The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-05 00:00:00

NAPLES.

NAPLES, Feb. 26.—The following important
information has just been received from a credible
source :—" During the last month the King and
the Hereditary Prince have presided at frequent
ecclesiasticil conferences, at which were present
the Archbishops of Naples and Capua, Cardinals
Riario and Cosenza ; the Archbishop of Sorrento,
Monsignor Apuzzo ; and the Bishop of Isernia,
Monsignor Saladino. These, together with the
President of the Council, Cavaliers Troja, had
been engaged in drawing up a Concordat with the
Court of Rome similar to that which was concluded
last year between the Austrian Government and
the Holy See." Should this be true, it indicates
also a political approximation and union between
the three GQ,vernment4 in Italy the most interested
in checking all progress and maintaining things ex-
actly as they are ; in fact, the King is so tenacious
of power, and h's jealousy of the two border States
so strong, that nothing but some strong political
motive could possibly induce his Majesty to accede
to a second eiition of an Austrian Concordat. The
information, therefore, if true, is of evil augury for
the liberties of Italy.

The MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday.—The Pe-
ninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Indus, Capt.
a Brooks, sailed to-day for Malta and Alexandria, with
the India and China mails, 106 passengers (wiz., 80 first-
digs, 13 second, 12 servants, and 1 child) ; 2,976 boxes
of specie and jewellery for India and China, value
793,6871., and a full general cargo. The amounts of
specie for the several places are as follow :
Silver. Gold.
Bombay £155,350 ...
Ceylon
Madras
Calcutta
Penang
S!ngapore
Hong Kong
Canton -
Shanghai

£784,084 £8,489
Among the paegengere are Mr. J. C. Bowring, Mies E.
Bowring, Col. Graham and Major Burmeater, for Hong
Kong ; Dr. and Mrs. Neale, for Penang ; Captain and
Mrs. Cravroft, for Malta; Major Heyman, for Bombay.

LITERATURE.

The Days of My Life. An Autobiography. By
the Author of " Margaret Maitland," &c. 3
vols. Hurst and Blackett.
This work is invested with the same charm as its
predeces,ors, an attractive style, a style that pecu-
liarly engages attention from its earnestness and
simplicity, the most trifling event, the smallest de-
tail of domestic life acquires an importance and in-
terest fiorn the manner in which it is brought before
us. It is true that the story in question may not
be so pleasing to many readers, as the author's for-
mer productions, as it has fewer characters, and the
chief point on which the narrative turns does not
always succeed so well in gaining favour. The skill
is considerable, which is apparent throughout the
scenes where Hester and her husband are so
strangely placed. To appreciate her actions, her
nature must be considered, originally proud and
*sensitive, and increased by her constant companion-
ship with her father, whose whole life had been a
prey to morbid ideas and imaginary wrongs. De-
prived of a mother's counsels, and shut out from
much intercourse with the world, where whatever
follies she might have imbibed, she must have
formed a fairer estimate of social events ; it is not
to be wondered at that her actions were hasty and
inconsiderate. Had she not been placed in a cir-
cumstance of much peculiar trial, her pride might
have been softened and subdued by the wisdom of
advancing years, and the increased objects for
thought that the business of life might have pre-
sented, but in her wild youth her untutored spirit
was urged to the contest. She bad sufficient right
on her side to be an excuse for her conscience, and
her sense of dependence was lost when her father
died. It is a striking illustration of the impotence
of pride to sustain alone the conflict of the world,
to see Hester in her trial, when real danger menaced
her, she saw, and felt, that she was to blame herself,
and to her credit she instantly listened to the warn-
ing of her thoughts, when the occasion that called
them forth was removed. Edgar Southcote is a
generous character, and he, like Hester, laboured
under disadvantages in ais early years, which
tended to diminish instead of developing his native
excellences. He committed one certain act of de-
ceit, which, however it might be excused, could not
be entirely. effaced from the consideration of his
career. He learned the bitter truth, that man
must not commit evil that good might arise from
it. He intended, by a union with his cousin, to
reinstate her in her early home, to soothe his uncle's
wounded feelings at having besn displaced from the
balls he had ruled over before his unexpected arri-
val had occurred. 'He felt a deep interest in the
welfare of his relations, and a sentiment, never to
be effaced, had lingered in his memory through
long years, as he recalled the young maiden who
had at once owned his right to be the master, and
when her father iuterpesed had indignantly de-
clared that his witnesses were the portraits on the
walls, whose features lived again in this wanderer.
Af er the arrangements had Been effected for the
installation of the heir, Mr. Southcote declined any
intercourse with hie nephew, not from anger, but
a haughty feeling he could not overcome—a fear
lest he should be pitied. These thoughts were
shared by his daughter, and her pride bad indre-d
a fall, when she found that the very means which
her father had employed to keep the intruder at a
distance had ended in her being ensnared. Had
tliey •MI int tined. a suitable intercourse with their
relative the evil could not have occurred, but as
ignorant as if he had remained in his native India
of his appearance and habits, they met as a stranger
the bAng they shunnel. Unprejudiced in her
ideas, and natural in her manner, Hester became
attached to the poor student-, as she fancied the
proud possessor of their home, the head of
their house to be. It is in the deception that
follows that Edgar Southcote draws down
upon himself long years of trial, and in a great mea-
sure deserves his suffering, for he sees that he had
put himself out of the pale of defence. When on
her return from abroad Hester found out her mis-
take her indignation knew no bounds. She had
no one to advise her, she followed the dictates of
her early guides, pride and passion, through what
perils they led her, into what snares and pitfalls
she fell, and how many troublous hours ehe
mourned over her wasted youth, are here power-
fully declared t 3 us. In the peaceful days of
existence all dispositions appear the same, but in the
hour of trial the nice distinctions and fine varieties
of humanity disclose themselves. What would
have cost a gentle heroine some hours of weeping is
naturally shown in Hester to have raised a volcano
in her frame. Her powerlessness to redress her
gfevances was the climax to her worked-up and
overwrought spirit. Sho was too noble to desire
revenge, but she wished to vindicate herself from
the appearances her marriage would have. That
she should be chosen out of pity was as wormwood
to her mind, steeped in the pride caught from her
father, and cherished through succeeding years by
herselE Hester Soutbcote is a natural character,
undisciplined and untrained, the germs of the nobly
were implanted in her composition, and only
wanted time and opportunity to reveal themselves.
Solitude, the best nursery ground for such an ex-
cited temperament, proved her safety ; in the still-
ness of her own heart she could not be passionate ;
in the majesty of nature she forgot her pride.
Then in the dark hour of sorrow she went deeper
and higher into the mystery of her new-found
truths. Who was she to judge and condemn, an
erring sinner, and what were her dearly-nu= s-d
wrongs in comparison with the real apprenticeship
to suffering which death, facetoface,now threatened
to disclose ? It is not all who remember the reso-
lut;ons formed in troub'e, and of these, few prac-
tise them. In this the native brightness of her cha-
rac'er shone out to redeem her previous failings,
and her high spiritthat had nerved her in her day of
pride was vital to suet ain her in a better cause. It is
interesting to watch the course of events in the latter
portion of the story, and it is satisfactory to the
reader to leave the house of Cottiswoode at last in.
unity. This subject is not so attractive as those
which have 'formed the groundwork of the autho-
ress's earlier novels, but the spirit is the same in is
loftinas and integrity—in its calm but forcible up-
holding of truth and right; and this is a glorious
standard of swami. It clothes words with beauty
without the graces of language, and nerves them
with might without the weapons of argument. To
" look through Nature up to Nature's God" may
well surpass the highest efforts of art ; and this
pre-eminently expresses the feeling that animates
this work. It may, therefore, be regarded with
satisfaction, and hailed with welcome, as an addi-
tion to the higher range of romance which from
time to time is distinguishable amid the horde of
mediocrities, and which evidences and illustntes
the fact that fiction may serve a better purpose than
arnusement, and aspire to a greater than that of
admiration.

Married for Love. By the author of " Cousin
Geoffrey," &c: 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
This is a story well calculated to attract the reader,
from, the delineation of the characters and the
interest of the narrative. It is the history of Em-
meline Montresor, the only daughter of
..a wealthy
baronet and his selfish and worldly wile. They
both centre their hopes on their daughter, and till:
mother in particular looks forward to her making a
grand marriage. Her expectations are doomed to
disappointment, for Emmeline has formed an ac-
quaintance with the brother of one of her schod-
fellows, Claude Lindsay, the son of a supposed
millionnaire. Claude loves Emmeline, and corri-
dering that his father's wealth renders him a suit-
able match in her parent's eyes he demands her
hand from her father. To his surprise and anger
Sir Hildebrand Montresor rejects him decidedly,
having never liked him or his father. He leaves are
house more resolved than ever to marry Emmeline,
and circumstances favour his wishes. Emmeline
who is a dutiful daughter, and whose attachm-nt is
not so great as Claude's, would probably have re-
signed herself to her father's will, if Mr. Lindsay,
a speculator, had not suddenly lost all his fortune and
become bankrupt. Piiy determined Emmeline to
agree to what she would otherwise have refused to
do. She yielded to Claude's entreaties, and the
day after she was of age, the morning after a bril-
liant fete in her honour in which she captivated a
Duke, she left her home secretly, and became Mrs.
Lindsay. The authoress has impressed her moral
forcibly on the reader, not, of course, that it
wrong to marry for love, but that to marry, like
Emmeline, in defiance of her parents, urged by a
mistaken and superficial affection, is a fatal mistake,
that, sooner or later, will bring its own punish-
ment. To poor Emmeline it came speedily, and
the groat error of her life was soon avenged.
Claude unfortunately bad a sort of second cousin,
Mrs. Wheedle Browne, who had secretly loved him
before her marriage, a selfish, cruel, and deceitful
woman. She soon became Emmeline 's evil genius.
She misrepresented her to her husband, shea.iienated
his affections from her, she encouraged all his wotst
qualities, and poor Emmeline soon found she 11-1:1
broken her father's heart, estranged . her mo. the-,
deserted her happy home and rejected hrilliant
al iances, to be neglected and maligiied, for to'l
and poverty, not ev, n lightened by love. Added to
this her father died-very soon after her marriage, and
though through the kindness of the houiekeeper, she
managed to staal into the home which 11.,,d once
been hers, and cheer his last days, she fel wi h
bitter remorse that she had been his murderess
Her mother had taken advantage of her father's
first indignation and confusion of mind after the
fit which immediately seized him, to get him to
execute a will, excluding his daughter, and thus
the young
.couple had nothing to live upon with
the exception of two hundred a yew; belonging to

Emmeline. This small sum was much increased
by her industry in copying paintings, for her bus-
t and's want of application and industry prevented
him from earning anything in his profession
as a barrister. The troubles of the undutiful
daughter and neglected wife soon increased.
Her husband, under the evil influence of Mrs.
Wheedle Browne, found fault with all she did and
soon began to threaten her through her child, her
only solace. Af;er much suffering her brother sud-
denly returns from his travelß, and soon rescues his
sister from her miserable position. Mrs. Wheedle
Browne is convicted of attempting to poison Em-
meline, and Claude, brought to a sense of his con-
du t, leaves England. Emmeline and her child .
live with her brother in retirement, and thus ends
the history of her who had "Married for Love."
There is a tragedy in low life as well. Ruth Redd",
Emmeline's favourite mail, who assists her elor
ment, is married on the same day, under very siml•
lar circumstances, and after much ill-usage is mur-
dered by her husband in a fit of passion. The stel
is well written, and the interest sustained through'
out. It may perhaps be charged with a little ex"
aggeration. The deterioration of Claude is ali3ao,t
too rapid, and the character of Mrs. Wheedle
Browne would have been more natural if she bad_
not ended her career by attempted murder. Ems3o--
line herself is a charming character, and enlists the
reader's sympathies on her side, notwithstanding
her disobedience. Time and reflection soon -Laugh!.
her how great had been her error in deceiving awl,
deserting her parents, even had the object of ber
affection been more worthy of it. The story leaves
her looking forward to the chance of a re..encilir
tion with Claude, but contented to remain in her
retirement should her hopes be disappointed. llt
".
is well calculate) to interest and instruct
its tone is elevated and its style simple and pleasiug;
It is likely to extend the reputation of the audio')
roar, and to fascinate the reader, though its interest
is of course of a melancholy character. Its ()NV'
is to show that Love, however sincere for the timet
can never be a sub-titute for Principle, and tbat
deceit and di,obedience can never bring a blessmit
even should the heroine have " married for love.

Three Years in California. BY J. D. Botthvrislci
Blackwood and Sons.
The discovery of gold in Australia and the cows!:
quent emigration from this country, together pith
the astonishing results, have for long had the effect
of throwing California into the shade, So much,
however, has been written and said on the sub'
ject of Australian mining that the public have come
to think they "know all about it," And are, 01
course, comparatively indifferent to any further
particulars than a-e comprised in the discovery and
working of new gold fields. One result of o'4
at ite of feeling is, the appearance of a work like to
present, at this juncture, so far from being inePe
tune, is well-timed, and the author 'nay reasonal
hope to be read and appreciated. The pert
of his sojourn in California commenced in 185"
when the Californan gold fever was at its
he ght in the "United States of America, and wou
therefore terminate in 1854. So that some Ore:
or more years have intervened between its extreme
limit and the present time. The author was at Nelva
York when he caught the prevailing infection, an
with the eager haste of the day made his prepsi3.
Lions, and took ship with a party of Califorut,
emigrants of various nations, but chistr.
, Americans, for ChagrEs. In due time 11't
party arrived at that place in safety, and
_,Oll
author crossed the Isthmus and reached Yana'
On arriving at this at igewe have a graphic desell
tion of that wild and picturesque town and its I'o
markable inhabitants, followed by his voYage.T.l
San Francisco, with its hardships, and his aria
there. The appearance of this city, we are t°'-'
was of quite a makeshift and temporary c
haracterl
It exhibited, however, an immense amount of vitae;
lity compressed into a small compass, and a der
of earnestness was observable, says the 8111'4
in every man's daily life. This earnestness',.
may be guessed, was not least noticeable in
gambling-houses, which were both numerous the
splendid, and in the records of crime. On
other hand, a real, solid, and desirable progro g
the refinements of civilisation became indisput3
apparent on closer observation. A good 100
pages are devoted to an account of the place ; 0a
we can do no more than remark they will be fob
worthy of perusal. From Francisco the au'
started for Sacramento by steam-boat, and after,
brief delay pushed on for Hangtown, bef0r,,,,1
arrival at which ominously named town be obtsl7o-.
his first view of the scene of his intended lab°,°4o
Ariived at the diggings the author and his panu'l%
set to work as soon as possible, and for about
weeks worked their " claim" very successtunt
when the creek becoming dry, thereby eutw,..,
ing a wait until next session, he _ sold 07,,
interest and started for Nevada, a mining city, 6„1",,
route to the Yuba river, to take a glance at the
mines in its vicinity. After much wanderiug_.''
finally returned to San Francisco where his nail"
tive terminates. The reader has, therefore'
to imagine a well-informed, eat erprisi%
and intelligent traveller, with an all°eb
eye for the picturesque, for so long a space in 810
a wild romantic country, peopled by advent-111i
in a certain sort of keeping with it, to forlll4,
general idea of the value of the present vt
Americans, English, French, Germans, Mexicr,
ei
Indians, Chinese, &c., pass under big r°,./.1.4.
and elicit his candid comments on their pecot::4
ties and capabilities. The life of cities, of v 11195,
of travel, of the diggings—the gaming•table,
bull-fight, the bear-fight, the ball, the tho.l,tis
the rude hovel, the more or less p ,reteett.
hotel, the plain, the mountain, the ralm:B,
the rivet', the creek, the gold mine, all 08,00
produced with a fidelity and a vigour "er
calculated to make a more than ordinary illribe
sion on the mind of the reader. The value 01,...-03
work is enhanced by several lithographs 'as
sketches by the author, illustrating some ,L
most striking scenes he witnessed in his adre,"""4„.
Australian Essays on Subjects Political,
..ov9;eo.
and Religious. By James Norton, Esq.' ;00,
London : Longman, Brown, Green, Long a
and Rober s.
It is with much pleasure we notice this "11;
of Essays from the Antipodes. Their appearalliwit
a good sign, and their merit far from incen.„,Bl.o*
able. Mr. i'orton possesses a fine, if not a brult,ol".,
intellect, and that supported and directed by .
siderable discrimination and high moral print
It is to his credit that, during his thirty-four ye,-;
of arduous professional duties, he has found tillIt;
perhaps made it, to vindicate the higher dent of
of our nature in the thick, and for the benefit
the eager money-hunting community aul°ea
whom his lot has been cast. His essays 11%
no indulgence, though fairly entitled to
ke
as wi.l be admitted when it is added they 018.0.
their appearance not under his personal sullnoi
tendence, Iv that of a friend.. Of the relig',.let
essays we shall say no more than that they a° "'o
and pointed, and are characterised by the 63n
131
independence of thought which pervades the D 341,4.
and political. The latter are deserving of the
ous consideration of all who set store on our colon ;
the claims of the colonists on and as agaiot„ir ,
neglectful mother country being lucidly and -ia
perately stated. Among the moral essays tlltaa
one on " Beauty," another on " The Memory, Too
a third, a decidedly able one, by way of refuts",
of a portion of the theory advanced in ,c ay-
ages of the Creation." None of the er4l
5
are long—some of them are very siLchio
the author, as he broadly intimates illarol
preface, having no liking for compositions— 'mg
of sound and fury, signifying nothing." One tb'os
we must not omit to notice : his friend has cl°,4
him justice—the book is tastefully got up, Iwo
may, in conclusion, be recommended generally
elegant and valuable gift book as well as a nott,
able contribution to English literature.

Louis Napoleon, Emperor of the French. on
Biography. By J. A. St. John. Chappl

and Hall.
feoedxultiveffie
indeed
nor set sode
be
ned
almost
isaytugoi
rtfr.
The author of this volume has taken for
will
cult,
PinrtimPrailaie°7cfol:taut-hhilniYiisncivhgoeafrsal attentiono,siatniocil
motto,
living,
whose
vidious task, to write the biography of a nun st.ol
•
the
circumstances of whose career are especially cei,es,
lated for the development of conflicting opilli°o
The autaor, seeing the difficulties of his task, or
wisely resolved to avoid either extreme.
the renders dpeeres4
ticipates that the extreme members of all paro,
bull
he be displea-ei with the moderation of his vzietlis
asserts that his aim has been to forestsh,ore
decisions of pc)sterity, and draw a faithful pi,eit
of the present state of affairs in France and t
ereu
causes. It is not difficult to discover which
eg
his opinions or partiality inclines, hut he aPP to
to have confined his recital in a great measureco.
events. The greatest portion of the work i 9 °c eat
pied by the earlier porton of the Emperor's care
and to most readers familiar with the dotalio.
modern politics, and weary of the perpetual ooP t
dictions of opposing partisans, this will be the
most interesting.

• *ll
London, University Calendar, 1857, contalo4.o,
the information such a work can be expectad ',to
sish—informationnecessaryto the s udeut, and at.i.
El Line time interesting to such as feel concervouvo,
the progress made at the metropolitan seat of
ittg, at all events the college of the metrop° of
Am:-•ng the contents, the Examination Parer°ls.
1856, and the Classical subjec s for the Matiicwiti
tion and B.A. Eialunia' ions in 1857 and 1858)
be noticed,