The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-18 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

MURRAY'S EDITIONS FOR THE PEOPLE.
Lord Byron's Poetical Works.

Boswell's Life of Johnson.
seiTiahleliwteoil.alCtsutbve.forlCl
Murray, Albemarle•street.
rait3h saullpt
nal3l.‘;,aianctisholif English
ar
books and cheap editions which of late years have
issued from the press, these two great standard
works are still out of the reach of a large portion
of the reading public. The complete writings of
one of our greatest poets have been inaccessible to
persons of moderate means, though fragmentary
portions, containing often the least elevating parts,
have occasionally made their appearance. As
nearly eight years have yet to run before the copy-
rightteld by Mr. Murray expires, all editions pub-
lished without his sanction are incomplete and
imperfect. The edition before us is printed in clear
type, on good paper. It is illustrated with several
engravings, and will be completed in nine parts.
The first contains Childe Harold and The Gmour,
the second eight other poems, including Mazeppa
and the Corsair. The notes and introductory pas-
sages are the same as in Murray's large edition ;
when completed and bound it will form a hand-
some library volume. Boswell's Life of Johnson is
well known, but deserves to be still more widely
circulated. There are lessons in it for every rank of
life, and to none is it more appropriate than to that
large and struggling class of which Johnson was
himself a member, when sixpence appeared to him
to be a very important sum. It is Croker's edition,
so unmercifully satirised by Lord Macaulay, which
is now publishing, and Mr. Murray introduces a
refutation of many of the charges brought against
it in the criticism. It is of the same size as By.ron's
poems, and will be completed in ten parts. Of
the works themselves it is needless to speak.
They have passed beyond the cavil of criticism
or the expression of commonplac • approval.
Each in their opposite style, without the
smallest comparison between the capabilities of the
writers, have assumed to themselves a niche in the
English Temple of Fame which they are not likely
to forfeit by the verdict of succeeding generations.
But as in the works of the poet many profess to
see the author iu his own heroes, so in the bio-
graphy it is not the weak, fussy biographer, but
the large-hearted social philosopher, the great
writer, the great student, who, with all his pre-
judices and foibles and failings, stands out in the
unflattering fidelity of a photographic portrait. So,
by placing poet and philosopher within the reach
of the multitude, Mr. Murray has done wisely and
well, and we are glad to see that he has in prepara-
tion other standard works which are to appear is
the same manner. We cordially wish the under-
. taking may meet the success it deserves, and in the
present instance it is scarcely to be questioned.

The Three Paths. By Herbert Grey, M.A.
2 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
This work is rather peculiar ; displaying some
talent, considerable originality, but, nevertheless,
there is an extravagance in the style, and singularity
in the diction, which are scarcely suitable. The
principal point in the story consists in the con-
versations that take place between two young
men, on various subjects, but the general topic)!
interest was the female sex. They entertained very
diverse opinions on that interesting. subject.
Frederick Charlton, a young man of fortune, had
entered life at an early age and never having any
iciaisresif)ohrittsh,ehiandollii.odNuY iatoeddahni
lapl all theis dreams 1 e lege lit' or depress
s that were
suggested by his romantic disposition and ardent
fancy. When he woke to actual life, and found the
world made up of deceit and hypocrisy, he rushed
to the other extr( me and especially included women
ifcensure. Grey took a more corn-
noi view of life and! persons. In vain
did be endeavour to impress his convictions on the
fi hisi_ se s:s-ec eping
mind of his friend, and the arguments which con-
tinually ensued between them are amusing, from
their earnestness. The distinction that prevailed
will be better understood when it is stated that
Charlton gloried in calling himself a misoganiskand
racei
ciic
ce.sesossfoaolbt
sober friend,
eft
rhaieaitldtl decided
that
av:loolie enemyr,a a3.leda trtohfteih. female
oepmr
Grey styled himself an anthropologist. It is not
op he
their
..
great dispute on the subject he would rescind his
opinions, were more than fulfilled. There is not
much said of the lady, but she appears a desirable
and delightful character from the sketch intro-
duced. There is more to interest the reader in a
reflective mind like Grey's than in an uncertain and
fitful disposition such as Charlton's, and there is
something mournful in the higher nature having to
continue in the shade of poverty, while the other
revelled in the sunshine of prosperity. Grey,
however, might have exclaimed—
" My mind to mo a kingdom is ;"
and he had a resource in his studious habits and
refined tastes which could never be purchased by
the most affluent, or secured by the votary of plea-
sure. When returning depressed to his simple
abode, he would console himself by these thoughts
ad)lnee'dn
t o be
—" Courage ! this mean chamber receives noble
guests, and the spirits at least, dessecated from
fleshly stain, of the best and wisest of earth, visit it
in love. God has not shut out poverty from the
divine realms of literature, and thoughts, in which
live
ev
ui lgatilir
we often entertain angels unawares, can
atmosphere redolent with no earthy
There is considerable skill displayed the
dsde or
ns uc
iirtishp. :
tion of " Mr. John Cara. el:act:tun; Sen
endeavouredc
s. 1; i
018 e
We arc informed that ' origin
iSuna'fift,hl.;ho lie
ha dmrb.aescoainneerssicell,tialiVthat his distinguished.
scurity and mystery
which enveloped that of the Nile. His wife was also
•character in her way, and the family of
quite a .
quite fulfilled their parents'
was veiled in the same solemn
Nile. His
*.
daughters q . expectations;
n was "Lily," who afterwards
became " Mrs. Charlton," and was indeed a star in
the domestic darkness. In the various transactions
ur this worthy family we - meet with satirical
execptio
and personal traits that exhibit humorous
powers
tumorous
powers of description and enliven the work, which
otherwise might
stkletcohnelsy
appear somewhat heavy in conse-
quence of the repeated arguments and lengthened
disquisitions on various subjects. This work is not
likely to please the general reader, but there is
sufficient originality of thought and quaintness of
expression met with in its pages to redeem it from
the charge of being mediocre.

A portion of the Tipperary estates of Mr. Clement
Sadleir was sold in tho Landed Estates Court, Dublin. on
Tuesday, before Judge Longfield. The rental mils 075
year, and it was bought in trust for Mr. Maleoluison, of
Waterford, for £B,OOO. The petitioner for sale WitS au
officer of the Londoii and County Bank. .

THIRD EDITION.

-------
SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—(Tnis EVENING).
•
The LORD CRANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
The Duke of NORFOLK presented a petition from
Horsham, complaining, of the decision of the Lords Justices,
and praying that Dissenters might be allowed to administer
trust funds of Grammar Schools.
VATE BUSINESS.
On the motion of Lord REDESDALE, the following bills
were read a second time :—Bagnelstown and Wexford
Railway, Belfast and County Down Railway, Bury St.
Edmunds Gas, Commercial Dock Acts Amendment, Cork and
Kinsale Junction Railway, Dublin and Drogheda Railway,
Dublin and Wicklow Railway, Gloucester and Cheltenham
Tramway ; Aberdare and Great Northern and Western (of
Ireland) Railway • Greenwich and South Eastern
Docks ; Holyrood and Bangor Railway ; Ipswich
(Borough) Fishing ; Liverpool New Exchange Build-
ings; Liverpool Sanitary; Madras Irrigation Canal
Company; Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland ;
(Cavan to Clones), Midland Great Western Railway of .
Ireland (Liffey Branch), National Fire and Life In-
surance Company of Scotland, Newcastle-under-Lyne
Burgesses Lands, Newry and Armagh Railway, Nor-
wich Corn Exchange, Norwich New Streets, People's
Provident Assurance Society, Pneumatic Post Company,
Queen Charlotte's Lying-in Hospital, Railwa ACearing
System, Scarborough Gas, Standard Life ssurance
Society, Thames Watermen and Lightermen, Tralee and
Killarney Railway, Trinity-House, Leith ; Ulster Rail-
way, and Victoria (London) Docks.
THE CLOCK TOWER.
Lord CAMPBELL complained of the tardy manner in
which the works connected with the Clock Tower were
prosecuted. He thought that such :a circumstance was
a standing disgrace to the nation. He gave
notice that on an early day he should put a question to her
Majesty's Government as to the time in which it was ex-
pected the works would be completed.
C OPYH OLD CONVEYANCE.

Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from
Mr. Fawcett respecting the present state of copy-
hold conveyance. The noble and learned lord said
the law on the subject was in a very defective
state, and entailed great loss and injury upon the owners
of land. He therefore thought it would be highly desir-
able to pass a law which would remedy the grievance so
generally complained of ; and with this view he hoped
shortly to introduce a measure with that object.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said it was impossible at
that moment to discuss the provisions of the noble and
learned lord's bill, as it was not before their lordships, but
the remarks that he had addressed to the house would re-
ceive the best consideration of the Government. He had
however alluded to the Govesnment bill, which, to a certain
extent, related to the subject, but he thought it an incon-
venient practice to speak on complicated legal questions
in an indefinite and vague manner.
EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND.

The Earl of AIRLIE asked her Majesty's Government
whether it was their intention during the present session
to introduce a measure for the improvement of the system
of education in Scotland. The noble lord addressed
a few observations to their lordships, in which he allluded t•
the state of the schools in Scotland, to the very low salaries
paid to schoolmasters, and to the cumbrous machinery
which had to be put in motion to obtain the dismissal of a
schoolmaster who had shown himself incapable to properly
discharge his duties.
Thho Earl of DERBY said it was desirable that the
salaries of schoolmasters should be increased, but whenever
the sum was introduced there was so much difference of
opinion that up to the present time the point remained
unsettled. He could not at the present time say the Go-
vernment were prepared to introduce a bill on the subject,
although he should be much pleased if a moderate mea-
sure could be framed. He could only say that his learned
friend the Lord Advocate was to communicate with the
heritors, and if he should be enabled to bring
forward a bill it would afford him much
pleasure. At the present moment the only answer he could
give the noble earl was, that Government would give the
subject their most earnest attention. •
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(Tms DAY).
The SPE.A.KEIL took the chair at four o'clock.

NEW MEMBER.
Mr. WHITESIDE took the oaths and his scat for tho Uni
versity of Dublin.

PETITIONS.
Several petitions were presented praying for the repeal of
the duty on paper; that persons employed in the suburban
and provincial districts should be placed on the same footing
with reference to superannuation as the employees in the
General Post-office in the metropolis ; for the admission of
Dissenters to the trusteeship of Grammar Schools and
other foundations; and in favour of Parliamentary Refon