The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-03 00:00:00

LITERAIIIiiE.

Christ Church Days. An Oxford Story. TWO
Vols. Richard Bentley.
Most vividly and most effectively has the author
of this Oxford story portrayed the various peculi-
arities and varying phases of college life. Himself,
without doubt, a worthy son of Alma Mater, be
has right lovingly paid his tribute of filial respect
and devotion. The picturesque beauties of college
and hall receive due comment, but it is with the
ways and doings of Oxford men that author
and reader are mostly occupied. Beginning
with the departure of the late train from
Paddington on a particular Friday in October,
—" It was the last train from London to Oxford,
whereby Christ Church men could scramble back to
college quarters so as to observe the time fixed by
the authorities. The people of the Great Western
understood that day and that train. Fast and
❑umerous came the Hansoms driving in. Many
were the men with cigars and terriers, and multitu-
dinous wrappings and innumerable cases. The cab-
men looked satisfied. The porters were alert.
Recognitions and greetings passed on the platform
among the passengers." Then follows a rapid
glimpse of the succeeding days—" The long vaca-
tion had always supplied a plentiful budget of
news." "I think," says the author, as he calls up
old memories, " the commencement of the October
term was the part of the acathimic year which I

liked best. Then, was peculiar pleasure in return-
ing to the old pursuits and renewing the old friend-
ships." With a vivid description of the full
cathedral service, and the long line of white-robed
students conspicuous on the first Sunday of term, the
first chapter of these recollections comes to an end•
Before entering upon the story we are introduced
at some length to the various characters who are to

take part in it, and who are selected, as it were, es
types of different character an class. The Hon.
Algernon Bohun, from Eton, who looks upon Uni"
versity distinction only in the light of a prelude to
Parliamentary success, and Charles Rolfe Dudley,
" from a very second-rate provincial school in the
Midland Counties, where his talents had rendered him
conspicuous. At school Dudley had been
.facile
princeps; but at college he at once found his level.
The triton among minnows became a minnovir
among tritons. "Dudley, however, makes a position

for himself by attaining first-class honours at Mo-
derations, and he developed a further distinction
with the growing development of his muscles. 1-115
strong right arm was felt as an oar and as 5
cricketer." "I am not certain," honestly ex-
claims the Oxonian author, " which reputation is
dearest to a college, to be high up in the school,
or high up on the river." As the rosi-

Lion of Dudley differs from that of Bohll3
so does that of Henry Percival differ from that of
Dudley, Percival being a servitor. His history
forms the subject of an interesting chapter, but we
have not leisure to pursue the narrative in detail.
Among the amusing anecdotes of college experience
is one related by Dudley of a certain Proctor, who,
being in London and walking down Regent-street
late one evening, rousing himself from a fit of
abstraction, believes he is at Oxford, and seeing a
man before him without cap or gown, hurries
after him and lays his hand on his shoulder with

that demand so terrible to undergraduate ears---

•' Your name and college, sir ?" 'Then his mistake
flashes upon his mind, and he rushes away in one

direction, while the person accosted (who really
happens to be a collegian absent without leave)
imagining himself discovered, hurries off in another

direction. The anecbte with yet further ridi-
culous particulars is detailed with laughter-moving
absurdity. The tenour of the book, howcvei, is of
a serious nature. Speaking of thoughtless youths
" sowing their wild oats," it is significantly asked,
" But when will they finish reaping what
they are sowing? Such distempered grain
has an awkward habit of producing every
now and then when least looked for sem°
pestilent harvest." Dudley becomes the hero of no
almost sensational adventure in its tragic conse-
quences, and the moral lesson suggested by big
character and career is very forcibly impressed upon
the mind of the realer. The chief attraction of the
book, however, is in its vivid portrayal of Christ
Church days and Christ Church men. Among
these latter we have forgotten to mak°
mention of Charley Lester, who, taking
no prominent part in the narrative, is a most do'
lightful acquaintance. This gentleman, preferring
play to work, resorts to all manner of artificial
assistance when the dreaded hour of examination
arrives, and takes his place at that formidable en-
counter " with his hand tattooed with diagrams and
his cuff decorated with irregular verbs."

The White Cockade; or, Faith and Fortitude. 13/,,
James Grant, author of "The Romance of War.
Three vols. George Routledge and Sons.
The romance of war is the peculiar subject
of Mr. James Grant's literary predilections.
Already he has given us novels almost as
numerous as those of G. P. R. James, for the
most part dedicated to that one enthralling
theme. Twenty-two novels from the same pro-
lific pen, some of them of great literary excel-
lence, have preceded this story of "The White
Cockade," which now claims our attention. Never
in all the romantic annals of war could a more,
attractive and more romantic history be fount'
than that which is celebrated in the White
Cockade—the history of the Highland Expedition
of Prince Charlie. In his novel of " The King's
Own Borderers," Mr. Grant reminds 115
that he had endeavoured to depict Jacobitisla
in its decline, but in " The White Cockade" 11. e,
attempts to pourtray it in its strength, and before 111
had degenerated into mere sentimental loyalty to 3
race of dead monarchs—of all loyalty perhar°
the most pure and unselfish. In this attempt b°
has been eminently successful. The fervent devotiell
and gallant heroism so conspicuous in that memer"
able enterprise have been again and again aw
memorated,- but it is a subject of which Oe
r
romance writer and the romance reader will never
tire. With Mr. G rant this work has evidently been a
labour of love, and as such it cannot fail to fill
favour with those who read it. The direful field °f
Culloden— -
" Culloden that reeks with the blood of the bravo,
de,
is very effectively described. For all the militarY ca
tails the author, anxious to be correct, has cons
the War-ollice records. A fictitious love story
.i_7o
of course, interwoven with the truthful na,rrati'do
of events, and the loves and sorrows of 13110
()auburn divide the interest with the fortunes 3
misfortunes of Prince Charlie.

_ -
THE DREA DNouilitrr, GREENWICH llostVAL'—:
With a view to giving a satisfactory final deciSi°l,-
on the question of the appropriation of part of Greonviic
Hospital for the uses of the patients of the Seamee'S 1-I°si
pital Society, as proffered by Lord Derby, all the raoditt'
men who have reported to the Government aud t
society upon the relative merits and demerits of the t"g7-1
quarters of Queen Mary and Queen Anne aro t°
at Greenwich Hospital this day. —British Medical Jowl'
do
THE POLICE PERJURY CASE.—This long-Pen,c
ing case has now come to an end. Mr. Ivory) Nalwro:
was instrumental in getting up evidence, and 3PPet“.
he ani
nominal prosecutor on behalf of the lads DYE)f the
Pearce, against the constables Hayes and Barry,°-
~,1
S division, for perjurEand conspiracy, failed to goo n
it in the Court of Queen's Bench at the last term. s
ended all further proceedings, and the Police C°1.1131,1„
sioners, after having thoroughly investigated the asst
instated the officers on full pay.