The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-10 00:00:00

Travels in the Free States of Central America. By
Dr. Carl Scherzer. 2 vols. Longman.
The author of this work has previously given to
the public the results of a journey undertaken for
purposes of scientific and social observation by Dr.
Moritz Wagner, and himself, to the Republic of
Costa Rica. The favourable reception which that
work met with has induced him to compile the
present narrative of their experiences in the neigh-
bouring States of Nicaragua, Honduras, and San
Salvador. Although the name of Dr. Scherzer
alone is on the title page, Dr. Wagner has contri-
buted some portion of it, more especially a de-
scription of the destruction of the town of
San Salvador, by an earthquake, of which
catastrophe he was an eye-witue3s. The picture
given of Central America is gloomy enough.
With a soil of mervollous fertility, with every ad-
vantage of nature, and many valuable articles of
commerce indigenous to the country, the inha-
bitants are sunk into a state of ignorance,
sloth, and wretchednes,' from which they are only
roused by themiserie3ofpettycivil war.c T 7.
trin and
aove 1 l ers
used to the rapid means of co i
locomotion which are now spread over the greatest
pa-t of the habitabl.3 glob?, may well be surprised
in journeying through so central a portion of it, so
close to the bustling civilization of the United
States, to find themselves in a town where they
can with difficulty procure food, and in villages
where they can scarcely obtain a mule. The utter
insecurity of life and property is well known, and
such is the state of the administration of justice,
thanks to party strifes and perpetual skirmishes,
that a thief was forced to go unpunished as the head
of one of the chief parties was glad of his services.
Even in the chief cities things are not much better.
Granada lies near the great Lake of Nicaragua and is
the richest and most important town in the republic.
The people prefer trade, and especially petty traffic,
to any other occupation, but as they are by no
means to be relied on, dealings with them are not
always profitable. Social life here, as in most other
towns of the country, is described as tedious and
insipid. " Whoever is not compelled by hunger to
work, swings himself the greater part of the day in
his hammock, smokes paper cigars, which even the
ladies do not disdain, gapes through the always
open windows at the blue tropical sky, and enjoys
in perfection the state of do-nothingness, which
passes here for life. The exertion of the brain is,
in Granada, dreaded even more than that of the
muscles." When this is the favourite way of spend-
ing time, there is little wonder that poverty and
famine are frequent guests in a country which, in
some places, yields three harvests a year. In the
mining districts, the inhabitants are poorest—they
persist, like the dog and the shadow, in neglecting
agriculture for mining, for which they have not
the appliances, even if most of the mines were not
exhausted. Dr. Scherzer plainly states that they
would be richer without the mines. Of the gran-
deur and fertility of this beautiful country he gives
us constant proof. Speaking of Nindiri, in Nica-
ragua h' says—" The soil and climate have in this
district endowed the poor Indian with a weath of
fruit such as no European horticulturist and no im-
perial conservatory can emulate ; and the best that
is placed upon royal tables in our quarter of the
world, is but like that with which naked Indian
boys pelt each other, as ours do with snowballs at;
the same season." The birds and flowers are de-
scribed as gorgeous and brilliant. Dr. Scherzer
gives a detailed' account of the chief articles of pro-
duction suited for commerce and home consump-
tion. He gives a list that might render this poor
and desolate country one of the wealthiest of its class,
but the gifts of nature are useless to a people
that persist in just planting enough to last till the
next harvest, and are consequently frequently in
fear of famine, besides begrudging the stranger a
mo7sel of food. The lamentable state of the
people—mental, moral, and physical—Dr. Scherzer
attributes to various causes, such as the long-
continued tyrannous rule of Spain, the resent pro-
ceedings of demagogues, the ever-recurring horrors
of revolution and civil war, the rage of parties, the
antipathy of races, and rivalry of towns. They
have been sinking lower and lower till even the
warmest friends of the confederation of the five
central states are becoming hopeless. An influx of
foreigners Dr. Scherzer imagines to be the best
thing for them, as well as affording a fine prospect
for some of the toil-worn inhabitants of olden
states ; only, he says, the emigrants must go in a
large body ; isolated individuals would be unable
to contend against the evil influences around them.
and must fail. The geological and metereological
observations will be interesting to the scientific,
and the narrative of the catastrophe of San Sal-
vador by Dr. Wagner gives a vivid picture of that
fearful event. The important question of the
proposed canal between the two oceans is fully
discussed, and maps given to show the various
advantages of the proposed routes. The volume
contains much useful information about these
states, conveyed in a pleasant and sensible
manner.

Deeds ly o t Words; a Domestic Tale. By B. Bell.

Ito u fledge.
This is one of Mr. Routledge's series of cheap
original novels, and it is one of the best of the kind
that we have seen. It is a simple domest7c story
of the trials and efforts of a Scotch family, the
Flemings of Dinnaik, and though we meet some
improbabilities there is nothing extravagant in the
events chronicled. The heroine, Susan, is a strik-
ing and interesting character, combining unusual
talents with feminine gentleness. She is favour-
ably contrasted with her beautiful and selfish sister.
' The latter part of the story is hardly equal to the
former. The author is apparently a beginner, and
gives promise of attaining a position among writers
of domestic fiction. We are glad to see a work of
1 this superior class in the rank of cheap novels.

The Two Convicts. By. Frederick Gersta,acker.

Routledge.
Frederick Gerstaecker is known as the author of
some exciting romances, such as " The Pirates of
the Mississippi," and " The Haunted House."
His novels generally display considerable ingenuity
of construction, and some degree of originality.
The present tale is one of colonial life, and the plot
turns on an unjust conviction. Love and romance
are minglei in the story, which offers considerable
attraction to the lovers of a fresh and interesting
f fiction
! Arithmetical Teaching. By John Blain. Longman.
This little work will be a valuable assistant to
teachers and learners. It is called "The Rationale
of Arithmetical Teaching," and gives a full expo-
sition of the principles of numeration, and the
four elementary rules. The author is late vice-
principal of the Winchester Training School. His
remarks on the system of teaching arithmetic
have therefore the weight of an authority. They
shovt careful consideration of the subject, and de-
monstrate clearly the advantages of making the pupil
think for himself instead of loading his memory with
rules which he scarcely understands. This work
is calculated to lead to a thorough comprehension
of the Arithmetical principles, as well as to a ready
facility of mental calculation.

Toni Burke of " Ours." By Charles Lover.
Vol. 11. Chapman and Hall.
The second volume of this favourite novel has
appeared in the cheap edition. Its exciting and
varied adventures have obtained for it an
extendd
reputation, and many will be glad of hoppor
tunity of securing it in its present cheap and con-
venient form.

Captain
a....•.•••••
The New
TZ
.ealtlaht
eaciesSectetioepr
e'sr :644StitforBdy.
This useful little work gives a sketch of the pre-
sent state of the six provinces of New Zealand ;
an account of the constitution, the social condition,
the land regulations, and every kind of information
connected with the colony. Theauthor has had
the
experience of many years residence, and has
travelled over most of the settlements.
He h
also in his possession the land regulations of the
different governments, of which he gives a digest
to the reader. These regulations
have never before
greatbee n
ipublishedmportancein
toE England,
land
intending,
and
areemofgracnont. H
course of
considers New Zealand better suited for an Eng-
lishman's home than any other colony, and there-
fore gives a particular account of the climate, soil,
political constitution, and social condition, which
he justly thinks are points of paramount importance
to one who means to settle permanently in the
island, while they are of little consequence to t the
se
who go in search of health or wealth only.. In
introduction he offers some sensible advice to the
emigrant, who will find this little book of much
service.

It is stated, in a Naples letter, that the Neapoli-
tan government consents to restore to the Sardinian
Company, to which she belongs, the Cagliari, the
steamer which was captured not long since with in-
surgents on board.
The Italia a Popolo of Genoa was again seized
on the 4th for a second article written by Mazzini
on the Situation, or state of public affairs. At
the same time, the Cattolico, the clerical organ,
containing vehement articles against Mazzini, was
seized on account of some attacks on the constitu•
tion contained in those articles.
ISLE or WIGHT.—The first stone of the new light-
house for the Needles, has just been laid near the south-
west edge of the Lower Cliff, Isle of Wight, and is
expected, when completed, to be of great advantage to
the merchant service, as it will be visible thirty miles
from land,