The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-29 00:00:00

SPAIN.

MADRID, May 29.

Several newspapers discuss to-day the position in
which Spain is placed by the recent decree of the
Emperor of the Brazils in reference to slavery, and
announce that Senator Pastor will bring in a bill
proposing the abolition of slavery in the Spanish
colonies.

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, May 28.

The steamers Aleppo, from Liverpool, Arago,
from Falmouth, have arrived here, and the Nova
Scotian, at Quebec. _ _

SOUTHAMPTON, May 29.
The North German Lloyd steamer Union, from
New York, passed the Needles at 10 a.rn. to-day.

LITERATURE.

NEW NOVELS.

rene's Repentance. By Christian Eyre, 2 volr.

Hurst and Blackett.

This is a charming little domestic tale, very
simple, and as the title-page tell 3 us " unenriched
with strange events," and yet, as the same autho-
rity with equld justice adds, " not unfit for the
fir

'eside or for the summer shade." When we first
meet Irene she is almost a school -girl, and is per-
suaded by her mother, who is starting for India, to
consent to a hasty marriage, which, according to
the proverb, is generally the prelude of a leisurely
repentance. How Irene does repent, and how,
better still, she wisely repents of her repentance, we
shall not here relate. Young maidens and young
wives may both learn a lesson from her story, and
the story itself is so natural, and is so delight.
fully told, that its perusal will afford pleasure to
many readers. The very disagreeable sisters of the
hero are, we cannot but think, overdrawn. Their
rudeness to their sister-in-law almost amounts to
insolence, and is beyond the bounds of probability.
Mrs. Cunningham, the formidable mother-in-law,
is more natural. This lady is a model
housekeeper, and is delighted to instruct and
victimise the ignorant bride. Some of her
advice, however unpalatable to Irene, is neverthe-
less sufficiently practical and sensible in the main.
"My dear," exclaims the matter-of-fact mother-in.
law, on one occasion, " if you begin to talk of your
spirits at nineteen by the time you are twenty you
will be talking of your nerves. In my old-fashioned
opinion, spirits is only the modern word for what
used to be called tempers, and nerves the polite term
for whims. Our grandmothers never had spirits or
nerves. Take my advice, and when your spirits
are bad turn out a closet, or make a pudding, or dust
your drawing-room, or label your jams. You will
soon forget your spirits. But beware of one thing
—never -think to cure them by sal volatile, or cam-
phor julep, or weak brandy and water, or bottled
ale. Nothing is more certain to make them return.
Throw your heart into your duties. Take a pride
in your house, and make your husband's comfort
your first thought, and you won't have time for
nerves." Mrs. Cunningham, in other words, recom-
mends that infallible receipt for the " Spleen"
so pregnant with epigrammatic wit and practical
wis lom—" fling but a stone, the giant.dies." We
have said enough to assure our fair readers that
they will have no cause to repent an acquaintance
with " Irene's Repentance."

The Loyalist's Daughter. By a Royalist. Four

_Vols. Adams and Francis.

A novel in four volumes is a very unusual sight
in the present day; but it is no mere book-making
that has lengthened out this very interesting his-
torical romance. Its composition has evidently
been throughout a labour of love. The author tells
us at the conclusion, with somewhat of an explana-
tory apology, that the story had extended itself
from two volumes into three, and from three into
four, almost imperceptibly, and quite unavoidably
on his part. Ile did not write for the sake of pro-
ducing a book, but because he bad something to
tell, and so wrapt up were his thoughts in the inte-
rest of his narrative that the manner of the
narrative became forgotten in the matter. Those
who read the tale will not be disposed to criticise its
length. It is full of intense interest throughout.
As an historical work relating to the civil wars in
England in the time of James 11. it possesses con-
siderable value. The intricate mazes of historical
romance are pursued not only with a very remark-
able ingenuity, but in a spirit of moderation and
justice which cannot but commend itself to readers
of all parties and all opinions. We do not propose
to enter into the plot of the story. A few lines of
explanation could not do justice to a narrative of
four volumes, but we may very heartily commend
the impartial spirit in which the book is written,
and the very great ability with which the historical
romance has been constructed.

Constance Rivers.

By Lady Barrett Lennard

Three Vols.

Hurst and Blackett.

Whatever other merits or demerits may be pos-
sessed by this new novel, it may certainly lay claim
to being the fastest, the most dashing, and the most
daring of the fast sensational novels of the day.
With the spirit and the impetus of an express en-
gine the narrative rushes on, but not like an express
engine within a given range ; to quote the title of
another recent novel—it is "off the Line" through-
out—off the line of probability and even of possi-
bility—off the line of conventional decorum and
even tof moral propriety ! The vivid descriptions of
bili
a soldier's life in the Crimea and in India will, for
the rivet the attention of the reader, but
the moment,wonderful
improbability of the tale and the glar-
ing
impropriety of some of the scenes and incidents
are such that we cannot predict for " Constance
Rivers" either respect as a work of sentiment or
admiration as a work of art.

Alec's Bride. By the author of " St. Olave's."
Three Vols. Hurst and Blackett.
No two books could be more dissimilar than the
story we have just been considering and this tale of
,cAlee's Bride." The one was " fast" in the
very fastest possible interpretation of the word, and
the other, although written by the very charming
author of " St. Olave's" and " Janita's Cross," and
other very delightful works, is so quiet and so
uuseusational, as almost (as a story) to merit the
epithet of slow. Like Canning's knife-grinder, of
famous memory, the author of " Alec's Bride" might
well exclaim " Story ! Lord bless me, I have none
to tell." Yet quiet and uneventful as is the tenour
of her way, the history of Alec's Bride is
not wholly devoid of interest and attraction. There
is a pleasure in contemplating such pictures of still
life, when drawn by a, hand so skilful and so delicate
in its minute touches as is that of the gifted author
of " St. Olave's. " Very delightful is the portrait of
Miss Phillis Chicory, the good maiden aunt, who
has the care of the somewhat impetuous and self-
willed heroine. Aunt Phillis, we arc told " had
long ago learned the wisdom—than which
the very greatest philosopher on earth can
find no greater —of doing the duty which
lay nearest to her, and trusting for light
when that was done to see the next. If every
woman did her duty as faithfully, and trimmed
her little lamp as constantly as Aunt Phillis did,
not murmuring that the duty was so mean or the
lamp so tiny, there would be less stumbling in the
world, less crying out for light, fewer complaints
over the darkness and dreariness of the way."

Briars and Thorns. A Novel. By Blanche Marryal

Three Vols. Saunders, Utley, ani Co.

Full of briars and thorns indeed are the path-
ways in this novel. In real life we are fain to be-
lieve that every cloud has a silver lining, that
thorns and roses, briars and blooms, are ordinary
although incongruous companions. Not so, however,
in the histories of the hapless heroines of the tale
before us ; no sunshine enlightens their cloud-land ;
❑o roses are mingled with their thorns. Thorns and
briars alone mark the unhappy course laid down for
them by relentless fate and an inexorable authoress.
The only comfort we can experience in the con-
templation of these sufferings, and a poor comfort
it is, is the knowledge that their troubles, in the one
instance at all events, are richly deserved. In the
melancholy chapter entitled "Retribution," in which
a sad catastrophe robs a mother of her children, we
cannot but remember while she is heart-broken
with anguish that the children's life was a
matter of more affliction than their death ; fur
her forsaken husband is in a distant land, and
tho father of these children, her companion in sin
and sorrow, has, for her sake, deserted another wife.
Well may briars and thorns spring up in a foot-
path so selected. The descriptions in this narrative
arc some of them full of interest, but the story itself
is singularly unattracti►•e,

Proverbial Philosophy. Third Series. By Martin
F. Tupper. One vol., pp. 314. Moxon.
After thirty years' silence, the Proverbial Philo-
sopher again addresses his friends and admirers.
To them, and their name is legion, these fresh
utterances of wit and wisdotn—quaint, and even
at tunes uncouth, as is their expression--will be

,

right welcome. In the preamble to this new boo&
the author thus accosts his friends:--
"Again, towards the eventide of life, I touch that rhythimic
harp
Struck by the son of Sirach twenty centuries agone ;
Again I ask thy favour—thou my brother or my sister:
Not as a stranger, but now a friend of thirty years ;
Again I ask for my words thy patience and thy love•
Then recapitulating the joys and sorrows, the
trials and temptations of the past thirty years, he
congratulates himself and his readers that they—
" still stand to fight the fight if faint, thank

God, pursuing ;
Still is life with half its hopes, and all its mercies ours;
U.'hercforo gratitude and penitence, faith, and hope, and
charity,
These well become us each as friends reriovving all
that past."
We cannotbut think the matter contained in this vo-
lume immeasurably superior to the manner in which
it is expounded. We cannot admire the rugged
style, but all must concur with the excellent teach-
ing which it sets forth. "Little Providences" and
" Smaller Morals" are forcible examples of what we
have said. While the spirit that pervades them,
reminding us how " sometimes gleaming in
the
darkness we note that shadowy Hand," and " the
glory of God is in the highest, His glory is also 15
the lowliest"—while this spirit is akin to that
which recognised " sermons in stones and good 18
everything," the hand that describes them is 85
matter-of-fact as that of the dreariest pre-Raphaelite
dilating upon " even the pattern of a carpet, even
the paper of a room." Nevertheless, in spite of
these drawbacks, after thirty years' silence, we arc
glad again to welcome Martin Tupper. As he himself
says, " A book is in no sort like a cable, to ba judgBcll3l
its weakest inch. A chain to be condemned through-
out, because some links are faulty." Recognising
the faults and flaws we are ready also to admit the
merits and to welcome again with cordial greeting
the old friend of " thirty years ago."

saw
Conn

HER MAJESTY, &c•

BALMORAL, May 27.
The Queen attended Divine Service in the parish
church of Crathie yesterday. Princess Louise,
Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, and Prince Chris"
tian accompanied her Majesty. The Duchessi
Dowager of Athole and Lord C. Fitzroy were n

attendance.
The group of statuary by Mr. W. Thced, repre-
senting the Queen and Prince Consort, was un-
covered on the 20th inst. at Windsor Castle in Pre-
sence of her Majesty, who expressed her entire arc
proval of the work. The figures are of the size
life, in the Saxon costume of the ninth ccuturY;
which lends itself favourably to the conditions of
sculpture. Her Majesty wears a light and graccfn•
diadem and a rich mantle. The Prince has also 3
mantle, and his dress, in which reminiscences of the
antique are discernible, displays his figure to great
advantage.. Her Majesty is represented as 101 l
up at her husband with au expression in which grie
and hope are combined, and the Prince looking de! „11
at the Queen with tender solemnity. The details
and ornaments of the costumes are rich and elah°,
rate, and the execution of all the details is a model
of delicate and finished workmanship, fully accountll;
ing for Mr. Theed's five years' patient labour. 1.,,
figures are of the purest Carrara marble, and tb.:
pedestal of the precious marble called Marino is
cano, wrought from an antique fragment found 1
Rome.

THE PRINCESS MARY.—Yesterday morning the
following bulletin was issued :—" Kensington Palace, 14319
28.—Her Royal Highness the Princess Mary Adelaide 1,40
passed another good night, and is going on quite well. I
infant Princess is also weII.—ARTILUR FARRE, M.D."

MEETINGS IN ROYAL PARIS•

The following is a copy of a bill intituled, " "'lll
act for the better and more effectually securing the
.use of certain royal parks and gardens for the en,,
ryment and recreation of her Majesty's subjects'
introduced into the house of Lords by Lord Itedes-
dale. " Whereas it is expedient to provide for tb°
better and more effectually securing the use of Ora'
tam royal parks and gardens for the enjoyment 11%
recreation of her Majesty's subjects. Be it therefor"
enacted by the Queen's most excellent Majesth
and with the advice and consent of the lords SPlrit
tual and temporal, and commons, in this pre6elia
Parliament assembled, and by authority of the Oral
as follows :-1. This act shall apply to all the ropolf
parks, gardens, and possessions the management 3
which is vested in the Commissioners of her gni cs'te
Works and Public Buildings, and which are Sit°
within the limits of the metropolis. 2. The nitetll,t
polis shall mean the area for the time being s° °f
to the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Beard tou
Works. 3. The parks, gardens, and possessions be
which this act applies shall not on any occasion for
used, without the permission of her MaiestY.g
'
il'
the purposes of political or any other wect io
not for open-air preaching, nor for the eeleb‘of
tion of the anniversaries of other re-unions.oo
clubs or benefit societies. 4. Any person convenl
or aiding or assisting in convening any Inceeting to
oo
be held in contravention of this act, and mny Perset„
knowingly joining or taking part iu any such nleog
ing, contrary to the provisions of this act, on biliioo
convicted before any magistrate sitting in anY P ic,
court within the metropolis, shall, on such
tion, either be liable to a penalty not exceeding .0,
or, in the discretion of the magistrate, may 13, enido
prisoned for any term not exceeding 013 e calf 11 be
month. 5. Nothing in this act contained sba. ot
deemed to prejudice or affect any prerognttire,lo,
other right of her Majesty, her heirs or Suceesyses,
in respect of the said parks, gardens, and P°:i
sions. 6. This act may be cited for all purP°3-
"rho Meetings in Royal Parks Act, 1867: