The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-31 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

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British Indict. By T. Malcolm Ludlow, Barrister

2 vol.. Macmillan and Co.
This work is suited to a large number of readers,
and will probably obtain a wide circulation. Ii
consists of a series of lectures delivered to the stn•
dents of the Working Men's Collage, who bad re-
quested soon after the recent outbreak that a course
of lectures on the history of British India should be
delivered t) them. As the author was intimately
connected with India through many of his relations,
the task devolved upon him, and he has acquitted
himself in a very creditable manner. He has re-
stricted himself to the history of British India,
giving, of course, such portions of the native annals
as are inseparably connected with it. He com-
mences with some introductory lectures on the
race 3, their supposed origin, their laws of caste,
(tc. He then proceeds to trace the rise and pro-
gress of the English supremacy, which he does
from the formation of the first Indian Company
in 1600, down to the annexation of Oude
and the departure of Lord Dalhousie. He then
gives five concluding lectures on what he
calls Qa( stions of the Present, on the various pro-
blems and difficulties that remain to be cot sidered
in the system of Indian Government. Though, of
course, his views and opinions are individual, he
has collected his facts with care from the best au-
thorities, not suffering himself to be influenced by
success in relating acts of injustice or breach of
faith. He tells his history in a concise and simple
manner, which renders it very acceptable to those
to whom the very names are sufficiently puzz'ing
without any intricacy in the manner of narration.
As a question of literary style, a little more careful
revision of the sentences would sometimes have
been advantageous. The work is admirably adapted
for the purpose fur which it was intended,—to
offer to persons who are quite uninformed on t' e
subject a succinct narrative of the rise of the British
power in India, the means by which that power
was extended, and the acts and qualities of
its great men ; also, to convey to them some
idea of the native races, their peculiarities
and differences, and the view which they
appear to take of the English Government ; and
also to trace in some measure, the causes of that
fearful mutiny which has lately spread desolation
among us. AR almost every one now has an opinion
upon Indian Government, and as the public atten-
tion is likely to be much engrossed with the ques-
tion, the more sound general knowledge of the past
is diffused among us the better it will be for the
future of our Indian possessions. Also recent
events have aroused in many a desire to know
something of a history, which before had little in-
interest for them, and thus a simple and connected
narrative like the present is likely to prove very ac-
ceptable to a large class of readers.

Who's Who in, 1858 ? Edited by C. H. Oakes,
11Z. A. Bailey, Brothers, Co:niiill.
This useful little work has now continued for
several years, and it maintains its character. It is
intended as a book of reference, chiefly devoted to
the upper classes, judicial authorities, and Parlia-
mentary members. It is very well suited for this
purpose, as, from its small compass and the metho-
dical way in which it is arranged, any name or
office can be immediately found. Besides giving
full information respecting the nobility, their dates
of t!tle, &c., and the Privy Council and Houses of
Parliament, all judicial, military, and naval digni-
taries are chronicled, with the dates of their ap-
pointments; archdeacons, members nf the Academy
of Arts, British Ministers abroad, Foreign Minis-
ters in England, assurance companies, chairmen
and secretaries of railways, officers and heads of
houses in the universities, all find a place. This
little compendium can be cordially recommended
to all who desire a convenient book of reference for
official, fashionable, and political information.