The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-25 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Mainstone's housekeeper. By Eliza Meteyard
(Silverpen). 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
This story may certainly claim the merit of ex-
treme ingenuity in construction, for it is rarely
that we meet with a narrative so complicated in
detail, so rich in adventure, and so peculiar in
style. It will undoubtedly be in circulating libra-
ries for some time to come a novel of renown, for its
revival in some measure of the old school of ro-
mance. At the same time, it must be said that
there is too much elaboration, and too mush mi-
nuteness in its composition—not enough is left
for the reader's mind to do for itself. Every,
subject is exhausted, as it were, and every per-
son's character is so comprehensively described,
that it is sometimes rather an effort to follow
out the story, instead of there being a pleasing
sense of some better qualities in the background,
of the existence revealed before us, something
bright and beautiful to shine after the night of
sorrow, as the morning star and to reflect splen-
dour and beauty over the mean and common ways
of life. Some of the sketches are very ably de-
lineated ; and it is most satisfactory to find that
the excellent heroine, Charlotte Waldo, was not
united to her old friend. Such an union is al-
ways an outrageous notion in novels, and never can
be happy, hence the persistence of story-tellers in
introducing it is highly to be reprehended. After
the love-sick style of the Minerva press, there has
been too much of the marriages of duty, self-sacri-
fice, &c., introduced into romances, and that ex-
treme is as bad as the other. Mr. Radnor is a well-
intentioned and pious man, but not one that we
respect, as he was lamentably weak; and no one
with a grain of self-respect would have tolerated
for an hour in his house a woman like Mrs. Jack.
This person is a likely enough portrait; too many
such devour the substance of deluded employers,
and make their rich harvest out of the follies their
sharpness has detected. The decision of Charlotte
is delightful to witness, and it is one of the most
useful possessions one can boast of in a world
where wrong must be fought against, vice trampled
under foot, and the treacherous wiles, whose name
is legion, must be surmounted. Many a life of regret,
many a dreary death-bed would have been robbed of
their sting, had moral courage nerved the tortured
sufferer in some momentous hour, and won for him
a precious victory. Barbie Bell is a delightful little
maiden, most naturally described, with her pretty
face and her foolish vanity, which at last is happily
subdued before it works out mischief for
her after-fate. Richard Wenloch is a striking
character, one sure to make a name for
himself wherever his lot may be cast—a
true worker in the fields of enterprise, and a
brave man on the highway of life. One so truth-
ful and simple as Charlotte could have found no
better guide, and no more meet companion than
this excellent man. The feud which raged between
Breere and Thornhill seems to typify the secret
grief of luau a household where dwell families in
riches, but poor in the only possessions that can
smooth the rugged road of life—a kindly heart and
in gracious spirit. The Montague and Capulet epi-
sode of their children, nearly issued in a similar
gloom as its prototype, but at last the prospect
brightened. It would have been more suitable to
his position, and the sacredness of his vocation, had
Mr. It-idnor pointed out to the infatuated young
lovers the errors they were committing in a secret
marriage. 'Whatever were the faults of their fathers
one crime does not excuse another, and it is never
allowable in a minister of the Church to counte-
nance such subterfuge as that practised by the son
and daughter of the inimical squires. Some of the
scenes at Moore Farm are most painful, and would
have been better omitted, as the story is quite intri-
cate enough without them, and they do not redound
to its interest. Finally, it may be said, that this
novel, as a whole, is a very fair attempt of its au-
thoress, and its eventful pages and stirring scenes
afford ample scope for reflection, edification, and
recreation.

The Lack of ladysniede. 2 vols. Blackwood,
Edinburgh and London.
This is the reprint of a work which appeared
sectionally in Blackwood's Magazine, and as in the
notice of that periodical we were enabled to criticise
it from month to month it is unnecessary to dwell
at any great length on it at present. It is not
certainly one of the chef dceuvres that occasionally
illumine the pages of Maya, but it is full of inge-
nuity in its complicated narrative, and goes-back
to a remote period that nowadays is almost
totally discontinued by authors in choosing the
time for their stories. There are also many cha-
racters introduced with great skill, and the
latter portion of the talc in especial is exciting
in many of its scenes. The perils and persecu-
tions which the fair Lady Gladice underwent
may vie with those marvellous records and
ro-
mantic legends which have so often chronicled
the dangers of lovely damsels in castle, keep,
and fortress. Sir Nicholas le llardi is a most
despicable man, and yet the boldness
of his manner, and his utter fearlessness, show to
advantage, besides of a person in every way so con-
temptible as Sir Godfrey. The wily plots and
dark machinations of these worthy confederates in
mischief, and chiefs of evil, are related in an artistic
manner, and in the passages that refer to Isola are
nerved with a power that impresses, and the
sorrows of that unhappy lady naturally attract
one's sympathic interest. Waryn Foliot is a noble
south, and in the bright promise of his opening
manhood gives a sure earnest of after years develop-
ing in him the heroic qualities, and displaying the
devoted patriotism that have rendered renowned
many of the bold barons of the country in the
chivalrous epoch of which the story treats. Many
of the men and events in this book are historical,
and, on the whole, it is probable that this will not
be an unsuccessful addition to the stores of valuable
and interesting volumes that have been brought
before the public by the enterprising publishers of
the "Luck of Ladysmede."

Ebb and Flow ; the Curiosities and Marvels of the
Sea Shore. Houlston and Wright.
Under this title the Rev. Robert Fraser has pro-
duced a highly instructive volume, for old as well
as young people. Pow objects, the author forcibly
observes in his preface, possess greater interest
than those which pertain to the sea shore. The
coast itself, whether rocky or level—the ocean with
its tides, its storms, and its calms—the plants, the
fishes, the birds which inhabit or visit the shores
—constitute an inexhaustible fund of instruction
and delight. The contents of the volume which at
present glitters and adorns our desk consist of no
less than 42 different subjects, all treated in such an
interesting manner as fairly to enchain the attention
of the juvenile reader. We have chapters on " The
Sea Shore," "Phosphorescence of the Sea," "Tides
and Currents," " Shells," " Sea Weeds," "Water-
spouts," " Ice-fields," "Fishing-boats," and many
other equally interesting subjects. The man of
business, when he takes his annual trip to the sea-
side, and there assists his children to fill their pretty
little shell baskets, will find this book a very agree-
able companion ; while, as a scholastic prize, it will
be greatly valued by the fortunate -winner. The
beauty and intent of the work is much enhanced
by the splendid and profuse manner in which it is
, illustrated.

The Bandbook of Book keeping by Single and
Double Entry. London : Cassell, Petter, and
Galpin.
This little work is what it professes to be. It
gives first a clear account of each kind of book in
its relation to the object of book-keeping, and then
takes the supposed accounts of a wholesale and
retail firm for a month, illustrating by them the
practical use and keeping of each book. Any
tolerably intelligent person familiar with the ele-
mentary rules of arithmetic could not fail, with
ordinary attention, by the help of this small treatise
and its examples, to master the principles and
practice of book-keeping.