The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-17 00:00:00

and instead of hoping for a diminution, she must
expect an augmentation. This is clear, but what
will the Lombards say P"

HUNGARY.

A letter from Valeggio, of the 12th, in the Con-
stitutionnel, contains the following :—" You will in
a few days see in the journals, if it has not already
appeared, a fact of extraordinary temerity—the
desertion in a body from Mentua of 600 Hungarians
all armed and equipped, and headed by their com-
mandant. From Cassal-Maggiore, where they ar-
rived in the night, they proceeded to Cremona,
where they met with a magnificent reception."

LITERATURE.

A Life Struggle. By Miss Pardoe, author of
" Louis the Fourteenth," 2 vols. Booth.
This is a very well written story, as all acquainted
with the writings of its authoress will expect it to
be. Nevertheless there are too many painful pas-
sages in its pages to render it a pleasing tale. It
must not be supposed that Miss Pardoe at all justi-
fies the actions of any of the parties who enact the
momentous drama here recorded. She distinctly
states that she considers Laura no example to
others, " as no lighthouse to guide the storm-tossed
vessel to a safe and welcome haven, but rather as
one of those sunken rocks from whose vicinity the
wary pilot must carefully guide his barque if he
would preserve it from destruction." Thus regarded
the work assumes a totally different aspect than
that of the continental novels, which pourtray such
social miseries as a necessity. It is not likely that
a better definition could be conveyed of the folly of
unequal marriages than is here given to us. Fer-
dinand was entirely mistaken in his conduct about
urging his patron to a union with Laura, and
nothing could justify such a proceeding. He
had no right to interfere with the happiness of
others in order to conceal the disgrace of his father.
Had he contented himself with personal sacrifices,
it might have been meritorious ; but as it was, his
conduct was very reprehensible. Indeed, one feels
far more pity for the young and gentle Laura, who
was immolated at the shrine of her mother's vanity,
and whose spirits were so depressed at what
appeared so manifestly the tokens of Ferdinand's
deceit and treachery, that she was unable to wage
what would at all times have been a most arduous
contest. In one way, this picture of despicable
tyranny and heartless conduct is not a type of
many such scenes, as Lord Ravenswood himself
was so excellent a man that no one connected with
him could have been otherwise than attached to
him. It is not quite in keeping with the rest of
his conduct that the desire to free himself from his
difficulties should have induced him to reconsider
his determination not to make such an absurd mar-
riage. It is true, however, that he was not fairly
treated by any one; and the strange vehemence of
Ferdinand, the zeal of Mr. Heathcote, and the
acquiescence of Laura, urged on by wounded pride
and terrified by the menaces cf her mother, might
have bewildered a more astute observer than the
good-natured earl. The most pleasing character
met with is Enna, the sister of Ferdinand. She is
a delightful person, and distinguished for that rec-
titude of purpose and that spirit of calm endurance
in which se many of her friends were so lamentably
deficient. There is no reason to suppose that this
new work of a favourite authoress will not be suc-
cessful, as, in its peculiar way, it displays consider-
able skill, and affords some noticeable sketches of
life.

Getting On : A Tale of Modern English Life.
Two Vols. James Hogg.
This story has been reprinted from the pages o
Titan, a valuable periodical which has lately ceased
It well deserves reappearing before the public in a
more connected and enduring form, for it undoubt-
edly manifests great ability, and the strain of
thought is original and peculiar. The plot is, at
least, uncommon, and if some of the events are im-
probable or exaggerated in their character, the
reader who seeks for novelty and interest has no
right to censure them. The dramatis persona are
numerous, and sketched with a vigorous and, in
some instances, merciless hand. It is evidently the
work of a young and able wi iter, whose hearty con-
tempt for the hollowness and selfishness of social
existence, and whose earnest faith and noble
aspirations lead him occasionally into extra-
vagant extremes. The writer's manifest sin-
cerity and upright principles secure the
reader's pardon for his eccentricities, and
for those of his hero, who forsakes brilliant
literary prospects, and enters the career of a street
preacher. He prepares for his labours by rigorous
self-denial. " Three whole days he has touched
neither food nor drink, not even water." The
writer is happier in his delineations of the faults
and follies of the London world. Earnest though
his dreams of good undoubtedly are, they are
crude and exaggerated. Not by sudden, violent,
and undisciplined efforts is the world to be reformed
and regenerated, but by a steady course of well-
doing, each in his own sphere. The style of the
work is fresh and vivid, occasionally a little too
diffuse ; but this is an error easily avoided.
Many of the characters in the tale will excite the
reader's: interest. The hero, Mark Lorimer, is the
son of a baronet, and his father disinherits him on
account of his benevolent eccentricities ; the
history of his life, his efforts in sundry professions
—his " getting on"—being the main feature of the
book. Idola Trevelyan is a fair and attractive
maiden, with a degree of spirit and feeling some-
what unusual in the heroine of a novel. Kate Mor-
gan, the daughter of a widow who has " seen better
days," and who tries to bring her daughter up to the
class she is born in, becomes the heiress of
her grandfather's fortune, and the second wife of a
wealthy baronet. Her humble lover, William, is
well sketched, and his honest, though uncouth
nature, sometimes appears to advantage in con-
trast with the fine gentlemen above him. The
sketches of London life in its fashionable aspect are
truthfully satirical, and many passages show con-
siderable power in delineation. We shall expect
to meet this author again in a work that will do
more Justice to his powers. More condensation,
more moderation are necessary; he must re-
strain his flights of fancy, and without lowering
his high standard or overlooking the division be-
tween what is expedient and what is honourable,
he should dress his virtues in modern garb and
their lessons will be more effective. His abilities
are considerable-, and with time and experience ho
will doubtless obtain the success and celebrity he
accords to his hero.

The Story of the Life of George Stephenson. By
Samuel Smiles. John Murray.
If Mr. Hudson was the Railway King, certainly
George Stephenson was the Father of Railroads
and Locomotive Engines. The present work gives
a history of his early vicissitudes, and his struggles
for learning, his gradual rise, his difficulties, and
energetic perseverance and undaunted determina-
tion to succeed. When his projects were ridiculed,
and himself said to be deranged, he was not dis-
couraged, but, sure of ultimate success, he dared
the jests and taunts of a parliamentary committee.
He gradually advanced stop by step, until at length
the world awoke from its dream to find that their
cleverest engineers were at fault, and that the poor
self-educated Northumbrian mechanic had more
science and foresight than the whole of them.
The Rubicon was passed, and those who were his
greatest enemies were now too glad to follow in
his footsteps. Such men are few, but their example
may do good to thousands. Many a poor
man,
struggling in adversity in the path of learning, on
reading the life of George Stephenson, will take
fresh heart and persevere.
" Lives of great men all remind us

We may make our lives sublime;
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of Time :
Footprints which, perhaps, another,
Sailng o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, may take heart again.','.
The work is minute and interesting in detail, and
is well worthy of perusal, as may be evidenced by
the following short extracts :
" The rails then used (in 1816) being extremely light,
the road soon became worn down by the traffic, and, from
the inequalities of the way, the whole weight of the engine,
instead of being uniformly distributed over the four wheels,
was occasionally thrown almost diagonally upon two.
Hence frequent jerks of the locomotive, and increased stress
upon the slender road, which occasioned numerous break-
ages of the rails and chairs, and consequent interruptions
to the safe working of the railway.
" In order to avoid the dangers arising from this cause,
Mr. Stephenson contrived his steam springs. He so ar-
ranged the boiler of his new patent locomotive that it was
supprtod upon the frame of the engine by four cylinders,
which opened into the interior of the boiler. These cylin-
ders were occupied by pistons with rods, which passed
downwards and pressed upon the upper side of the axles.
The cylinders opening into the interior
of the boiler, allowed
the pressure of steam to be applied to the upper side of the
piston ; and that pressure being nearly equivalent to one-
fourth of the weight of the engine, each axle, whatever
might be its pos!tion, had at all times nearly the same
amount of weight to bear, and consequently the entire
weight was pretty equally distributed amongst the four
wheels of the locomotive. Thus the four floating pistons
were ingeniously made to serve the purpose of springs in
equalising the weight, and in softening the jerks of the
machine ; the weight of which, it must also be observed,
had been increased, on a road originally calculated to bear
a considerably lighter description of carriage. This mode
of supporting the engine remained in use until the progress
of spring-making had so far advanced that steel springs
could be manufactured of sufficient strength to be used in
locomotives.
" The result of the actual working of the now locomotive
on the improved road amply justified the promises held
forth iii the spec/6064h The traffic was couclucted with