The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-22 00:00:00

Itreats the subject with a calmness and moderation
which might-teach a salutary lesson to many eon.-
' troversialists. He admitg in its widest scope the
right of frce inquiry ; he even carries it to an ex-
tent which many conscientious persons would think
dangerous. He only assets that the inquirer
should prosecute his researches at home, and proves
that he has no right in a public library to force
upon others works which are objectionable to them.
He shows how in mixed assemblies every one must
consult the wishes of his neighbour, if peace and
order arc to be maintained, and that, under the cry
of free inquiry and the rights of man, they were
really attempting to carry out a most tyrannical
principle. The force of his arguments, and the
toleration of his views, must have done more to
convince these sceptics of their error than volumes
of denunciation and invective. It is mournful, but
not surprising to those who know anything of
human nature, to find that Mr. Robertson's prin-
ciples were the subject of attack and abuse. He
was as entirely superior to the prejudices of any
particular sect in religion as in literature, and con-
sequently those whose prejudices were assailed by
his eloquent denunciations of hypocrisy and
Pharasaism were most bitter in their condem-
pation of what they termed the latitudinarian-
ism of his teaching. Those of more elevated
minds and larger sympathies will take a
very different view of the tendencies of his •
doctrine. They will see in it no palliation of sin,
though an earnest pity for the sinner. There is
no confusion of the principles of right or wrong,
only a sense that—

" What's done we safely may compute,
But know not what's resisted."
There is displayed in it that-toleration and libe-
rality which arc but other names for the Christian
charity which St. Paul ranked first among virtues.
It affords another proof that prejudice and severity
are not necessarily the accompaniments of earnest
piety, and that the poet, the philanthropist, and
the logician, may all find scope for the exercise of
their powers in the sphere of the Christian
preacher.

An Old Debt. By Florence Dawson. 2 vols.
Smith and Elder.
There is a great deal of mbrit displayed in this
work, and although the story is certainly a pain-
ful one, many may be interested in it. Some of
the characters are remarkably well portrayed,
particularly that of the heroine, Ellen Scudamore.
In her we find a just representation of what a
high-spirited and passionate girl would be if almost
totally devoid of self-control, and as impetuous as
she was inexperienced. She had many trials to
subdue and soften her, and it is probable that at
the period when we take leave of her she was
sufficiently improved to become an ornament
and a grace to the society to which her talents
rendered her an acquisition, and a blessing to the
domestic circle, in which she was well fitted to
shine from her affectionate heart and generous dis-
position. Her brother Frederick was a striking
contrast to his sister. He was one of those gra-
cious beings who diffuse a light and brilliancy
over every circle into which they enter, and who
accord with the description of the poet :

" His presence seems like sunshine sent, to gladden home
and hearth,
To comfort us in all our griefs, and sweeten all our mirth."

It is mournful, however, to see how the light heart
and sanguine spirit of the boy seemed to regard
the future with trust, as if secure of a long life,
and as if his present ailments were temporary
'drawbacks, instead of sure harbingers of the
approach of death. Fortunately for him Frederick
possessed a true friend in his tutor, Edward Young,
who himself was most unfortunately situated, but
who was ever ready to proffer succour and give good
counsel to those who needed it.. He had sufficient
courage and kindness-to inform the dying sufferer of
his approaching end; and al hough he was not able to
be present with him at last as he had hoped, h
could depart with the cheering reflection that he
had rendered by his words of solemn assurance, less
awful the dark passage to another world from
which the young pilgrim shrank with awe. Little
did they think when Edward first warned the in-
valid, that he himself, who then stood beside him
in health and strength, should be the first to walk
through the dark valley; but so it was. A sudden
illness proved more than he could struggle thieugh,
owing to his mind haying been very much harassed
for some time, which had gradually told upon his
health, and his long atendance on Frederick had
undermined his strength. The circumstances which
gave rise to his quarrel with his relation, Lord
Conyngford, are admirably related ; and the final
confusion which resulted in Edward's dying with-
out explanation, and his friend's life-long remorse
and regrets, offers a warning to those suspicious
and hasty tempers that rush at conclusions and re-
fuse to hear the voice of reason until too late. There
would be nothing to lament in the premature death
of Edward Young were it not that he departed
under the impression that he had failed in the ob-
ject of his life to requite in some degree the debt of
gratitude he owed to Lord Conyngford. in conse-
quence of the latter's conduct to his father. How-
ever, his work was not profitless, althou;rh he did
not live to see its fruition. Hai he' not. cxci cised
a stern control over himself, it was evident that
Ellen Scudatnore would have soda forgotten her
transient feelings towards Lord Convngford; and
that on the arival of the latter hewould have found.

himself supplanted by his young kinsman in deed,
instead of only in thought. Those who are pleased
with fine delineations of character, and powerful
descriptions of human nature, will find in some of
the subjects here presented to their notice ample
scope for study. The excitable Ellen affords a
strange contrast to the reserve under which Edward
concealed his sensitiveness of feelings, and the strong
passions which were hid by Lord Conyngford's pride.

Peers and Parvenus. A Novel. By Mrs. Gore.
A new edition, revised by the author. Uniform
with the above, Memoirs of a Pceresc, by Mrs.
Gore. Knight and Son.
It must be very satisfactory to novel readers to
be enabled to procure the most celebrated novels
of this gifted authoress in a cheap form. " Peers
and Parvenus" contains much of that piquant satire
which is so remarkable in the writings of Mrs.
Gore. The menu tricks, the shuffling excuses, the
paltry devices to which the manoeuvrers and
match-makers of society resort, are here graphi-
cally depicted and consummately related. In the
" Memoirs of a Peeress" it is a former generation
that is pi esented to our notice, and many may be
pleased to possess so brilliant a description, and so
vivid a sketch of the remarkable men who rendered
their epoch famous, and the domestic life of that
day will be seen to be very different from the pre-
sent style. There is always something. attractive
in the works of this authoress, but it is certain that
in no two others of her numerous productions will
be found more variety and vigour than in these
which are now reproduced in an acceptable manner
for the edification of the readers of fiction.