The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-09 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Lord Fitztvarine. By Scrutator, author of " The
Master of the Hounds," &c. 3 vols. Hurst and
lilackett.
This. is a stirring and sparkling story, full of
force, asiii replete with striking events. Some of
the characters are exceedingly well drawn, and it
is most probable that this work will attract as large
a shat of attention a; its predecessors. The young
hero, Hugh Fiezwarine, is is. very admirable descrip-
tion of a spirited young man who gs to cast aside
the trammels tith which he is bound, and to make
for himself a name and position in the worla. The
circumstances by which he ie surrounded seem ise
impart a halo of romance to his caress at the outset,
and the extraordinary adventures that afterwards,
betel him only increase the peculiar interest one
feels for so distinguished a character who seems so
tried and persecuted. Florence Seaton is a very
pleasing girl, and, with the exception of the great
mistake she made in consenting to marry Chaffmart,
she is throughout a model heroine. It is trs.se
she supposed Hugh was killed abroad, bat
still she should have reflected that a life-
time of certain misery was before her in
becoming connected with a man like that
Mrs. Seaton is a clever sketch of a worldly WOITATI
she made several attempts to get her daughter
settled, in accordance with her ideas of a good
match, and they all resulted in failures. Had she
let things take their course, and allowed Florence
to follow the dictates of her own excellent taste all
would have been very different. When it is asserted
at the conclusion that she feels deeply the errors she
had committed, the reader seems to think the suf-
ferings are richly deserved, for had not strong pro-
tectors started up to defend the right cause what a
future of wretchedness awaited the innocent Flo-
rence. Perhaps Chaffman, the lawyer, is the most
artistic representation here met with. He is one
of those wily and crafty men who effect the most
mischief in the ,world with their plausible speeches,
and their insinuating manners. Few of the well
known malefactors of the day whose liberties are
confiscated, and whose lives are often taken to
satisfy the offended majesty of the law, are so really
criminal, and have during their careers done so
much wrong as some of these respectable rogues.
They mix in the best society, and are honoured and
courted everywhere as clever men of business, until
the dark day of disclosure when general consterna-
tion prevails in all the circles they have frequented
to know what a traitor has been amongst them.
Mr. Chaffman was the means of creating immense
mischief in the unhappy town where he
dwelt, and it was not only the simple, like Mrs.
Seaton, who were taken in, but the wise and expe-
rienced denizens of the place were cheated by this
practised knave. It would be well for the peace
of society in general if there were more men like
Macgregor to disclose the tricks and lay bare the
hypocrisies of such men. That brave, energetic
man had done much in his life to serve and benefit
others, but it is doubtful if ever he effected a more
signal service, and conferred a richer boon on his
fellow-men, than when he denounced the sharp
man of the law, and held him up to the indignant
reprobation of his outraged and offended towns-
men. The scenes which occur near the end
are very powerfully described, and the passage
which relates to the return of Hugh, and the triumph
ofjustice and virtue over tyranny and deceit, is most
exciting and quite dramatic in its vivid delineation:
Although perfectly distinct in incident, one is re-
minded by the effect of the scene in the " Lady of
Lyons," where the marriage contract is taken away-
as the bride was about to affix her signature. Retribu-
tion is more decided and impressive when its advent
is delayed till the moment when the conspirators
think the plot is ripe, or the cunning conceive their
stratagems on the eve of being effietive. Some of
the secondary persons met with are worthy of notice.
Mr. Middleton, the clergyman, must be mentioned—
a most excellent and praiseworthy minister, one emi-
nently fittedfor his sacred vocation. His daughter
Caroline is a charming girl. She was much to
blame for the ill-advised part she took with Sir
Everard Hilston ; but she displayed in the very
trying scenes that subsequently fell to her lot so
much spirit and sense, that she is a shining example
to all young ladies who think it is very touching
and romantic to faint away when their nerves are
tried, and who never will attempt to summon up
resolution to meet the ills of life that must come to
all in turn, however fantastic they may seem, or how-
ever weak or trivial they may assert themselves to
be. Sir Everard's adventure with the gipsy is
more romantic than real in its style, but it is a most
'..nteresting 'episode, and it is an imaginary tale that
is only too good to be true if it could not be so. The
old servant, ponald is one of the best persons in the
story. TliVeld man is most naturally pourtraycd,
and it is quite refreshing to meet with such genuine
and straightforward conduct aftter the deceits and
the stratagems, the snares and wiles, of so many of
the other individuals met with. Altogether this
new work of Scrutator's may take rank with its
predecessors; and, indeed, it surpasses some of
them in the vigour and variety of its scenes and
characters. With one thing and another there is
nothing to pall the fancy or weary the atten-
tion, but we meet with a continued succession of
events, for the most part ably described ; while, in
some of the most exciting and interesting scenes of
life, the author is almost perfect in his masterly
touches. This no eel can be confidently recom-
mended to the lovers of stirring romances, and they
will find ample opportunity in the perusal of its
vivid pages for their curiosity to be piqued, their
attention aroused, and their admiration excited..

:Burst and Blackett's 'Standard Library.
One of the most really profitable and pleasing
arrangements of the new publications is the cus-
tom of bringing before the public in a cheap form
some of those works which in their first editions on
a more enlarged scale have charmed by their genius
and grace, and delighted with their vast stores of
information, a wide circle of readers. 'The collection
of ' Messrs.. Hurst and Blackett need not fear com-
petition with others, as they can well maintain
their ground as the equals of any of the rival sec-
tions, while some of the books they have issued in
this form are superior to many thus met with.
" Margaret and her Bridesmaids" is the eleventh
volume of this set, and it is a very graceful and
pleasing story. Among the ten preceding ones we
meet with that admirable work " John Halifax,
Gentleman," which is a lasting testimony to the
fame of its author, and which exhibits some mas-
terly touches of life that are not 'often met
with in the pages of fiction. ~ A Woman's
Thoughts about Women" is a volume that
furnishes some wise reflections on subjects whose
importance all must acknowledge, and will
be sure to be a favourite among a certain elass.
Also there are two of the far-famed works of Sam
Slick, "Nature and Human Nature," and "Wise
Saws and Modern Instances." Publications of
this sparkling style thus easily attained, and suit-
able to take on travels, are real treasure troves to
those who would beguile the tedium of unoccupied
hours or refresh their .minds when weary with
study or business. "Adam Grieme of Mossgrar is
a most excellent work, and one of the best ot its
author's fine productions. It is a noble expression
of the highest principles that can actuate human
tawefi oireterl si
agreeable
effort o f talent,
conduct, and gives some touching scenes of the
sorrows and sufferings that agitate existence.
" Cardinal Wiseman's Recollections of the Last
title, and.
Four Popes" was a. book that attracted a larga
share of attention, and the ability that distin-
those
impartedho
guishes it will render it welcome even to those
may at first sight be prejudiced by its
reOeladb Court
Suburb," not care to seek its contents. "The
Suburb," by Leigh Hunt, is a charming, coniposi-
ttoioints, and
appearance.j ust now
Allan
whoa dde dsreieinnki
yet useful information willb d to peruse its
sparkling pages. Another
from
andreul remarkably
p_opulaarmaotntghset Utsi,misethoef
~ Crescent and the Cross.," by Eliot Warburton:
whose composer has departedabi
experience has not
its This wo r k
appearance,was
diminished the lustre of its renown. It is pecu-
liarly worthy of a place in a standard library, and
is doubtless destined to live long in the literature
of the land. “Nathalie, b " y Julie Kavanagh, is a
strange story, but it is interesting in its style, and
displays a considerable degree of talent. "A Life
for a Life' is the least attractive of the series ; it is
not at all one of the happy efforts of this distin-
guished author, and though great praise has been
given to it in some quarters, it is difficult not to
feel disappointed at its appearance after such de-
lightful works as " Agatha's Husband," " The
Head of the Family," &c. It will be seen from the
above list that the selection of these volumes is an
admirable one, and the price being only five shil-
lings renders them easy of acquisition to all who
are likely to purchase good books. They ale very
elegantly bound and illustrated, and present a most
attractive appearance to all lovers of literature.

Intelligence is received by the present mail of the
sailing from Australia for England of the goldships Agin-
court and British Trident, the former with £174,000, and
the latter with £68,000. The Maid of Judah, and Kent are
also still out with £292,000, of which the first 'named, with
£124,000, will be due this week.
I have often wondered what is the real origin of
the London lodging-house keeper. From my own small
experience of the class, I should say that they were all
fallen stars—that they have, a previous period of their
career, before they took to letting lodgings, lived in great
luxury and magnificence, but are now in " reduced circum-
stances." They never appear to have mounted up the rungs
of the social ladder until they attained the serene platform
on which they could let lodgings calmly and be at peace.
They have tumbled down upon the calling, as it were, from
above. The fact, I suppose, is, that they suffer, poor
people, from a morbid desire to assert their own dignity in
the presence of their lodgers.—Once a Week.