The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-25 00:00:00

LIT RAT UR.E.

The Master of the Hounds. By Scrutatator, author
of " The Squire of Beechwood." 3 vols. Hurst
and Blackctt.

This is a very entertaining work, full of spirit,
life, and en ergy. We meet with many scenes that
are not often introduced into the pages of a novel ;
but these, far from detracting from its merit, only
add an additional zest to its style. There are several
persons met with in the course of the story, and
they are, for the most part, admirably portrayed.
The hero, Will Beauchamp, is a fine manly cha-
racter—rather too stern and unbending, perhaps,
to suit the taste of the generality, but he had not
had much general intercourse with the world.
His acquaintances, though numerous, were all of
one class, and he was, therefore, too apt to consider
particular prej u dices rather thangen eral impressions.
However, a really noble nature must always possess
an immense influence ; and when time and expe-
rience had softened the harshness and subdued the
hauteur of his manner, there could be no doubt
that, as the Master of the Hounds, all the neigh-
bourhood,' both rich and poor, would poisess an
invaluable friend in Beauchamp. His father, the
old squire, was not so clever as his son, but his kind
heart and great benevolence of disposition, united
with his hospitable habits, rendered him a general
favourite: he was a fit representative of an old
English gentleman. Lord Malcolm, the cousin of
Blanche Douglas, the heroine, is also an agreeable
portrait, although he is too hasty, and too much
addicted to pleasantry and ridicule, which habit,
although proceeding from mere love of fun, often
occasions great confusion among those who are not
always inclined to be made game of. The ladies
of the story are rendered very ably in their several
styles. Blanche Douglas is a sweet, gentle girl,
unfitted by her life of seclusion to cope successfully
with the world. In this point her guardians com-
mitted an error. If she was intended to shine
in the dangerous sphere of fashionable life she
should have been better prepared for the ordeal ;
or if she was' only educated for retirement, she
should have been left in its serene enjoyment. She
did not enjoy any of the glittering scenes into
which. she was forced, and the great admiration
she excited only increased her annoyance. ' There
were several misunderstandings between her and
Will Beauchamp, on account of his jealous temper,
and her ignorance of some of the customs of the
new life she had entered upon. The most exciting
Dassage of the story is that' of the escape of Miss
ouglas froth -the snares of Lbrd Vaucourt. She
was rescued from imminent peril to her future hap-
piness by the courage, dexterity, and devotion of
Will Beauchamp. The subsequent confusion that
ensued on all sides, from the unlooked-for diScovery
'of the daring outrage, forms an admirable opportu-
nity for the author to display his powers of narra-
tion and description. Many of the difficulties and
dangers that beset Blanche could never have be-
fallen one endued with more self-possession and
courage. Constance Beauchamp, for example, was
endowed with too much spirit to submit to such
treatment. It is, however, notorious that the most
deserving in themselves may not be successful in life,
merely for want of resolution. To many, Blanche
Dcuglas will doubtless seem more interesting from
'her very helplessness to defend herself. Mr. and
Mrs. Harcourt are very good specimens of two
manoeuvring, selfish persons, who were intent solely
on their own interest, and making their unfortu-
nate ward a sacrifice to their desire of worldly gain,
in the shape of wealth, rank' or influence. It was
fortunate for the persecuted heroine that she pos-
sessed another guardian in Mrs. Gordon, who was
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change of scene from the rural sports to the town
recreations imparts additional brilliancy to the
narrative, and, often as such gaieties have been
chronicled in novels, there seems something that
engages attention in the present accounts :of the
country friends in London.' Their sojourn there
was neither long nor pleasant, and they returned to
their native place in no way impressed with the
grandeur or greatness of the metropolis. The
Marquis of Ayrshire presents an instance of a selfish
man led on from one step to another to retrieve his
lost ground, till he at last finds himself placed in a
most unenviable position. The dexterous manner
in which Lord Henry Bayntum discovers the plot
formed against Miss Douglas at the conclesion is
most ingenious, and is another of the many stirring
scenes and striking passages which render this
work unusually attractive. " Bob Conyers" is a
sketch that is life-like—there is something real in
his enthusiasm for his cherished sports, his scorn
of meanness and trickery, and his zeal in defend-
ing the cause of his friends. Selina Markham is
rather a caricature—in some degree she redeems
her recklessness of manner by her truthfulness and
readiness to assist the oppressed.' Her brother
conceals under a frivolous exterior much that is
sterling and excellent. Among the numerous
members of the circle who assembled at Bampton
Htitise there is room for the display of the ruling
passions that influence and excite men in all the
several grades of society. There will be found
atiluSement of varied kinds in this work, and the
reader is not likely soon to forget its sparkling
sketches, lively anecdotes, and brilliant style.
Without laTing claim to belong to the higher
range of fictions, this novel is eminently successful
in its peculiar vocation. It is therefore likely to
prove an agreeable addition to the general reader,
both from its spirited delineations and the free-
dom and freshness that mark its tone.

Post-offtce Directory of Cambridge, Norfolk, and
Suffolk. Kelly and Co.
We are glad to see the public approval of these
valuable works of reference so decidedly expressed
by the demand for a third edition of the Directory
of the Eastern Counties. The proprietors, in ex-
pressing their thanks to the gentlemen who have
given them assistance and information, tell us that
every town and village has been actually visited by
the collectors previous to the publication of this
third edition. The residents in the metropolis, who
are accustomed to the constant use of the London
Directory, will readily appreciate the immense ad-
vantage which the introduction of such a volume
affords to the inhabitants of the country.' They
obtain, in addition to the practical infbrmation
given, many interesting details of the ad-
vance and progress of the towns. For instance,
Lowestoft, on the Norfolk coast, which a few years
since was merely a dull fishing town, has now, a
harbour, a public library, assembl7-rooms,* a me-
chanics' institute, and is rapidly rising into a cheer-
ful watering-place, as well as a thriving place of
business. It will be still further bene-
fited by the East Suffolk Railway, which
will connect it with the Eastern Counties line at
Ipswich, and form a much nearer route to London
than the tedious journey by Norwich. All such
particulars are given about every locality men-
tioned, and the Directory consequently possesses
some of the features of a guide book. It is a re-
markable proof of the wonders achieved by modern
'enterprise and perseverance,that a Londoner should
now be able to discover the exact locality in
which his friend resides, and the shortest route
thither, the post hours, the hotel accommodation,
and all necessary information, though that friend
may reside in the most remote part of England,
and he may know nothing more than his name.
The clear and excellent maps prefixed to each
county are likewise a great assistance to the tra-
veller, and a valuable addition to the general utility
of the work. We trust the extended circulation
and ready demand for these directories will induce
the spirited and indefatigable proprietors to include
the whole of the United Kingdom in their series.

THE LATE DESECRATION OF THE
DEAD AT ST. MARTIN'S CEMETERY.

Yesterday, at a meeting of the representative
vestry, of St. Pancras, held at the Court-house,
Camden-town ; Mr. Churchwarden Attenborough
in the chair.—Mr. Churchwarden Cameron
announced that the subject of the recent desecra-
tion of the dead in St. Martin's Cemetery had been
brought before the Consistory Court, and that etehne
faculty under which the St. Martin's trustees had
been removing tke bodies had become dead letter,
and had been recalled and revoked ; and further,
called upon the churchwardens of St. Martin's-in-
the-Fields to show cause . why a monition should
not issue against them to re-inter with decency all
remains of the dead which have been disinterred,
and to refrain from disturbing any portions of the
cemetery which have been used for interments. The
question now stood for the authorities of St. Mar-
tin's to make such defence as they were able.
(Hear, hear.) In justice to some of the vestrymen
of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields; and more espeemilY
Mr. Anderson Rose, the late sheriff, who expressed
his dissent from the conduct of the trustees, it
appeared that the St. Martin's people were not
agreed amongst themselves, and he held in his
hand the report of the speech of Mr. Soames in St.
Martin's vestry, which stated that he (Mr. Soames)
had repeatedly told Clay, the late sexton at St.
Martin's burial ground, that burials had taken
place in the ground long before his time all along
in the front of Camden-street ; that Ackerman, his
predecessor, used to dig a hole twelve feet by nine,
in which the poor used to be put just with a little
earth between each, and then it was filled up until
it came within nearly three feet of the top. The
poor were buried all alone from where the sewer
ran down. Many of the coffins were made of old
eq. chests, and had neither plates nor handles.
This was the speech of a vestryman of St. Martin's,
and not his (Mr. Cameron's), and therefore there
was little doubt of the result. (Hear, hear.)