The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-12 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Framleigh Hall. A Novel.
Blackett.

There is much to attract thisnoticein f
antror:ven
9 alsts
though it is not particularly distinguished
or personages. The hero Maurice is a very peculiar
character, one that gains on the interest after a time,
but at first sight he seems unworthy of regard.
There is something very melancholy in the life here
traced before us. He was misunderstood from child-
hood—his father's harshness, his mother's absurd
fondness, alike contributed to ruin the boy. He fancied
himself ill-used, he despaired of doing right, and
every year increased the morbid tendency of his
mind and added to the fears that already
distracted his weak nerves. Under judici-
ous training he might have been very
different, his gentle nature might have been
I strengthened and matund ; his kind feelings ren-
dcred him capable of performing some great and
good work, but under the training referred to, his
energies became paralysed, the weeds of his charac-
ter alone fl,mrished, the bud that promised a fair
ilower was withered, the blossom that betokened the
goodly fluitage was blighted. It is painful to dwell
on the recital of the sad day s of Maurice': early life,
not that his youth was any happier; but at last it is
sati,faetory to find the cloud which had so longover-
shadowed him dispersed, to know that he was free
from the chains which had held him in thraldom
through the lapse of years that should have been the
brightest mid happiest of his existence. He was
enabled to prove to doubting friends, and sneering
foes, that one courage differs from another, that he
whose physical organisation makes him timid, whose
mental control will not suffice to conquer his fears,
may succeed in some endeavours, arid obtain a tri-
umph when least expected. Maurice bad no fears
for self, but he was constitutionally nervous, and all
conspired to militate against him. lt is evident 0 every
one that the self-sufficient Grenville was by far the
greater coward of the two. In the excess of his
animal spirits, and the recklessness of his strength,
he assumed to himself a position that he falsely mis-
took for the evidence of merit. In the passages re-
corded of his youth he was cruel; in the scenes
described of his manhood he was base. To take
advantage of such a nature as Maurice's—to act as he
did while the latter was a guest under his roof—was
more the conduct of a coward than any mistake com-
mitted by one whose nerves were so shattered, and
whose temperament was so peculiar, as was the case
with his injured victim. Some of the female charac-
ters are delineated with skill and success. The
devoted Isabella, ever trusting in broken reeds for
her happiness, is a warning to excitable and restless
minds. Her judgment must have been wrecked before
she saw anything to admire in her despicable brother.
Eugenia is an engaging heroine ; full of life and
energy, she was eminently calculated to rouse Maurice
to a sense of the duties of active life, and a conviction
of the necessity for vigorous effort and complete
self-mastery. Sir Arthur is a very natural sketch
of a strong-minded man, rejoicing in bodily strength
and mental vigour, and not at all inclined to make
allowances for those whose frames were more deli-
cate, and whose feelings were more sensiOve than his
own. Nothing creates more dissension and ultimate
disunion among friends and families than this want
of mutual forbearance one with the other,
and the miseries that ensue therefrom are
most powerfully described in the pages of this
work. The timidity of the son, the fanciful-
ness of the mother, the irritation and hasti-
ness of the father, caused many a scene of strife in
the Hall of Framleigh. Eugenia is represented as a
blessed visitant in the home—attracting all hearts,
she seemed to unite them. Some of the important
parts of the story are told with spirit, and the gene-
ral impression conveyed by its perusal is a satisfac-
tory one. There is also some degree of novelty in
the idea of such a character as Maurice, that imparts
an additional interest to the work.

The Booh of Farm Implements and Machines. By
J. Slight and R. Scott Burn, engineers. Edited
by H. Stephens, F.R.S.C., author of " The Book
of the Farm." Blackwood and Sons.

Those who regard farming as an old-fashioned
plodding business, which has little to do with the
march of mind and the progress of invention, will be
somewhat astonished at the sight of this valuable and
goodly volume, entirely devoted to the consideration
of farm implements and machines. It is a remark-
able sign of the diffusion of knowledge, and the ele-
vation of every pursuit into a science, that agricul-
tural labour should be treated in such a spirit.
During the interval that elapsed between the first
publication of " The Book of the Farm," the pre-
decessor of this work, and the demand for a second
edition, great changes had taken place in thetrin-
ciples of agricultural theory. The application of
chemistry to agriculture was opening a wide
field to the anticipations of the most eager
experimentalists ; and though, the author admits,
after some experience, the results have scarcely con-
firmed the expectations formed, yet there can be no
doubt that 01 future systems of agriculture must be
based on a knowledge of chemical principles. Owing
to this important addition to agricultural science,
some alterations were indispensable in the second.
edition of " The Book of the Farm." It was judged
most expedient to omit those parts which described
the construction of agricultural machines in order to
avoid an increase of size. It was the intention of
the late Mr. Slight, the able exponent of the depart-
ment of agricultural mechanicq, to have publiAcd
a minute desc4tion of every important machine
and implement in use, in a separate volume,
as a companion to " The Biok of the
Farm" in its revised state. His death put a
stop to the plan, and some years have passed without
the editor having been able to supply his place. Mr.
Robert Scott Burn, a practical engineer, whose name
is well known among scientific agriculturists, has un-
dertaken the task, and completed this useful and
valuable work. Many new machines, in these t 2.5375
of rapid invention, have been introduced since Ms.;
Slight's time, and all these have been described with
the necessary care and precision. It is not attempted
to figure every agricultural machine in use in the
kingdom. The writers have contented themselves
with describing and delineating those really of use.
" The whole stock," it is observed in the preface,
" may be divided into two categories, namely, those
which are not now in general use, and those which
are in use. It is needless to describe machines which.
have become obsolete, only those which are in use
really deserving our attention ; and even every one of
these should not be described, because some cannot be
commended, and others are inaccessible on account
of the indifference or
jealousy of their inventors."
Restricting themselves, therefore, to the considera-
tion of the machines and implements actually in use,
the authors have separated them into two great divi-
sions—those used directly for the cultivation of the
soil, and those used only in connection with its pro-
ducts. Their mechanical construction is treated of; -
their applicability to the purposes for which they
wereintended and the scientific principles which regu-
late the choice of materials, are explained, and an
.abstract or outline of the principles of construction
given. The clearness and method with which the
contents of the work are classified and subdivided
add greatly to its practical value. Thus the work is
divided into two books, entitled respectively
Principles" and "Practice." These each contain
four divisions, those in the first book consisting of
the materials employed in construction, the princi-
ples, the practice, and Friction and Force.
tThose in
thesan.dl
machinesseseccoon nddlby
connectedoktreat witho firstly,th e; u
lt implementsthievaionof
tht
soil;
of implements and machines connected
with the products of the soil ; thirdly, of the moving
powers of the farm ; and, fburthly, of the arrange-
ment of machines in the steading. The illustrations
are among the most valuable portions of the work.
There are 40 engravings on steel, and upwards of
800 woodcuts. This of itself shows the care and
labour which have been bestowed upon the work,
which forms a worthy companion to Mr. Stephens'
" Book of the Farm." It is a trophy:which the agri-
culturists of England have good cause to be proud
of, as showing the mind and invention that have
been devoted to the advancement of their art, and
the able and practical men that it may rank among
its expositors.

AIR. WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR.—The Manche:-
ter Guardian says :—We are sorry to learn that, in con-
sequence of certain unfortunate difficulties in which he has
become involved, Mr. Walter Savage Landor, the well-
known poet and essayist, has found it necessary to leave
the country. A collection of pictures, the property of the
venerable litterateur, are advertised to be sold by auction
at Mr. Capes's rooms.

SICILIAN WINEs.-IVe have received advices from
Sicily, says the Malta Times, and regret to learn that the
favourable prospects of an abundant vintage which existed a
few weeks back have been completely destroyed by the tre-
mendous sirocco winds which visited Sicily at the beginning
of July. Consequently, we may not for the present expect
any decrease in the price of Marsala and other wines from
e
that island.
A PRINCELY FIRE-EATER.—The following appears
in an evening contemporary :—" General Fleischman' in
explaining certain passages in his late work which hadbeenre
called in question in a threatening letter from Prince Pierre
Napoleon, added that though he could have meant no of-
fence, as he was ignorant of the P rinee's:existenee,yet,
the latter was so anxious fer a duel, he ' notwithstanding dig hisr
a
11-
advancedin a n
epistle, age' disappointnbuilednoetisobtaining
for";h h
this effect :---‘ Your letter tends to rectify
certain
the memoirs of which your advanced age n passages of
you from becoming the responsible edito did not prevent
of that age when I wrote to you. At-1..
I was not aware
pub-
lisher's, I am informed that you Levy's, your
erg army, in active service, area general of the Wur-
King cf Nl'urtemberg. ice, and aide-de-camp to the
However that may be, you are
ready, you say, to give in
At all c satisfaction. I adhere, then, to
my first letter.
events you have a son who is able to
supply your place. I accept •
from • other of you an
him beforehand, and I wait
indication of my opponent and the
seconds.'"