The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-11 00:00:00

done so much to enhance, ruined, it is not to be
wondered that an adventurous spirit like that of
Cochrane, imbued with principles of liberty, should
take service with an oppressed nationality like that
of Chili. It is at this epoch that the bio-
graphy by Mr. Allen becomes interesting, not
that he has not throughout given a faith-
ful history of the career of Lord Cochrane, but
that from this period the public in general
are ignorant of the exploits •of the late admiral.
All admire his daring and seamanship when in a
sloop of 14 light 4-pounder guns he captured the
Spanish frigate Gamo of 32 heavy guns. But this
feat, bold as it was, is far outdone by his unprece-
dented exploit of cutting out the Esmeralda frigate
from under the guns of a fort, defended by a boom
aid across the harbour, and with a picked crew
always on the watch in expectation of an attack,
and this, too, not as in olden times backed by blue
jackets, on whose intrepidity and dash he could
depend as on himself, but depending on a mixed
crew of men of all nations, without unity or motive,
but the confidence with which his previous success
and determined will inspired his followers was
enough. The order that the Esmeralda was to be
cut out, and that the admiral would command in
person, was considered by his rough levies as un fait
accompli. Those who wish to obtain full information
in a small compass on all points or the life and ad-
ventures of the Earl of DundOnald, better known
in English history as the gallant Cochrane, the
first who dared the wrath of the Board of Admi-
ralty to vindicate the rights of the seamen, will
do well to peruse the little volume by Joseph
Allen, author of " The Life of Nelson."

The Post Office Directory Atlas of England and
Pales. Kelly and Co.
Every one admits that this a go-ahead age,
and Messrs. Kelly and Co., acting up to the spirit
of the times, have confirmed from time to time to
present to the public a series of county directories,
supplemental as it were to the Leviathian Direc-
tory of the 'metropolis. Revised and corrected
to the present time by Mr. B. R. Davies,
the well - known map engraver, they now
publish in a neat volume maps of all the
counties of England and Wales. Most of ,the
plates have already been published in the district
directories, but in their reproduction they have
been carefully corrected and revised, and may be
now considered as an authority for all railways,
roads, and general statistics up to December 31,
1860. To each map is appended a table of refe-
rences giving the number of acres contained, what
are the boundaries of the number of members re-
turned. Throughout this series of maps great
pains has been taken to give the fullest informa-
tion. The Post-office order towns, polling places,
Sm., are all marked off and recorded in the mar-
gin. For home -or office references the present
atlas is all that can be desired, but we hope to see
these excellent maps hereafter published sepa-
rately so as to enable the traveller to carry in his
pocket a guide which would render him inde-
pendent, and not leave him at the mercy of igno-
rant countrymen or broken sign posts.

The _loose •screw. 3 Vols. Saunders and Otley.
This is a very strange story, and it is to be
regretted that the author does not inform us of the
purpose of his complicated narrative. it is
described throughout with much ability, and had
the plot only been more clearly explained and less
extravagantly devised at the conclusion, it would,
doubtless, have been successful in its way. As it is,
many may be amused at its peculiar style, and
Can exert their power of divination in speculating as
to its special object, and who are the prototypes of
the wonderful persons who appear in the third
volume. Whatever time it is meant for, some of
the passages about the Board of Guardians may be
perused with. attention by those connected with
those affairs. The sad case of Sally Ruffles is by
no means improbable, and it is to be feared that
her melancholy end may serve to illustrate the
hardships endured by many who are left to the
mercy of such cold and cruel officials. Some of the
descriptions here are very quaintly done, and on
the whole there is entertainment to be met with
in the perusal of these volumes.