The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-02 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Rumour. By the Author of " Charles Auches-
ter," t 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
This is another of those brilliant works for which
this author has before been celebrated. It is not
adapted for the perusal of the seeker of amusement
so much as the study of those who would
seek out causes, and analyse feelings. If some
of the opinions appear extraordinary, or the
expressions exaggerated, there is a genuine-
ness apparent throughout, and a real enthu-
siasm so evidently pervades the mind of
the writer, that the reader is attracted and in-
terested. The chief subject of attention is the
sketch of the career of Rodomant, who is intended
to represent one of the mighty masters " whose
distant footsteps echo through the cortidore of
time." The love of music is inherent in the nature
of this author. It is no acquired taste, no transient
sentiment of admiration, that actuates him when
descanting on this theme, but real feeling fires his
words with eloquence and clothes his thoughts
wilt beauty. In a former work the reader was
charmed with the portraiture of the gifted Men-
delssohn, here be will find one not inferior of the
immortal Beethoven. Truth seems stamped on
the vivid delineation, from his first entry into life,
poor and friendless, till th final triumphs and
wonderful
,achievements of his after years. In
solemn earnestness we seem to realise the great
affliction that befel him. In the sad chronicles of
the sufferings of genius it would be difficult to find
a darker doom or an acuter anguish than the one
here recorded, of the total less of hearing sustained
by him whose compositions filled others with
ecatacy, but were never again to delight the one
who could the best appreciate their beauty and
rejoice in their success. Throughout the whole
of the passages that refer to Rodomant there is a
fascination, but especially in the epoch of his resi-
dence at Belvidere. It is described as a " sunny
land, a land of eternal summer while the earth re-
maineth," and a softened splendour seemed to shine
on the fitful course of the erratic genius. The prin-
cess is a peculiar character happily represented,
there is more of human nature in its brightest and
purest sense in her delineation than in some of those
who appear in these pages. Whether we see her
as an angel of mercy, blessing by her influence the
dark night of the dungeons to the wretched cap-
tives, or behold her adorning by her beauty and
grace the halls of her palace, alike she attracts,
charms, and interests. The father is aptly de-
scribed as a heartless tyrant, and this renders the
contrast of her gentleness more striking. Rosuelo
is a strange individual, concerning whose career
there seems a dark mystery, and whose
general conduct produces distrust in the
mind as one contemplates it. He is, how-
ever repulsive, pourtrayed with a vigorous touch,
and the last scene in which he becomes the aven-
ger of his land, and puts an end to the tyrant's
career is most effectively narrated. In the person-
ages that engage attention in England there is
much to win regard, from the graphic manner of
the details, the brilliant sketches of social life, and
the energy which reigns paramount and pro-emi-
nent in their descriptions. There is variety,to be met
with, from the grand character of Diamid Albany
to the excitable and selfish Geraldine. The most
pleasing picture is that of Lady Delucy, who is
thoroughly devoted to the good of others, and
never shrank from any exertion or sacrifice that
duty urged or generosity suggested. Her life h•td
been one of toil and trouble in youth, and the
meridian of her days was often overcast, but she
combined k indnesa with judgment, and was enabled
to perform many useful works for others. Geral-
dine is a graceful sketch of a sensitive nature,
young and inexperienced ; she was too soon intro-
duced to the cares of life before she had strength
to enduie the toil, and patience to bear the trouble.
In an evil hour, her cousin Geraldine became
possessed of some facts that had occurred in the
life of her husband before their marriage. These,
though in no wise reflecting on his honour, were
of such a nature that a skilful tactician could mculd
them to assume a dangerous form. The general
confusion and dismay that resulted therefrom '
are shown forth in a most natural manner, and
tend to illustrate forcibly the danger of conceal-
ments, and the sin of misrepresentation. Had
Albany explained all to Geraldine, or had she pos-
sessed more self-control, and exercised more sense
or self reliance how different things might have
been. The fate that befel Geraldine seems fitting
retribution to his crimes. There is a vivid descrip-
tion of Parisinia, " a city fair as Athens, in the
genial freshness of her violet crown, and awful in
the truth and tradition of its history as the annals
of imperial Rome." The characteristics of this
country, evidently intended to represent France,
are made the subject of some brilliant sketches, and
prominent among those who figure in the scenes is
Porphyro, who is most ingeniously introduced as a
man of unbounded ambition and vast intellectual I
resources, and whose prototype mcst readers will
readily recognise. It is not so much iu the story
of this novel that its merit consists, nor in its cha-
racters that its attraction centres, as in the general
tone of its composition, and the elevated tenour of
its thoughts. It is always refreshing in travelling
through the pages of fiction, to come here and
there to some sunny spot which taste has refined
by culture, and talent made radiant with beauty,
where the author may delight the reader with the
treasures of a luxuriant fancy, or the trophies of
reason and knowledge.
" The flash of wit, the bright intelligence,
The beam of song, the blaze of eloquence,"
will stamp the apparently ephemeral pages of fiction
with the undeniable impress of a master mind, and
convert a transient fame into an enduring triumph.
The ruling passion which pervades this works is in
itself all sufficient to arouse the deepest feelings,
and awaken the tenderest emotions ; it has been
styled "the friend of pleasure, wisdom's aid ;" it
has inspired poets to their lefticst stain=, and ex-
d arriots to their most daring feats. It can
lull the sleep of restless infancy, and soothe the
couch of weary age. The cares of life seem to lose
their sting while under the magic of its influence,
and the shadow of time does not obscure its bright
ex'stence. The lovers of musicwill find a welcome
theme iu this work, and if they do not aeree with
some of the remarks or reflections, they will appre-
ciate the grace of its expressions, and the genial
character of its pages. To the thoughtful and re-
fined it will prove an acceptable study, presenting
as it does much knowledge of life, and containing
superior attractions, from its command of language
and artistic skill.

WEATHER PREDICTIONS FOR AUGUST,

1858.
B Mit. G. J. F. SMITH.

From the Ist to the 12th or 14th, the weather will
be very warm, and generally fine ; the heat will pro-
gressively increase in the above interim, though it may
not be intense heat. Electricity accumulates, and seve•
ral thunder-storms and dashing showers, as we approxi-
mate the 12th and 16th. Stormy about 19th. From
20th to the 23d, generally fair, though variable rather
at times. From the 24th to the 30th, cooler weather,
and alternately fine, with showers occasio❑ally interven-
ing. From 30th to Sept. 6th, rainy a❑d dull.
Vittoria Cottage, High-street, Cheltenham,

July 29.

LLOYD'S SRIPPING.—(This Day.)

LONDON, Aug 2.—Wind this day at noon, S.; light
breeze, and fine.
PORTSMOUTH, Aug I.—Wind S.E—Arrived----Agnes
Leeds, from Callao, and sailed for Cowe,,
SOUTHAMPTON, Aug. 1.--Arrived—Parana (s.), from
St. Thomas.
FAL3IOUTH, 'Aug. I.—Wind N.E.— Arrived—Hackling
Anderson, from 4.kyab.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGEAPH.)
SOUTHAMPTON, Monday Morning.
Wind S.E.
Arrived -Hero, Necessity, anti Alarm, from Newport ;
La Poulo, Cherbourg ; Duke of Cornwall, steamer, from
Dublin.

LIVERPOOL, Monday Morning.
Wind S.
Arrived-- Illustrious, from New Orleans.

(By SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.)

GRAVESEND, Monday Morning.
Wind E.S.E. ; tide three hours' ebb ; weather Sue.
Arrived, August 2.—Aunista Frederica, from Cron-
, Two ; Two Brodors,l Gothenburg;' Westerh Star, Bar-
badoes. •
DEAL, Monday Morning.
Wind, S. by E., moderate.
Passed, Aug. 1. -Annie, from Blyth for Naples.

DEATH or ME. PEASE.—Mr. Edward Pease, whose
name will always be associated with the great railway
system of this country, died on Saturday evening, aged
92, at his residence in Nortbgate, Darlington. Mr.
Pease's sons— the two youngest, at leait—have long been
before the public, and all are now men of advanced
years. Mr. J. Pease—ths first Quaker admitted to Par-
liament—is himself a grandfather in two lines of descent.
The deceased, therefore, stood at the head of four gene-
rations. Mr. Pease leaves three sons —John, Joseph, tnd
Henry—and one daughter, Mrs. Gibson, of Saffron
Walden. To the last he retained his facubies, and, in,
deed, was able to sit up writing letters till a late hour
only three nights before his death. His end was as calm
and peaceful as his life bad been.
THE lasses CONSTABULARY.—The total general force
of the Irish constabulary on January 1,184 S, was
11,847, and the reserve force 220, with 311 horses, and
57 in reserve. The total expenditure force in all the
counties and counties of cities and towns last year was
573,7924