The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-29 00:00:00

LITERA7UR.E.

Essays on English Literature. By T,

Pickering.

These essays are chiefly reprinted from the
pages of the London Quarterly Review. They
aiscuss the merits and demerits of some of the
great masters of our literature, and the distinctive
features of the writings of the present day. They
display much thought and extensive, reading,
showing also considerable literary ability. The
author is, however, somewhat extreme in his
views and severe in his strictures. What he
differs from or does not sympathise with he con-
demr s unsparingly, wanting therefore some of the
qualities that are necessary to rightly appreciate
the poet and the moralist. He would seem to
have taken in some instances Macaulay for his
model, undeterred by the rash extremes into which
that most brilliant and fascinating of essayists was
hurried by his uncompromising partisanship. We
would also suggest to Mr. Nicoll that a greater
simplicity of language would add to the merits of
his style and greatly increase the pleasure of the
general reader unfamiliar, with the army of poly-
syllables. The work is well worthy of perusal, and
the selection of subjects very attractive; but the
reader would do well to weigh carefully the deci-
sions of the author, and to accept him rather as an
able and intelligent companion than as a literary
guide.

Education in Oxford : its Method, its Aids, and its
Rewards. By James E. Thorold Rogers, M.A.
Smith and Elder.
This is a work that will be acceptable to many,
and that merits attention from its careful treatment
of the subject to which it refers. In this age of
new plans and this universal spread of education,
it is the fashion of m any to decry the time-honoured
customs that prevail at the universities ; but those
who consider deeply the question will not sub-
scribe to this subversive doctrine. Other branches
of study may with advantage receive more
attention, but to relinquish the regular clas-
sical education would be an irreparable injury.
Sir Edward Lytton, in an address at one of the
Scotch seats of learning, spoke in emphatic terms
of the benefit derived from the study of the ancients,
he said that the student would find this elevated
task enriched the life-blood of his thoughts and
that he quitted the university with a front the
Greek had directed to the stars, and with a step
that imperial Rome had disciplined to the march
that led her eagles round the world. The author
states although he has been for many years at Ox-
ford University, and taught several hundred under-
graduates, he has no motive to praise or
to dispraise; he has no interest near or
remote, with any hall or college, and no prejudice.
Those who would obtain a fair idea of the purposes
proposed and the plan carried out at the university
cannot do better than avail themselves of this op-
portunity of perusing the remarks of one who is
acquainted with his subject from personal expe-
rience, and who has stated his opinions in an equable
style, with no vehemence or excitement of expres-
sion. The concluding passage is here given and
will exemplify the views entertained by the writer
of this interesting and instructive little work :
" In many points the direct tendency of the university is
to meet the needs of the time by cautious concessions.
With very different views as to the points of detail, most
Oxford men are agreed in considering that what now
forms the staple of academical instruction should be re-
tained. It has stood the test of centuries, it is prolific of
useful men, and it is due to other causes than those which
are derived from it, that it has not produced great scholars
and profound thinkers. Whatever may be their faults
and shortcomings, no national institutions are so pure in
their practice and so conscientious in their public life as
the universities. The worst jobbing in the worst times at
the worst college was integrity itself by the side of the dis
honesty with which the emoluments of endowed grammar
schools have been administered.
" That the universities should execrcise an increasing
control over the education of the country must, it appears,
result from their secularisation, their accommodation to
modern habits of thought, and their public acts. It is not
necessary that conformity should henceforth be the condi •
tion of academical distinction. Oxford has accepted the
importunate wooing of physcial science, and recompensed
it with a prodigal self sacrifice. It has initiated a volun-
tary system of school inspection. It has even opened its
arms, at the earnest request of some among its body and a
few of those without it, to medicine and mechanics, the
nymphs who have either jilted it long ago, or disdained its
addresses.
" The universities have done much for the present, are
doing more, and are strong in the past. They have been
for centuries the nurseries of English youth, and have been
democratic both in their meanness and in their dignity.
The dawn of English history exhibits the prime of their
rude strength ; their pedigree begins with that of the
national liberties, and their domestic struggles coincide in
all points with the best and worst ages of the national
character."

Catechism of Latin Grammar, adapted for the use
of Schools and Families. Cassell. _

The object of this little book is stated in the preface
to be strictly useful to be " sufficiently elementary
for beginners, yet so constructed as to serve the
purpose of a handbook or companion to the Latin
Grammar at every stage of the pupil's progress."
It is most likely that many will be glad to possess
this useful guide to the intricacies of the Latin
tongue, as it is often one of the chief obstacles in
the way of the self-instructed that the standard
works of tuition are so elaborate that they require
an explanation before benefit can be derived from
their pages. To those for whom it is especially de-
signed the publication of this Catechism is sure to
be profitable.

Social Aspects of the Italian Revolution. By Theo-
dosia Trollope. Chapman and Hall.

This volume consists of a series of letters from
Florence which were written in the course of the
last two eventful years. They have already
appeared in the Athenceurn, and are now offered to
the public in a collected form, with a sketch of
events up to the close of last year. The object
proposed by the writer has been not so much to
chronicle the great events of the day—a task
better left to sterner writers—as to sketch the
effect of those events on the eager and excitable
people among whom she was dwelling. The
quick observation and ready sympathy of Eng-
lish authoress rendered her well fitted for this
undertaking and she has pourtrayed " the varying
expressions of the popular mind, as it has been
moved from hour to hour by hope or fear, misgiving
or confidence, disappointment or triumph, while
the impressions were yet fresh in the writer's mind,
with due local colourir.g and characteristic physi-
ognomy." Her volume will thus form a supplement
tollarger and graver works, giving as it does, a vivid
picture of the effects produced in Florence by the
stirring and startling cnanges of the last two years.

Peter Sailed/41. From the German. Translated
by Sir John Owring, with plates by George
Cruikshank. Third Edition. Hardwieke, Pic-
cadilly.
_ _ _

The shadow of the famous " Shadowless Man"
is not likely, according to the Eastern proverb,
ever to grow less ; and its quaint wisdom has
taught its lesson to many lands, and will pro-
bably do so for many generations. This edition
comes before us with special claims to notice.
It is more than twenty years, we are told, in
the preface, since Sir John Bowring translated
this celebrated work from the German, and was
aided in his task by the pencil of Cruikshank. Two
editions were rapidly sold, and Chamisso himself
was delighted with the work. There have since
been many English versions of the history of the
unhappy Peter, but we are glad to see the re
appearance of this one—having the right of
priority added to the special attractions of an easy
style and the graphic sketches of Cruickshank's
humourous pencil.