The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-13 00:00:00

LITERATUR,II.

China, Australia, and the. Pacific Islands. By
J. D'Ewes, Esq. Bentley.
In a concise and pleasantly writ en narrative Mr.
D'Ewes has given us, his impressions of a number
of very different places. We can compare the un-
settled active progresion of the Aust•alian
vies with the prim and antique civilisation of the
Celestial Empire, or we can find a contrast to both
in the semi-barbarism of the Islands of the Pacific.
His first destination was Port Plelip, where hey
ar-
rived towards the middle of the year 1253, after a
somewhat tedious passage. His cbject was to re-
cruit his health and fortune by a colon;a1 sojourn
of some years, and he accordingly endeavoured to
obtain a Government situation.. He was fottunate
enough to succeed, and was appointed police ma-
gistrate at Ballarat during the absence of that
official. This temporary appointment was after-
wards rendered permanent, and the author gives
us some graphic ace Bunts of hie life at the digaings:
His stsy there was not I,ng-, for, o sting
.tot i
awkward case in which he ayes Invo;ve I, and which
gave r sa to some Serious riots at Ball:rat, he vas
deprived of his situation. Besides l.is place of re-
sidence, be gives a description of Meltourne and
Sydney. His information on colonial matters may
be useful to seine of his reader?. The qa,';istie4 f
the sudden increrse of Goveroment experelhir3
are very curious. We subjoin a few
1852. 1853.
Post-office £11,165 V.7;662
Public Works. 32,697 51,153 719,921
Police 23,642...... 31,953 317,579
In the following year the expinlittire increased
still more, though the revenue d:d t rise in pro-
portion, consequently a strict system of eco-
nomy was put in practice, and the salaries, Sze.,
reduced, a circumstance that appears to have given
little satisfaction. The an thor, subsequen ly,
visited New Zealand, of which colony he gives a
favourable picture. The natives, especially, con-
trast advantageously with other aborigines. On
quitting Australia, hp went to the Friendly and
4Navigator Islands, and he gives a glowing account
of their gorgeous tropical wealth of climate, though
the inhabitants, as is so frequently the ct. se, derive
no benefit 'from the lavish gifts of nature. Th 3
author.recommends the Navigator Is!ands espe-
cially to the •notice of the British Government,
pointing out their advantages, if cultivated, in su, -
plying the markets of the populous Australian
colonies. China, though the filet name on the
title page, was almost the last spot that he visited.
He does not tell us much that is new respecting
that singular people, but be shows them to us in
favourable colours, as employed in their trades and
markets. He visited the North of China, where
the people are said to be much more friendly to-
wards foreigners than their southern countrymen.
He was particularly struck with the extraordinary
perseverance and industry of the p• ople, who, as ho
justly observes, are "educated under the grossest
superstitions, and living under the most despo io
Government." Speaking of the agricultural dis-
tricts, in the neighbourhood of Shanghai, he says,
"The The grain-fields of Europe, or even Egypt, sink
into insignificance beside the crops that here cove r
immense space, forming as it were cne vast field.
The most laborious, artificial irrigation, minu'e
system of manuring, and everything that can pos-
sibly tend to the culture an I improvement of the
soil is practised to' the highest pitch of perseverance
by the inhabitants. Not a single foot is allowed
to lie waste, and the very embankments of the
canals are all under cultivation." What a contrast
these indefatigable agriculturists present to their
neighbours of the Pacific. On his way back from
China, the traveller paid a visit to the Dutch
Indies, and speaks highly of the be auty ant
luxuriance of Java, which advantages are un-
fortunately counterbalanced by its extremely un-
healthy climate. The author, after an absence of
about four years, returned to England, and if he did
not realise the expectations with wh'ch lie started,
he has succeeded in giving his readers a more satis-
Itctory journey.

Me Artist's Family. A novel.
" Saville House." 3 vols.

Ey the author of
Newby.

This story is interesting, and in many respects
out of the common line of compositions. It seeks
to represent the life of an artist struggling against
many adverse circumstances, but he was his own
worst enemy. Mr. Ashford is a forcible example
to those sons of genius who consider themselves
peculiarly privileged, as they are highly gifted, and
not content with letting their fellow men appre-
ciate them, over estimate themselves, till at last they
disgust the critical, and even wear out. the friendly
with their waywardness and caprice. The purport
of this tale would tend to show that whatever
allowance or indulgence may be felt for the heirs of
fame, such feelings have their limits, and that'uer-
vous irritability, sensitiveness, and susceptibility
may be carried to such an extent, that they zender
the infatuated individual a torment to, himself, and
a burden to others. How different it would be if
one, fired with more than common energy of mind,
or refined with a purer sense of feenig, regarded the
world's meaner things as dro is unwerthy ot his notice,
whose high destiny it was to mould the perfect
metal to a shining use, and the immortal issue of
whose labours was to create lasting landmarks of
human progress. Of such it might truly 1.. e asked—
" Oh, should he not study his mind to divest
Of the vanities, trifles, and follies of earth ? "
Notwithstanding his many faults the road.or cann t
fail to be interested in the artist, and his melancholy
death is sad and touching. The subsequent misfor-
tunes that befell his family are graphically narrate !,
and form a second story, as it were, of a more rc-
mantio and striking style. Some of the events a•e
certainly exaggerated in description, which fails in
adding to the effect, but altogether the records of
the " Artist's Family " are attractivein their vivid
sketches of suffering, and their forcible and superior
rendering of character in some important scenes ( f
existence. We meet with many subjects of study
in the course of the fitful changes of the work, of
whom Mr. Badger, the usurper of Mr. Ashford's
inheritance, is perhaps the most life-like portrait.

The Pedlar ; a Tale of Emigration: By Charlcs
Delorme. 3 vol..
The Mec/ora ; a Tale of the &a. By the author
of the " Warhawk," &e. 3 vols. Newby.
The first of these stories consists chiefly of scenes
of emigration life in America, in which great skill
is displayed in recounting the various perils and
perplexities into which the wanderers are plunged.
The hero assumes the disguise of a pedlar, and in that
character, he is of essential Pervigo to the fautily of
the emigrants herementioned, the Brainsofts. The; e
are some events in England which are of an excit-
ing nature, when Clavering returns and finds his
father in the power of a perfidious cousin who
has contrived to spread abroad a report of his
insanity, and keeps him in close confinement. After
many mishaps and some amusing adventures, the
narrative is brought to a prosperous terminate► n.
The second novel, named " The Medora,", is of a
striking and brilliant style. It is interesting to
peruse, on account of the critical positions in which
its heroes and heroines are constantly placed } atd.
it Is further rendered attractive if, Gm the scene
being laid in the period of the late «a and seine
real characters being introduced jut o its page,.
Some of the escapes are cleverly contrived, and the
passages which relate to the sea adventures are
sketched with a freedom and freslinrig in keeping
with the subject, and proclaim that the author has
entered fully into the spirit of his work, which has
evidently been performed con, amore.

Jane Eyre. An Autobiography. By Carrer Bell.
New Edition. Smith, Elder ald Co.
This is the first volume of a new and complete
series of the works of Curter, Ellis, and Acton
Bell, about to be published in a cheap and commo-
dious form. Whatever its faults or deficiencies,.
Jane Eyre still holds its pl3co as a novel of remark-
able power, and in its present form is likely to have
an extended circulation.

A kensicle,B Poetical Works. J. Nichol Edinburgh
This handsome edition of the Poets is continue(
with credit. The poems of Akenside ara give
complete in the present volum3, and, therefore,
those who wish to procure his works, independen
of the series, can avail themselves of this opool
tunity. The type is excellent, and the bindin,,
handsome and durable.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.
LONDON AND SOUTH-EASTER? RAlLWAY.—Traffic rf
turn for the week ending Aug. 8,1857 £23,415 3
Corresponding week last year

5
Decrease in 1857

LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.
Traffic return for the week ending Aug. 8,
£20,425 10
1857
Corresponding week last year 20,962 14
Total of the half-year to this date, 1857 .....
19
0 9
Total of the half-year to this date, 1856,
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—Traff
return for the week ending Aug. 9, 1857 —.274,171 0
Corresponding week last year
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic return I
the week ending Aug. 9, 1857 £7,314 0
Corresponding week last year 7,256 0
LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE EAlLWAY.—Traffic
turn for the we ding Aug. 9, 1857 227,850 5
week last year
Corresponding2s,732 14
GREAT LUXEMBOURG RAlLWAY.—Traffics return for t
week ending Aug. 9, 1857
Corresponding week last year 790 13
LONDON GENERAL OMNIBUS COMPANY.—Traffic
turns for the week ending Aug. 8, 1857 ...... R 12,792 17