The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-08 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Against the Stream. By Joseph Hatton, author o:

" Bitter Sweets." 3 Vols.

C. J. Skeet.

Like many another adventurer in the troubled
waters of life, Jacob Martyn, from his youth up-
ward has to struggle on " against the stream."
Unlike the majority of such adventurers the hero of
this romantic story wins his way to " Fame, Fortune,
and Matrimony." As the chronicler of his momentous
history truly remarks, " there is ho knowing what
a little genius may do. when tempered by adversity,
stimulated by love, and trained by perseverance"—
like the postscript of a lady's letter, the last-named
ingredient being by far the most important. The
story is written throughout in a pleasant strain,
and the character of Jacob is sufficiently at-
tractive. He is simple and genuine in pro-
sperity, and manly and earnest in adversity.
Ile meets with a very charming lady-love
to whom, however, he at one time threatens to
prove inconstant, but " all is well that ends well."
One of the most amusing characters among the con-
temporaries of Jacob is Spenzonian Whiffler, " the
low comedy" boy of the school, who is destined to
become "'an ornament to the profession." The
style of the narration is genial, and there is humour,
and good humour, to be found in its pages, but in
deference to the fashion of the day there is
of course a murder, and a murder committed by no
less a personage than a high civic dignitary I " The
great man of Middleton, the leader of public
opinion, the benevolent Mayor, standing in a felon's
dock to be tried for one of the most horrible crimes,"
was enough to create a sensation in the whole dis-
trict. The disappointment and downfall of Jacob's
father is naturally described, and the author takes
occasion to make some very appropriate remarks, to
the effect that success does not always wait upon de-
sert. " Successful men," he says, " have everybody's
favours and admiration. Commend me to some of
the unsuccessful, who have deserved the triumphs
they have not obtained. They are as numerous as
their more fortunate brethren, depend upon it."
With all his sympathy for the unfortunate, how-
ever, the author has taken good care to lavish
wealth and honour upon his chosen hero. The
winding up of the story, indeed, reminds us some-
what of the extravagant profusion with which,
at the close of their adventures, Albert Smith
was wont to endow the heroes of his amusing
romances. " Against the Stream" is gracefully
dedicated to Mark Lemon as " a writer, who, for
more than thirty years, has adorned dramatic,
ballad, and miscellaneous literature, with a pen
that has touched all the noblest sentiments of the
human heart."

Clergymen of the Church of England. By Anthony
Trollope. 1 Vol., pp. 130. Chapman and Hall.

Anthony Trollope appears to have a special qua-
lification for portraying clergymen. The
sketches in this volume, reprinted from a con-
temporary, describe the various wearers of the
band and surplice " from the Modern Eng-
lish Archbishop," down to " the Clergyman
who subscribes for Colenso." " The Archdeacon,"
" the Parson of the Parish," " the Town Incum-
bent," " the College Fellow who has taken orders,"
and others, are here very happily described in
their general characteristics by the graphic
pen that has so vividly depicted to us the
life - like individualities of " the Warden "
and " the Dean," and the Parson of Framley,
and Bishop Proudie and " Mrs. Bishop," and best
of all, impetuous, out-spoken, vehement Arch-
deacon Grantley. In the pages of his own fictions
Mr. Trollope may find more interesting, if not more
accurate,-types of the English clergyman than any
that may have suggested the sketches before us.

Alexander Von Humboldt; or, What may be Accont-
plished in a Life-time. By F. A. Schwarzenburg
1 vol., pp. 207.

" There is no life," says the writer of this very
interesting biography, " which, however insignificant
it may appear, does not in some way advantage the
world. But a life like Humboldt's, enriched with
the experience of two centuries, and illuminated
by a long series of splendid achievements, opened a
new avenue into the realms of truth and science." It
is this most interesting and valuable life that is briefly
but comprehensively considered in this little work.
" It is good," says the author, " to contemplate the
union of a well-balanced character with a completed
and harmonious destiny ;" adding, " a survey of the
whole life of Humboldt, enriched by the manifold
conceptions of three-parts of the globe, manifests
the ever clear and calm mind."' " Never was a
man less exalted by his own individual achievements;
never was there a teacher so eager to be taught in
turn ; never a mind so humble under its wonderful
weight of knowledge." The book is aptly entitled,
" What may be Accomplished in a Life-time," and is
well worthy of attentive perusal.

Temple Bar.
" Lady Adelaide's Oath" is continued, and the
body of Harry Vane is supposed to be brought in
by a fishing boat, but, of course, it will hereafter
turn out that it is not so. Adelaide agrees to marry
Mr. Lester, which will turn out unfortunate in the
long run, according to the intimation we receive.
In allusion to his projected union, it is written, "a
mother's happiness was to be shattered ; how con-
trary do 'things run in this life. George Lester
thought, in his blindness, that Paradise had fallen
upon him—better for him that he had chosen Mar-
garet Bordillion." As a contrast to the tragic events
at the Castle, among which was included the death
of her second son, by which means Herbert became
the heir, we meet with a stormy scene in domestic
life concerning the housekeeper of Mr. Lester. It
forms an agreeable change, and the picture of home
thus sketched is interesting after the dreary state
and solemn gloom of Vane Castle. " Archie
Lovell" is continued, and the young heroine does
not improve upon acquaintance. Me sketch here
given of her course may well serve as a warning to
giddy girls in their heedless course. Archie had
been badly educated ; but she knew better than to
conduct herself as she did ; and, as was very
natural under the circumstances, she added
falsehood to falsehood to screen her error.
In the next number we shall probably find Archie
settled in England, as Mr. Lovell has been presented
with a living, and her escapades in English life will
doubtless be surprising. " June Music" is the title
of some pretty verses by Mortimer Collins, which.
are appropriate to the seasoh. " Only Too True"
is completed ; it is a melancholy tale, the scene of
which is laid in Italy. " Modern Eccentrics" is the
third number of these sketches, which furnish us
with descriptions of peculiar people. Mrs. Garrick
is the last one met with. " Finance Frauds and
Failures" is an article most suitable to the present
time, and will be read with interest. Some sensible
observations are made• concerning the evils that
accrue from the present " systematic over-trading ;"
and, it is said, " with the collapse of the finance
companies, we shall hear less of frauds and
failures." " The Vine and the Pine" is a sketch of -
French places that imparts information in a pleasing
manner. "Dead yet Speaking" concerns the his-
tory of the ancient and extinct peerages of the
British Empire, and several curious suggestions are
made of the dangers that might take place if certain
attainders were reversed. " French women under
the Empire" presents us with some account of the
persons of the present day in France, which is by
no means a flattering one ; indeed it is said that a
deteriorative effect has been produced of late upon
French society.
COLBURN'S NEW MONTHLY. " Overland by
Siberia to Australia" is an interesting paper of
travels founded on the recent narrative of an ad-
venturous-Frenchman. Two other papers of a kin-
dred character describe Wanderings through Italy
in search of its Ancient Remains, and a Voyage from
Sea to Sea through the Isthmus of Suez. For
fiction we have the continuation of " Idalia," the
conclusion of "Lilian's Inheritance," and " Snowed
Up," by Mrs. Bushby. Francis Jacox contributes
an essay on " Contradictory People," a pretty
large class, by the way, and Nicholas Michell
gives us a pleasant song about " City and Country'
Bells."

THE VICTORIA MAGAZINE.---" Frederika Bremer"
is the subject of the first paper, and a very attrac-
tive subject she is. The lengthened notice of her