The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-13 00:00:00

LI rERATURE

Florence Templar.

Smith and -Elder.

This is not an ordinary production, , in displays
great knowledge of character, and tbo simplest
events of life are so strikingly and vividly brought
before us, that they are invested with peculiar
attractions. - The story consists of the occurrences
that took place in a little country tow7a, called
" Templar Cross," in which dwells the 'family of
Mr. Wilson. His daughter narrates the various
fortunes of the Templar family, they were a
haughty race, but all possessed some redeeming
qualities, with the exception of Lady Teanplar, in
whom none seemed apparent. By her .harshness
she sacrificed her youngest daughter's life, and her
evil influence embittered the destinies of her son
and daughter, Florence. Florence Templar needed
no added obstacle to her career, she had enough to
contend with in her own pride and passion. Her
nature was noble, and her disposition generous,
but her prejudices misled her, and her temper was
ungovernable. Her mother fanned every angry
thought, that might' otherwise have been checked,
into a flame, not that they came to the open rup-
ture that ensued between Sir Edward and his mo-
ther, in consequence of the latter having married
without her consent. Gordon Graham is a
masterly sketch of a clever unprincipled
man, gifted with persuasive powers, and
a peculiarly fascinating manner. In an evil
hour for Florence did he return from India
to his native place. He had by strenuous exertion
made a fortune, with which he hastened to redeem
the property 'of his ancestors from strangers, in
fulfilment of a vow made in boyhood. All this
invested him with something of the heroic and
romantic, which, to •an enthusiastic mind like
Florence's, possessed manifold attractions, aid
afforded a source of interest, doubly welcome to
one whose home was a misery, and whose life was
witbout aim or object. Charles Sutton, the cousin
of the Wilson's, was in every respect different to
the Nabob, as he was called. He was in the navy;
but during his frequent visits to Templar Cross he
met the families of the town, and became attached
to Florence. She, however, turned from the true
to the false, and forsook the sterling worth for the
specious semblance. At first " Jenny" (as the
writer of the tale was called) suppose 4. that she
could be of no service to the bright and beautiful
high-born heiress. But time, the great leveller of
earthly distinctions, and the mighty subverter of
human charms, in a brief space changed the scene.
Florence, by an illness, , lost her beanti—by a
change of things her mother's fortune was not left
to her—and in her hour of greatest tribulation she
would have been deserted, if she had not possessed
in her humble acquaintance what the world in her
grandest hour had not given to her—a friend.
Death had made havoc in Jenny Wilson's home
also, but hers were calm and holy remembranses,
and she could look back with peace, and onward
with faith. A short time of suffering removed
Florence Templar from the world she ha found
so dreary and bitter ; but her last hours were not
spent in repining at her trials, or murmuring at
her disappointments, but in a better and brighter
manner. The memory of her departed friend
could not vanish with her presence from the mind
of the mourner. In her happiest hours of after
years the thought of Florence Templar presented
itself. The retrospect of the events referred to is
painful in many instances, but to those who appre-
ciate the touching and the true, in dwelling on the
passages of existence, this record will be a welcome
one ; for in it sorrow is softened by sympathy, and
the greatest of calamities, to a casual observer, are
shown not to be exempt from a blessing in disguise,
while pride and passion are exemplified in their
depth and height.

Oliver Cromwell ; a Story of the Civil War. By
Charles Edward Stewart. 2 vols. Smith and
Elder.

This, as its name implies, is a tale of the great
Civil War. Although historical novels are not un-
common, and the epoch of the Cavaliers and
Roundheads is a favourite one with novelists, it is
not often that we find a writer bold enough to in-
troduce the King and the Protector personally to
his readers. The singular coincidence of the
author's name cannot fail to strike the reader,
though his sympathies are not wholly enlisted in the
Royal cause. Indeed, the moderation of his views will
very probably offend the violent partisans of both
sides, while they will commend him to those who see
right and wrong in the pretension.; and actions of
each. The historical note at the conclusion takes a
brief and interesting review of the causes that imme-
diatelyled tothe revolution,and expresses the author's
views in a clear and sensible manner. Of Oliver
Cromwell he entertains a favourable opinion, con-
sidering he has been much maligned by earlier his-
torians ; indeed, he remarks at the end, " to place
the character of Oliver 'Cromwell in a point of
view more true to history than that in which it has
been the fashion to contemplate it, has' been one, if
not the principal, of the objects that I have had in
view in the preceding pages • and if towards this
piece of historical justice, I :hall have contributed,
even in a very small degree, it will be a reward for
some pain, and labour." le admits that his am-
bition was great, but insists that the good of his
country was also a ruling motive. He condemns
him strongly, however, for not ameliorating the
condition of the king, when imprisoned before his
trial, and does not afford him the unqualified ap-
probation of some- modern writers. The story is
secondary to the political interest, but it is pleasing
and attractive. An old cavalier and his son ;
an officer who serves with. Cromwell's army,
but retires when the death of the King
is determined on, and his daughter Rachel,
a fair Puritan, her attendant, are the chief
characters. A stout soldier, Elijah Gideon, and an
individual called Captain Slasher, are also remark-

able. Little is said of the Royal army, or the
Cavaliers, the interest of the story being chiefly on
the other side. The story opens when the dissen-
sions of the King and Commons are threatening
civil war, and soon result in the battle of Edgehill.
It closes a few years after the establishment of the
Protectorate. Though not po-sessinc, the vivid in-
terest and glowing reality with which some histori-
cal novelists have invested their characters, it will
attract the reader by the exciting events it chro-
nicles, and the moderation and simplicity with
which it is written.