The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-16 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Diamonds and Dust. 3 vols. Newby.
This volume would appear to be the first work of
its author. It displays all the enthusiastic ideas,
all the Utopian schemes, and also very frequently
the overwrought langnage of a young writer.
There is also a freshness of sentiment and fertility
of imagination which would seem to indicate its
being the production of one whose ready enthu-
siasm and plans of social regeneration had not yet
encountered the disappointments of experience.
The characters of the story are numerous, and many
of them properly romantic and uncommon. The
plot is exceedingly complicated, and the most at-
tentive reader might be puzzled in the attempt to
unravel it. There is a false heir, of course, and a
stolen child, and a dishonest lawyer, and a disap-
pointed lover with Italian schemes of vengeance ;
and then at the end, as all experienced novel rea-
ders might foresee, the false heir is dispossessed of
his stolen property, all the missing deeds are found,
all the lost witnesses appear from Ireland, from
Italy, wherever they had fled ; all the love affairs
are happily arranged, and the story concludes
triumphantly. It must not be imagined, however,
that it is a mere romance of a not uncommon cha-
racter. The writer has taken the opportunity to
express many social and political opinions, chiefly
on the present state of society, and has invested
Silllo of his heroes, and one of his heroines with
great intellectual powers. There is also a Chartist
hero, the exception to the happy conclusion, who,
from a mistaken idea of benefiting the human race,
only ends, as many others have done, in ruining
his own happiness and that of his family. Many
pages of the work are devoted to his rhapsodies of
social advancement, which, however, appears like so
many similar projects to be only theoretical. This
is the mistake of many visionary reformers, and of
the present author among the number. It is very
easy to launch forth into a chapter of grand phrases
full of ardour, and even eloquence, to depict a
nation and a race, where crime and vice shall never
exist, where laws and institutions shall be perfect
and unchangeable, but it is a very different thing
to tell us how these wonderful results are to be
attained. Certainly not by Chartist meetings
or midnight societies. These planners forget that
were their objects immediately attained, were laws,
and rulers and institutions perfect, the hardest task
would remain unperformed, and the imperfec-
tion of the people of all classes would mar the
effect of their Utopian dream of universal good and
happiness. Is there nut as much misery caused by
private deceit, and avarice, and selfishness as by
public oppression ? and the faults and failings in-
herent in the human race will long retard any
effort, however vigorous, any schemes, ho .vever
benevolent, for their perfectibility. We confess to
having more respect for the unpretending Con-
stance, who spent her time in ministering to the
wants of those around her, than for the gifted
Andrew Langston and the enthusiastic Lady Ethel,
who, notwithstanding their brilliant theories and
lofty scorn of existing institutions, appear to have
been of very little practical benefit. The charac-
ters are numerous and varied, and many of them
well drawn. The style is also agreeable, and occa-
sionally eloquent, though the reader could very
well dispense with some pages of disquisitions,
which, though often well written, grow wearisome
from repetition. The hero and heroine travel in
Italy, and many characters are introduced with all
the fervour and passion of the south. The Italians,
indeed, are made to appear with their full share
of romantic qualities. The work displays consi-
derable talent, great imagination, and variety of
incident and character ; and when time and expe-
rience shall have modified his social theories and
subdued the exuberance of his style, we have
doubt that the author will be ranked among our
successful writers of fiction.

Elsie Seymour ; or, the Contrast. By A. Wygorn.

3 vols. Newby.
There is sufficient talent displayed iu this book
to give it a standing, and some parts of it are in-
teresting, both front the qualities displayed by the
horoes and heroines, and from the peculiar situa-
tions in which they are placed. However, there
are drawbacks to its excellence in some places. The
chief fault is the too frequent introduction of
Scriptural passages, not always in an appropriate
manner. Some theological points of difference are
discussed, which are not suitable to the style •of a
light novel. It is difficult to understand also what
moral is intended to be conveyed by the life of Elsie
Seymour, whether she is to be a shining light, and
a bright example, to encourage present aspirants,
and point the way to future votaries in the cause,
or whether she is to be considered as one who ne
glected her immediate duties. It is certain that
her course was anything but satisfactory. A mind
at peace within, was essentially requisite for her
undertaking, but, on the contrary, she passed a rest-
less career of conflicting doubts. At one time she felt
inspired to step out from her contracted sphere, and
perform a great work, great in its very humility and
self-sacrifice, beautiful in its devotion, and holy in
its combination of. the virtues that should adorn
the Christian character—faith, hope, and charity.
Again, at another time, her spirits would sink,
her thoughts be distracted, while the voice of con-
science seemed to whisper an admonition, and the
cl aims of her family rivalled the calls of her mission.
"On home's high duties be your thoughts employed,
Leave to the world its striving and its void,"
might with reason be addressed to one, who deserted
the domestic hearth, for the allurements of pleasure,
or even for the higher objects of intellectual culti-
vation and enjoyment, but Elsie's employment was
essentially not of this world. Therefore the reader
feels at a loss to reconcile how, if qualified for
her work, it was right for her to begin and not
complete it. Notwithstanding these flaws in the
narrative there is much to please, as well as edify
in the character of Elsie Seymour. Katharine
Elliott is also attractive, although the circumstance
of her m sunderstanding with Montagu, might have
been made as complicated, without the introduction
of so awkward a dilemma as the one that is encoun-
tered. Herbert Lisle is of a noble and generous dis-
position, and reflects a lustre upon the story by
his true merit and intrinsic excellence. Only one
year is Consumed in the course of the events de-
scribed, but it is a very important and busy one.
In thab epoch engagements are contracted,, dis-
solved, and recomposed. During that space the
heroes and heroines wander to the valley of the
Nile, and the cities of the Holy Land. They re-
turn from their explorations to the pyramids and
cataracts of Egypt, and their pilgrimages to the
temples and shrines of Jerusalem, to the retirement
of their English homes, while Elsie Seymour pro-
ceeds to work at her self-imposed task. She is
snatched away by a sudden death in the midst of
her toil ; but the reflection of her life was a
bright one " among the sisters over whom she had
presided, and also in the circle of her dearest
friends, a halo of light seemed to enshrine and
consecrate the memory of Elsie Seymour."

The late Sir Edward Tierney, Bart., whose decease
occurred on the 11th instant, at his residence in Lower
Fitzwillia,m-street, Dublin, was the brother of the late
Sir Matthew Tierney, Physician to King George IV.
and King William TV., and succeeded to the title i❑
1845. The immediate cause of Sir Edward's death was
an attack of acute bronchitis, originated during the per-
formance of his duties as one of the Crown Solicitors for
Ireland, on the occasion of the late special commission
at Cavan. His only son, Lieutenant-Colonel Tierney,
who had been summoned from Paris, arrived with Mrs.
Tierney on Friday morning, and, with Sir Lionel and
Lady Derail, and other members of the family, was
present during the last moments of the lamented baronet.
THE FORTHCOMING TRINITY TERM.—Yesterday the
lists of rules for the ensuing Trinity Term, commencing
on Thursday next, were exhibited. The aggregate of
the three common law courts is 132, being a larger num-
ber than appeared at the beginning of Easter Term.
The forthcoming term is the last before the long ♦aca-
tion, and it is anticipated that there will be a good deal
of business before the courts. In the Court of Queen's
Bench there are 45 rules, in the Common Pleas 33, and
in the Court of Exchequer 54. There are in the Court
of Queen's Bench—in the new trial paper, 2 rules for
judgment and 23 for argument ; in the special paper, 3
rules for judgment and 7 for argument. The iis of
the Common Pleas show 4 demurrers, 2 enlarged rues,
and 17 for new trials; whilst in the Exchequer there
are 7 rules in the peremptory paper, 3 in the special
paper for judgment, and 16 for argument. Of
new trials there are three for judgment and
25 for argument. There has been an increase of busi-
ness in the coalmen law canes, and the profession give
the prefrence t? those tribunals. One reason alleged is,
that in an undefended case the coots are only 3/. Bs.,
and judgment can be obtained in a shorter period than
in the county courts. The true cause probably arises
from the expenditure of costs out of pocket and the dif-
ference in the administration of justice.