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

- -
no danger in life that- can be avoided by good lue,k,
or fortunate coincidences. -The only sure safeguard .
within the armour of proof, must be the nuns eonset.
recti, and this poor Maggie did not possess. With
all her kind nature, her generous devotion, herim-
passioned earnestness, she had not that self-control,
that self denial, and that high principle which
would have prevented things taking the course
they did. This is the victory which overcometh
the world, even our faith. Now Maggie lacked
this needful gift, she did not feel that if she put
away all evil suggestions the day would come whe,'
ther it waited till the glare and turmoil of life 0
meridian was past, and arose in its sacred beauty to
shine in the far-off twilight of its years, when peace
must eventually be hers ; not the deadening of
worn.out endurance, but the fulness of the joy that
passes understanding, in the bright realisation
of works not done in vain. The conduct of Stephen
does not seem to concern one, as it is with Maggie
that our interest is necessarily entwined, and her
dereliction alone has power to depress us. Though
to casual observers the scenes in the last interview'
between her and Stephen may seem unlikely, such
is not the case. Uncommon natures must not be
measured by a common standard, and here we haye
to deal with one who is not often to be met with,
though not an impossible creation. When the
harm was done in the eyes of others, she awoke to
consciousness, but the struggle 'was fearful when
she returned to her home. An excellent picture is
drawn of the cruel, partial.viewing world, who
care little for justice and nothing for misery, but
delight to run down reputations, and revel in any
fallen victims. The closing scene is most admirably
described, beginning in the sombre gloom of the
watcher's chamber, with no sound to break the
stillness of midnight silence, and having is-
sue in the fearful but sublime spectacle 01
the overwhelming flood. It was a more fit-
ting end for one like Maggie to die, when
facing death, than sit and wait in calm decay fora
gradual dissolution of the vital powers ; she passed
away in her youth, strength, and beauty : she was
taken when sorrowing over the prospect of the long
years that must pass before time had quenched the
fire of her spirit, and blighted the force of her frame.
She knew not that she must go hence with her
spirit burning in the zeal of a glorious work, with
her powers in full vigour nerving her to a despe-
rate encounter with raging elements. As the last
night approached she was so wrapt up in reading a
letter received from Stephen that she lingered on
" with no image of rest coming across her mind
except of that far far off rest from which there
would be no more waking for her into this
struggling earthly life." Prophetic vision, since
she closed not her eyes till in the sleep that knows
no waking ! It is satisfactory to notice her last
act was a righteous one, and that she had begun
to fight the valorous fight in rejecting the offers of
Stephen, who was certainly devoted to her. The
thoughts of childhood came across her in the dark
hour of peril, and having secured a boat, she
sought her old home. She succeeded in rescuing
her brother, and together those who had been di-
vided by angry feelings met to die. As they were
approaching safety, as they thought, some huge
musses of detached machinery fl-ated along, and
came in fatal contact with them, and all traces
were hidden. " The boat re-appeared, but brother
and sister had gone down in an embrace never
to be parted—living through again in one supreme
moment the days when they had clasped their
little hands in love, and roamed the daisied fields
together." Apart from these chief character*
there is much to mention with approba-
tion in regard to the secondary personages.
Mrs. Tulliver's family is remarkably well
delineated in its several branches. The sisters of
the Dodson family carried with them into the world
all the peculiarities that distinguished them at
home, and certainly when they met in conclave
they presented a formidable phalanx to the unini-
tiated• It was better to face an armed host to
expect victory than to hope to controvert an
opinion or remove a prejudice belonging to a
female whose proud privilege and most enviable
distinction was to remember herself, and not let
others forget, that she was nee Dodson. Matii,
such persons exist in the various ramifications 0'
society, alike its plague and its ridicule, too intent
on self to note how their selfishness is cool,
mented on, and too wrapt up in- the conceit 0'
their partial and superficial knowledge ever to
arrive at the consciousness of how ignorant the/
are. Bob Jakin .is a very good specimen of 110,
class, and really we here meet with a sketch most
true to nature, neither too highly polished for his
sphere, as is so often the case when low, life 10
exhibited on the scene, nor too rough for consistent'
when it is remembered that in that uncouth forte
and that uncultivated mind dwelt qualities and
lingered sentiments which would have done honour
to one far higher placed in the social scale. Ills
genuine kindness was proved in the days of sorest
trial and bitterest desertions, and at last Maggio
found a refuge and a shelter in his home when her
brother discarded her. It would be difficult t 0
suppose a more impressive style than that of this,
author, with its force and its fluency, and we yield
the homage that is irresistibly accorded to the
na-
tive majesty of real eloquence as we listen to the
passages that are nerved with thrilling power, 0r
linger over pages that are replete with classl6
grace. No true judge but will accord that this
stands out apart from its fellows as a work 01
mark, a masterly production, and a triumph
of creative skill. Talent may every al
be met with in the broad highways a°
narrow paths of literature, genius is rare now _,
ever, no diffusion of knowledge, no spread of edu
cation can impart it. Culture and training ulef
work marvels in polishing and refining, but the;
cannot work miracles, and give to the counterfeit
the lustre of the real. Hence, rare attainment
that arrest the attention of an ever-reading coin'
munity and draw down applause from the super'
cilious and fanciful, are as much to be valued 0„
ever. With all the wealth of fiction that surrounr,
us, we can and must prize a work that makes 14;
think, and more than that, makes us feel that the
author has thought. This style is one quitetlial
writer's own, and at the present day it has no ric ,
near its throne to contend for its prizes, or to des
pute and deprecate its honours. The author et:
" Adam Bede" may well be congratulated on lan
ing so triumphantly passed the ordeal of a seem:
publication after a first of such marvellous renon
as that which was sounded through the length a°
breadth of the land by the voice of fame. Perbset
some may be disappointed, and say that it does 11°,
equal expectation, but then some people's expeento
tions have no limits, and this certainly fulfils or
reasonable hopes. " The Mill on the Floss" cani?,:,
require flattering or even favourable notices to g.l/0
it publicity, or to gain it admirers. Its prestigr
will ensure it readers, and its merits must make °
it appreciation. It is therefore more to render 0
to
just tribute to a praiseworthy undertaking the.ll
set forth its claims to regard, that the critic. ent
tempts a discussion of its volumes. It is suffieleor
to say, that from their intrinsic merit and superl4
excellence they are worthy of a place in the 111071
of all discerning readers, and that notwithstalialo.
some errors, that will appear more or less
portant to divers classes of their critics, they 7,0%
doubtless gain for themselves a high rank anwre
standard fictions, and win for their author the
_,ea
flown of belonging to the select few who are chu''ol
0
to be the representatives of their day to generate
of " future sons and daughters still unborn."

THE NEW PENNY PIECE•

Her Majesty has approved of the new Pet/713.
piece, which will now be issued as soon as pcssl:oo
The following is the general design :—The 01/%0
contains the portrait of the Queen, with a syre",ea
of laurel round her head. The bust is lengtribe
as in the florin, and a scarf, embroidered with tho
erose, thistle, and shamrock, is thrown ove„.;
shoulders. The inscription is, " Victoria -v•
Brit. Reg. F. D." Britannia appears on tetbe
verse, seated on a rock, not on the shield, as ailed,
present coin ; but the figure has been rerneueshig
and the sea has been introduced, with a-the
on one side of the figure and a lighthouse 08116 e •
other. The inscription is, One PentlY, I„boat
The likeness of the Queen is truthful, and, w ova
the faintest attempt' at flattery, the retlaLetli
classical expression of the face has been perf",,ioci
caught. There are 91 parts of copper, four 0' -etal.
and two of tin in the composition of the mthia
The value of this amalgamation permits of Target
as well as small coin—in fact, not much ger
than the French bronze two sous pieces. „3 of
Majesty has taken great interest in the protgriVcoo
the coin, and has honoured Mr. Leonard C. ' It i°
with several sittings. The work of art—lett:o
really .such—will add to tilt 'well earned fame Table
gentleman, and has been executed with rev:l3'oo
care. The halfpenny and farthing are in Pe°lltiO'
The size of the penny is one inch and two- eight
the halfpenny one inch, and the farthing
tenths of an inch.—Court Journal.

..................,
MORRISSVS OPINION '-----------OF THE FIGTIT F°lll-70
Tily!,
aCcnitad:Bdinaoisohtosans;aisPafa.i—li The-British and North Americuo,nicss
Mail Company's steamer Canada, Capt. Lang, for 10',00
a rn
02 e t
them
oerrdrei
ascsinyg.
00S,
faattnuhared
Aat
takes
eeisi'rjeconait Iplio.vituer.ppao(sowsloe..ails
use scientific terms, "s eak by the card," these time-)1. his
two of his friends. Rep was rather reserved in giviPb,yot
opinion of the fight, but it was easy to gather iroroanowca
ho said that ho thought that, had the battle beePtor• i"
to go on, Sayers would have proved himself the vic ,
a•iiijr,
observed that it was amazing how, for an 11°utro,05,:sNaviatilii but
ho ho fought, under such fearful disadvantages
iirm ; and said that in a quarter of. an hour SM:teis opitiiol3
blinded Heenan. Morrissy intends topublisll, ,
of The fight on hie arriyal. in Auloricor