The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-07 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Isabel, the Young Wife and the Old Love. By
J. C. Jeaffreson, author of " Crewe Rise," &c.
3 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
Those who admire a lively picture of social life,
of the follies and regrets, the disappointments and
fruitless expectations of human life, will be espe.
cially attracted by this work. In its shifting pa-
norama the good and the evil, the ardent and
generous nature, and the cold and calculating
spirit, are alike represented. It is not, as its name
would impliy, of a very sentimental or romantic
description. Its title would seem to indicate the'
it was one of the old fashioned school of noyelsi
which happily have given place to a more
healthy and earnest style of fiction. But it
this the writer scarcely does himself justice. ft
the first place, Isabel, the young wife, though us-
doubtedly intended for the heroine, by no mean
absorbs the reader's interest. There are mash
other moving figures in the drama which all
scarcely of secondary importance. The plot, so fel
as its heroine is concerned, is simple. She is tli
simple and trustful daughter of a very worldly anc
selfish man, whom she believes to be the imper
sonation of excellence. The Rev. Mr. Ding,
borough, a very wealthy old friend of theirs,
good family, is much attached to Isabel, and ask°
her father's consent to make her his wife. Bel
father is overjoyed, and Isabel, in the simplicity Ui
her nature, readily agrees, thinking herself highli
honoured, and attaching very little importance to the
fact that he is old enough to be hergrandfather. Aftel
,her marriage, however, she travels abroad, and n
introduced to a large circle at home, and, as het
knowledge and experience increases, her opinion°
tf her own good fortune are modified.
tlways retains a eordial affection for the kind'
though indolent, old man ; but she no longer thisl'
him the wisest and greatest of men. She reneo°
her acquaintance with her cousin, Hugh Falcon
who had, unknown to her, loved her in secret PI
years, and whom she had always liked and en
mired. After some time, during which Hugh Fal. tee°
has confessed his early disappointment to Isar
and she has avowed that her husband is no lone
the first object of her affections, her step-son endeti
yours to arouse Mr. Dillingborough's suspitoie°
Ind displeasure. But circumstances intervo
which exonerate Isabel in his eyes just as she t
resolved to confess all to him, and, conseqnest'?
all is happily' arranged between them and tb'
retire to their country home, where, after a few yea'
the old man dies. The reader expects that 111
Falcon will also die, for his suspense is kept up,
a considerable time. He is seized with an alavi
ing illness after his explanation with Isabel, b 11(
after many months, recovers. The conclusioS,,
the story it is not difficult to imagine. The o'i
racters who divide with Isabel the interest of
story aro Everitt Brookbank and Emily Alla°,
"Ile former is a young lawyer, who devotes lc;
little attention to his legal studies. He is 0,,
enthusiastic and high spirited nature, and, u 513,7
pily for him, is deeply attached to a beautiful vt
worldly heiress, Frances Leatherby, of great 11
lities, but equal ambition. The strugale°
te
good and evil in her character keep
ritt long in suspense. His belief in
perfection is, however, rudely dispelled, and 13°,4
overwhelmed with disappointment. He at lenD
finds consolation in the realisation of his cheall
goodness in Emily Allerton, who is portray°
an almost perfect character. The story itself,
be to many less attractive than the sketches V,
life, the satire of the style, and the vividness
variety of the eharacters. They are drawn 1:
force and skill. There is Isabel, the gentl;
sensible wife and mother, conscious of the did
ties of her position, yet resolving to rise sulle,,°
to them. There is Hugh Falcon, whose brill
talents bring him little satisfaction or distinctico
exhausted by the unceasing pursuit of exciteto,l
discouraged and retarded in his course by the:
dow of his vain affection. There is Everett IP;
bank, the young politician, also frittering no
his powers and opportunities through a useif
attachment. There is Frances Letheby, add'
and courted, almost ready to sacrifice her II
tion to her heart, yet speculating „It
brokers, and studying the rates of discount. "•';,,
is Emily Allerton, devoting herself to the cn:4
an exacting invalid, who does not even reCO
her. There is Lord Brigden, the sun
schemer, who, with many vices, is not quit°,
dened. These and some others are portrayed
td
vigour and effect. There are others who arel'o
what overdrawn, some whose resemblance to,
other mars their effect ; but, indeed, the
characters is so numerous and so varied,
success in all of them is scarcely to be expll
There are many conversations on the socw
political questions of the day, and the opiniool
pressed are often just and sensible. Thong_ ji•
chief point of the story is anything but Oen
though some extravagances and impeobstil
are met with, the reader will readily admit
variety and ability are displayed in it.

The General's Daughter. A Novel. By 015,
Brook J. Knight. 3 vols. Hurst and Bla°,
This novel possesses the attraction of ve•-014
there is a constant change of scene, and a nuolof
dramatis personw give a life and animation tj
narrative. Many of the characters are inter
and many are amusing, particularly Tom spe,
whose sketch is ludicrous in the extreme; ,
not unlike some conceited and yet ignorant
sons, however, who presume they are fitted to;
part in everything until a sad experience con'lll
them of the futility of their vain attempts. 11;0
instance warning was taken in time, and the to
contrived to render himself a little wiser and)/
conformable to the rulesof prudence and proKp
Kate is a pleasing portraiture, and is more
to please than the heroine, Blanche,
was of a noble nature, but, from man
91
circumstances,_ had not improved
natural advantages. The plot of the i
becomes extremely complicated towards I
conclusion, and to the astonishment of oval)/
Blanche is discovered to be the daughter of d
ral St. Maur, and the sister of Kate. At firsqi
confusion arose, but at last general satisfactio9f
felt, for Blanche, or Alice as she proved to ._.
a general favourite, and all had pitied her o.'?
tunate position, at the time of her introduJl
she was a widow, her husband had ill-treateoo
neglected her, and this had given her a distruA
every one. Gradually her native sense ancl.i
feeling triumphed over the gloomy and desro
thoughts that assailed her. Kate St. Maur's a"
tures are exciting, and all must admire her 11,
and determination, which it would be vred
many to emulate in trying situations. Veils
fate is a just retribution for his crimes, and
satisfactory to find him fall a prey to the ep
of his own vile schemes and manoeuvres.
Clifford is a favourable specimen of a gelici
and hasty disposition, who generally allow° of
right to be in the ascendant at last, howe'il
might have been tempted by passion or Pt./0"
succumb. Frederick St. Maur is also an estlp
character, of a higher tone!than his friend, and
seeking to perform some friendly action;
nothing was the innate benevolence of his ~10,;i
tion more apparent than in his conduct tot;
Tom Spencer. This latter individual had savlre
life in their Eton days • and while many :4
have forgotten the past long before reaching
rity, St. Maur kept up his friendship witl'ff
when many shunned his acquaintance. He W
him of his follies, and eventually his kindaan
of great service to him, although not alwar.,
received, as is the case with good advice genen
During the course of the story many Btrikitip
sages occur, as, for instance, the accident
General,
ry
to
save
whom Clifford managed with grel
t
when he was in a situation °'
it
most imminent peril.
The lovers of the romantic will be pleased A'
di
the mystery that envelopes the heroine, ail)
extraordinary revelations that are made coiso°.l
the events in Italy. Notwithstanding somerri!
of the story that may be objected to, it is OP,IO
in its style, and presents many lively sketoP,l
society ; the reader will therefore be at no 147
entertainment in its perusal.

REPORTED DEATH OF MARSHAL RADETZK kr
Correspoadance flavas contains a letter of the 30tPd
from Vienna, announcing the sudden death of /01/1,
Radetzky, commander-in-chief aid governor-geoe
the Lombardo-Venetian provinces. The Marslo/;t
letter states, was carried off by an attack of apople
The Southampton Customhouse officials hall)
reprimanded and cautioned for interfering in the el
in that town. They were partisans of Mr. Andlpi
a fact which they allowed to become too apparen'
meeting of Mr. Weguelin's supporters.
Some of the gentlemen in the accountant's -
e c
ment of the Great Northern Railway Conway/I
formed an amateur company under the name °I,
Great Northern Dramatic Society, and last ea
enacted "Hamlet" and the farce of " Raisit
Wind," both of which were creditably embodied.
1,119 i
to be regretted that Mr, Redpath has left the eq011)
Mont, otherwise the part of Jeremy Diddler wight
found even a more able representative.]
be
HAVANNAH, Dec. 15.—The business of the lasvdt
at Havaunah has been less active in sugars than 1
only 4,245 boxes shipped, of which to the United 0.1,4
for New York and Boston, 4,160 ditto. The• stove
hand here counts 65,000 boxes, and at Matanzlsli
3,000 boxes. Prices have not changed. MoWoiv
Contracts made freely, 74 rials to 8 rials per keCitfo
gallons, for clayed ; muscovado molasses, 8i to 91pf
Exchanges—New York, 8 to 84 discount ; other ,Yso
ern, 84 to 84 ; New Orleans, 6 ditto ; Paris, 81
ditto. Health good.