Adventures of Mrs. Colonel Somerset in

Caffraria." 2 vols. Saunders and Otley.

There is a pleasing story connected with histori-
cal incidents in these volumes. The heroine in her
early years had many difficulties to contend with,
arising from the troublous times in which she
lived, and from the unprotected state in which she
was left. Some of the Court scenes are well de-
scribed, and exemplify in a striking manner the
domestic wretchedness that was hidden beneaththe

glittering exterior of brilliancy and gaiety. The
anecdote of Buckingham is effectively, given, and is
in keeping with all that is known of that unprin-
cipled man. Lawrence is a strange individual who
is 9,ne Tr. '71:.1T- 4
haeneelL ~.cu.i.ur times in which he was
living. The account of his execution is a sad
episode in the story, but it was an extraordinary
proceeding on the part of Mary to witness it, and
could have conduced only to heighten her suffer-
ings and to shake his courage. Mr. Burnet, the
faithful friend of the neglected Mary, is one of the
best characters in the narrative, and his conduct in
the fearful time of the plague was most humane.
With the constant change of scene introduced in
these pages, with the important epoch which is de-
scribed, there is enough to repay perusal, and the
"Memoirs of a Lady in Waiting" will most likely
be a favourite with those who are pleased with old-
fashioned stories, for it is certainly recorded with
spirit and vivacity.

Pre-Adantite Man ; or, the Story of (in Old Planet

and its Inhabitants. Sanders and Otley.
This a very curious work, which argues the pos-
sibility of a race of men existing long prior to
Adam. The writer brings a French scientific
author, M. de Perthes, forward to support his
opinion. The discussion of the subject will pro-
bably interest the Feisat ific and geological
reader from its singularity; but any arguments
on such topics must necessarily be shadowy and
confused, starting from an uncertain foundation to
reach a pre-determined conclusion. Such reasoners
should reflect, in order to moderate the self-suffi-
ciency which too, frequently attends such inquiries,
that the ancient schools of Greek philosophy busied
themselves in like manner over those secrets ofnature
which modern science has unfolded to our eyes.
All the acuteness of the Grecian intellect, all the
subtlety of their schoolmen and wisdom of their
philosophers, brought them in most instances to
entirely mistaken conclusions, their aim being more
often to support words by facts than to explain
facts by words. Such recollections need not damp
the energies of scientific research, but they should
teach moderation and temper the presumption of
uncertain knowledge. We may mention, for the
satisfaction of the scrupulous ma- der, that the little
volume before us is entrely free from any sceptical
or atheistic tendencies.

The Career, Last Voyage, and Fate of Sir John
Franklin. By Capt. Sherard Osborn, C.B.
Bradbury and Evans.
The readers of Onee a- Week will remember the
succinct and graphic narrative of the voyage of Sir
John Franklin, which was contributed to its pages
by Capt. Sherard Osborn. His clear style and
thorough comprehension of the subject enable the
reader to realise the events and places described.
He is well known to the public as an able and
agreeable writer, and we are glad that he has turned
his attention to this interesting and impressive re-
cord of the achievements and sufferings of brave
men. We must not omit to mention that several
woodcuts embellish the little volume, which will
well repay the reader for its perusal.