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

LITERATURE.

Rumour. By the Author of " Charles 'Auches-
ter," dr.;. 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
This is another of those brilliant works for which
this author has before been celebrated. It is not
adapted far the perusal of the seeker of alllUSEMellt
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 exaeeerated, 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 aed 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 foot .teps echo through the corridors of
time." The love of music is inherent in the nature
of this author. It is no acquire I taste, no transient
sentiment of admiration, that actuates him when
descanting on this theme, but real feeling fires bis
words with eloquence and clothes his thoughts
wieh beauty. In a former work the reader was
charmed with the portraiture of the gifted Men-
delssohn, here he will find one not inferior of the ,
ilimortal 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
ecstacy, 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-
mainetb," and a softened splendour seemed to shine
on the fitful bourse 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 thep 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 geittleneee 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 pre-emi-
nent in their descriptions. There is va.riety.to be met
with, from the grand character of Diemid 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,ol
been one of toil and trouble in youth, and the
1 meridian of her days was often overcast, but she
combined kindness 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 endure 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 wore self-control, and exercised more sense
or self reliance how different things might have
been. The fate that befel Geraldine seems fitting
retribution to bis crimes. There is a vivid descrip-
tion of Paiieinia, "a city fair as Athens, in the
genial freshness of her violet crown, and awful in
the truth and tradition of its hietory as the anirds
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
resources, and whose prototype meet readers will 1
rea3ily recognise. It is not so much in the story
of this new,' that its merit csnsiste, 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 r‘tdiant with beauty,
where the author may delight the reader with the
treasures of a luxuriant fancy, or the trophies of
reason and knowledge.
" The flesh of wit, the bright intelliaenea,
The beam of got g, the blitZ J of eloquence,"

stamp the apparently ephemeral pages of fiction
with the undeniable impress of a master mind, and
convert a ti ansient 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 Nen
styled " the friend of pleasure, wisdom's aid ;" it
has inspired poets to their loftiest strains, and ex-
cited warriors 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
existence. The lovers of musicwill find a welcome
theme in this work, and if they do not a4ree with
some of the remarks or reflections, they will appre.
ciate the glace 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.

ITEATBER PREDICTIONS FOR ALTOUST,

1858.
BY MR. G. J. F. Smmr.

From the let to the 12th or 14th, the weather will
be very warm, and generally fine ; the heat will pro-
grebsively 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-
maie the 12th and ltith. Stormy about lath. From
20th to the 231, generally fair, though variable rather
at times. From the 24th to the 30th, cooler weather,
and alternately fine, with showers occasionally interven-
ing. From 30th to Sept. ficb, rainy and dull.
Vittoria Cottage, High-Areet, Cheltenham,
July 20.