The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-19 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Court Secrets. A Novel. By Mrs. Thomson,
author of " Coustauee," &c. 3 vols. Hurst and
Blackett.

This story is diversified in its interest ; indeed,
a striking assemblage of persons is presented to the
notice in its course. The scene is laid almost en-
tirely abroad, but the reader has for the most part
to do with the natites of our country on a foreign
described.
M aieltswailad. fYeing is a prominent
Some crime in,
wellsskielich,SiarndClhaudieisus
which he was implicated in early youth cast a shade
over his entire life, and while it prevented him
from forming advantageous connections, it drew
him on imperceptiblyto lower himself still further.
He was too much a polished man of the world to
err superficially, hence he never lost his position in
the shining saloon, or at the gorgeous banquet-
hall, but his name was sullied. Irene, his unhappy
daughter, attiacts and interests, from her forlorn.
position and uncertain prospects. Sir Claudius
was a cruel guardian to one so gentle and warm-
hearted. The authoress describes with a touching
fidelity the painful passage in the young girl's life
when she came to reside with her volatile parent.
She had been brought up in a humble family at a
distance, but when grown up had been sent for by
herfickfe father to grace his mansion by herbeauty,
and add new lustre to his dazzling position by the
smiles of youth. The deceived girl thought she
was to be welcomed by a fond parent to a happy
home. By degrees the fatal truth was learned.
The fate of Lrly Mainwarying is vary distressing ;
while many believed her dead she was wandering
about the world, driven from her home by the
cruelty of her husband. She found rest at last in
a convent, and while her weary spirit passed from
earth, he whose conduct bad so long escaped cen-
sure reached the limits of his sufferance. On all
sides rose the murmur, and Irene returned from
her mother's funeral to find her father in the
hands of an indignant populace, who were about to
wreak summary justice on his person. She ap-
peared as a guardian angel, and rescued him, but
he was subsequently assailed by covert attacks,
which he could not parry, and he fell a victim to
seine disease occasioned by over-excitement. Horace
Clavering is an interesting character, widely differ-
ent to Sir Claudius in every respect, and deserving
commendation for the just judgment, and refined
taste, which enabled him to recognise and appreciate
the merits of Irene, when she was in a humble style
in a contracted sphere. It was not likely that an
acquaintance formed as theirs was, under the clouds
of doubt, and in the midst of difficulties, should be
otherwise than troubled in its course, and at times
apparently broken off. The lights and shades of
its progress form one of the chief points of exciting
interest. Irene was attached to her father, as much
from fancy as reality. He was more the ideal crea-
tion of her romantic youth than the real and actual
Sir Claudius, than whom (however fascinating in
appearance and demeanour) no one was more un-
fitted for the display of deep feeling, or for being
the object of a devoted attachment. This over-
estimation of her father prevented Irene from re-
garding in its true light the importance of Horace
Ciavering's regard for her. It was not as if she
had been in a happy, or even in a peaceful home,
but her position was environed by peril; on every
-ide, and the prospect of being taken from such a
sphere to any safe refuge was a bright one. How-
ever, it is not often the case in real life that people
tee what is the best for them, and therefore,
Irene followed a likely course when she promised
to become the wife of her father's favourite, who
j •
ustified his patron's choice, when in the day of clan-
gor he turned away from the house and relinquished
t.is engagement. The secondary characters are very
well delineated. The Cropthorne family, with
their attendant satellites, Mr. Boase and Mrs.
Rather, form an amusing interlude to the graver
(rears on the scene. The ingenuity of Mr. Boase,
tee impudence of Mrs. Flather, are specimens of the
:tanner in which such worthies contrive to insi-
nuate the aiselves into family circ!es, which had not
dreamed of such an addition to their numbers, and
from whence it is often easier to wish them well
,sway, than to detach them afterwards, when they
have taken root in the domestic soiL The Crop-
thornes paid dearly for their folly in allowing them-
selvee to be caught by the snares of the wily pair ;
for although they had no sympathy with each other,
they agreed in deceit and treachery. Mrs. Flather
revealed the falsity of Mr. Bosse ; but when cir-
cumstances compelled her likewise to depart, her
hospitable entertainers found that they had nour-
ished a serpent, and the angry strife and bitter
recriminations that folio wed left anything but plea-
s tnt memories behind of their trip across the chan-
nel. The tragedy of the hapless young stranger,
which is mentioned in the course of the story, and
over whose sad fate it is hinted that an impenetrable
mystery is hung, forms a connecting link between
Sir Claudine and some of the leading personages of
the State. His clay errors found him out at last,
and what he trusted had been hidden for years
eves revealed to confound him in the light of day.
This work will not be found wanting in romantic
incident, and its skilful detail of domestic events
adds greatly to its merit, and increases its attrac-
tions. Its heroine alone is a star of magnitude,
but the powerful manner in which Sir Claudius is
described displays a talent not often met with in
this class of novels. " Court Secrets" will sustain
the author's former reputation.

Reformiutohef
RthaetAiormnayl 'R'
eivsietwhe. firAstftseurbejoenct_
The National Review. Chapman and Hall.
that ‘meetsThe
sid.cring thy evils of the present system, the writer
recommends three remedies : the abandonment of
the purchase system, the gradual promotion from
the ranks to clmmiszions, and progressive exlmi_
nAtion to preclude each step of advancement. Many
admitted evils are censured and inquired into,
among them the inefficient rewards to worn-out
officers, the system of corporal punisment, and the
inconvenience of the soldier's clothing. Lut-
fullah, whose autobiography is atracting some
attention, receives a favourable notice ; and Mr.
Waterton and his volumes of natural history form

the topic of an entertaining article. "Popular
Legends and Fairy Tales," always .a pleasant sub-
jeot, give the title,to an attractive paper, which-
shows the national characteristics and tendencies of
the songs and traditions of different countries.
Beranger is commemorated in a brief memoir; and

e portry of Alexander Smith receives a just and

discriminating criticism. After praising some fine
similes and expressions, the writer concludes by
observing that the (I.epest failing of this sort of
poetry is its ingrained untruthfulness. "Love of
display haunts it like an evil spirit. Language
used instead of thought ; the metaphors of deep
feeling hung about shallow sentiment like purple
about a beggar; volcanic pseudo-passions set forth
in pyrotechnic phraseology ; a total disregard of
the real and essential congruity of things make up
verse which is to true poetry what sentimentality
is to feeling, or sophistry to simple truth seeking."
The remaining articles are of average merit.

The Journal of Agriculture. William Blackwood.
This journal has some important subjects. The
opening paper, "On the Possession of Land as an
industrial Occupation for the People," treats of
one of those questions of social importance that
require careful consideration. The agriculture and
climate of North America is treated of in a subse-

quent article, and presents some useful statistics
to intending !emigrants. A new and curious sug-
gestion 'is made in an article entitled " Hippo-
phagy," -which strongly advises us to eat horses.
The author argues with energy on the humanity,
prudence, and advantage of such a proceeding ;
but wo du not anticipate his arguments will effect
much in establishing the custom. "The Journal
of the Transactions of the Highland and Agricul-
tural Society" has papers on the fittings of stables,
the veterinary department, and the Glasgow Show,
with the report of the proceedings in the Labora-
tory, by Professor Anderson, and the returns of
seed competitions for 1856 and 1857. The sum-
.f,ary for the quarter and tables of average prices
wiil be useful to those engaged is agricultural pur•
suits.

The journal of Psyc
Chholourchill.gic l a Medicine. John

An address delivered by the able editor, Dr.
Forbes Winslow, on his taking the chair as presi-
dent, at the annual meeting of " The Association
,f Medical Officers of Asylums for the Insane," is
given in this quarterly. it has for its subject the
mission of the psychologist, and treats of the seri-
ous and important considerations connected with
it with care and discretion. A paper on " Moral
Liberty" insists strongly on_ the nesessity of care-
ful moral and religious training, where the psycho-
logical tendency is of a downward nature, Another
paper, on " The Insanity of Early Life," contains
some melancholy statistics of the early
treats
subject is "Philosophical Progress," which
othe paper,
ment of insane predispositions. A mone atcltervacet7vie
of the laws of reasoning and logic.
“ncon the Com-
interesting to the general reader,
those faculties
and Memory," which
showsfor each other, ending by
balance and compensate
pensatory Relations between t
to the mass of mankind me-
heoFiviage Faculties of Order
showing that,
°value, to a philosopher a doll-
of order would be a far greater
ciency in his faculty corresponding deficiency of memory.
loss than a _
Enory is of
h of Italy, Germany, and France are
The asY
IA under consideration ; and the new Scotch
lunacybrou g law, priceless
the present state of lunacy in England
i' and Wales, and all other topics connected with
- mental science and health are treated of at length.