The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-06 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Thinking and Acting : a Tale. By the Author of
" Helen Lindsay " and " Our Homeless Poor."
2 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
This is a very interesting story, that is more than
a tale for the amusement of the hour, for it goes
deeper into the mysteries of the human character,
and affords an insight into the motives that urge
men forward in their schemes and incite them to
ambitious projects. The hero, Albert Moseley, is
admirably described, and the various phases of his
character are most truthful in their representation.
He was early embittered from the wretched state
of his home and the cruelty of his father ; further
on he was hardened by the sneers and taunts he
met with at school from some who knew of his
antecedents at home. He was a striking instance
of the mistakes that are committed by those who
seek to reprove the world in the stern austerity of
judgment, and not to reform it by the softening
influence of charity. Itowas the more unfortunate
in Albert's case that he should have displayed such •
an unbending attitude, because in the neigh-
bourhood rife with the recollections of his
father's enormities it followed as a matter
of course that many were enraged at their
small faults being visited so heavily by the son of
their former master, in comparison with whose
crimes their less venial errors seemed nothing. Sad
would have been all in that village of Codden had
not a brighter influence intervened. Charles
Liston was a college friend of Albert's, and it was
with satisfaction that the isolated, cheerless mat
found himself enabled to benefit his early associate,
and to bring a blessing on his distracted parish, ty
appointing Liston to the vacant rectory. All great
changes in the dispositions of people and the tone
of a place must take time. Liston, who knew men,
was aware that it would be the labour of years and
the result of strenuous endeavours if a happier and
holier feeling pervaded the village, the charge of
which had devolved on him. It is the most inte-
resting part of the work to mark the zealous man's
efforts through the many obstacles, and perhaps the
most difficult pointwas how rightly to influence the
Lord of the Manor. It is often easier to impress
the erring with a sense of their faults, than to
make the over-righteous and the unbending mora-
list percei thoy ~1t to blame. Stern IBt
their uncompromising rectitude of purpose they
keep by the letter, not the spirit of the law, and
as Liston earnestly assured his friend no such cold
calculation and hard terms would soften the heart
and lead those who were suffering and often
wounded in spirit to the Throne of Grace. The
incident of the fire that nearly destroyed Claverton
Park is a very exciting one, and the momentous
scene is ably described. It was the first time that
their cold and forbidding landlord had appeared
before his tenants as a man among his fellow-
creatures, tried with a calamity they could
understand, and displaying a calmness and
self-command they could alike appreciate
and admire. He gained more popularity on
that night than had been his through the long
years that had passed previously. There is another
part of the narrative that is also attractive, where
the scene is the family of the Bracys, the various
members of which are drawn with skill. Marian
is a finished coquette, and unfortunately for Albert
Moseley he was deceived by her clever acting into,
believing her what she professed for the moment to
be. Piqued by his indifference to her, solely for
the triumph of conquest, she exerted every art
that her wit could devise or her dexterity
execute to fascinate this distinguished in
dividual who did not own her sway. Fortunately
for Moseley, their engagement was put an etid to
by her eloping with one of the giddy set by whom
she was surrounded, the week before their marriage
was to have taken place. A very differer,t character
was Lille, her father's step-daughter, This young.
lady is the most pleasing of all those met with in
the pages of this narrative. She. is chiefly distin-
guished for her sincerity and her kindness. In her
London home, among all the inducements of gaiety
and the hindrances of a worldly and unsympathis-
ing family, she contrived to effect much service to
the distressed, under the direction of Mr. Liston
and his wife, whose acquaintances she was fortunate
enough to make. Afterwards she went to stay
with the Listens in their new home, and in that
divided parish she contributed greatly to the happy
changes that took place. Her gentleness disarmed
suspicion, and her consistency gained for her uni-
versal respect. At the return of Mosely from the
Continent, whither he had departed after the fire at
the Park, he was united to Lille, and the new era
opening before him seemed indeed an auspicious
one. In summing up the changes that had occurred, ,
his historian thus remarks :—" Mr. Moseley's
cloudy season of life was passed during his
youth. In the after sunshine of happiness,
he yearly appreciated more and more those
sweet affections that descend from above to
d toln effect the
sso
strengthenfl
uaenndces ptuhraitfyhandumcoamnbitiyn
marvellous a change in his nature, he recognised
one principle as their essence, and henceforth in his
walk through life he was ever ready to admit that
he who would go forth in the world as a conqueror
of vice, a winner of souls, a reformer of mankind,
must, like the great Captain of our Salvation, as
the best means of ensuring success, gather his fol.
lowers under one banner, and that banner must be
Love !" There is ample subject of contemplation
afforded by this story for those who wish for some-
thing beyond the outer sphere of society to be
sketched for them. In the instances here recorded
of differing characters the purpose of the tale
is fully exemplified; and the reader may
turn from the mistakes committed by Moseley in
his plan of improving his neighbours, to learn of
Liston and Lille, in their several vocations, how
they laboured, and with what glorious results.
The seeds they sowed in the midst of care, toil, and
trouble were hidden for a time from the observa-
tion of men, but at last they had the happiness of
beholding the harvest of their high endeavours,
and those who had planted in tears could reap in
joy. In the exercise of his holy ministry Liston
could look beyond the present state, when, ever and
anon, some disappointment elic,cked his course and
saddened his heart, to the i..,phere where his pro-
tracted work would gain Its ultimate success, and
win its immortal goal. «Thinking and Acting"
is a novel that is sure to be appreciated by all who
admire a deep purpose iu a work, and in this in-
stance there is the attraction of an interesting story
to induce their further attention, while the style is,
throughout, of a superior character.

THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
OF 1862.

The Prince Consort presided last evening over
the 24th weekly meeting of the session of 1860-61
of the Society of Arts, at the society's rooms in the
Adelphi. There was an unusually full attendance,
the large room being crowded.
The.H aswpeecsiaolnty,,oTfhe International,theeveningw apxa
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1862."
Earl GRANVILLE congratulg,ed the assembly on
the visit of his Royal Highr.ess,
The PRINCE CONSORT, reply, spoke as follows
—After having heard the interesting observations
which have fallen from the gentlemen who
have addressed the meeting this evening, it is not
my intention to trouble you with any lengthened
remarks of my own. Lord Granville has referred
to the fact of my presence as affording an evidence
of the interest that I feel in the success of the
coining exhibition of 1862. I should be sorry to
leave you to draw, as it were by inference, the con-
clusion frOm my presence alone that I feel such
interest, but I wish you to hear from my own
mouth that Ido take that interest. (Cheering.)
With regard to what Sir Thomas Phillips has kindly
said as to my having been able to start you in the
right path, I may assure you that what I have been
able to do I have done with great willingness.
(Cheers.) It has been a real and a true privation to
me to be prevented by the avocations and duties of
my position from giving the same amount of time
and labour to this exhibition as it was my privi-
lege to give to that of 1851. Gentlemen, you will
succeed. (Hear.) You are in earnest, and being
in earnest you will succeed. (Cheers.) I can but
congratulate you on the stops you have taken. You
have an able body of managers, with all of whops
I am well acquainted, and I know, from personal
experience, that they are thoroughly conversant with
the work you have confided to their care. (Cheers.)
You have an able architect, a young officer of engi-
neers, a gentleman who has shown by his works,
which were opened in the Horticultural Gardens
to day, that he is capable of vast designs and of
novel contrivances, and that he is possessed of great
taste. Lord Granville and Sir T. Phillips have
both referred to foreign nations. I happen to know
that foreign nations look with favour on the com-
ing exhibition, and that they are ready to come and
measure their strength with ours. (Hear.) I need
not repeat the warning and encouragement which
Lord Granville has thrown out to the manufacturers
and artists of this country to do their utmost in order
to maintain the position which they so gloriously
secured on the last occasion. (Hear, hear.) The
duty which I have now to perform is a short one and
a pleasing one, that of proposing to you to join me
in returning thanks to Mr. Hawes for his able and
valuable paper. (Cheering.) It contained a compre-
hensive review of all the points which are of import-
ance to us to consider with regard to the great under-
!aking before us, and he has expressed his hopes for
the success of that undertaking based upon what I
believe to be a perfectly true picture, and what I may
be allowed to say was a most gratifying picture of
the progress of this nation. (Cheering.)