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

LITERA T URE.

MURRAY'S EDITIONS FOR THE PEOPLE.
Lord Byron's Poetical Works.
Boswell's Life of Johnson.
Murray, Albemarle•street.
The works before us supply a want in English
serial literature. With all the myriads of popular
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-
right-held 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. Itisillustrated with several
engravings, and • will be _completed in nine parts.
The first contains Childe Harold and The Giaour,
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 volunie. 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,
siAmmercifully. satirised by Lord Macaulay, which
is now publishing, and Mr. Murray- introduces a
rerutation of many of the charges brought against
it in- the criticism. It is of the same size as Byron'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 4 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 in 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 in
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 au 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 of
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
care for the morrow to damp his energy, or depress
his spirits, had indulged in all the dreams 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 extrc me and especially included women
in his sweeping censure. Grey took a more com-
mon-sense view of life and persons. In vain
did he endeavour to impress his convictions on the
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 misogynist;and
Grey styled himself an anthropologist. It is misogynist,
necessary to say that the sworn enemy to the female
race soon became a decided lover, and the prophe-
cies of his sober friend, that in a year from 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 me 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 sing&
abode, he would console himself by these thoughTf
—" Courage ! this mean chamber receives noble-
guests, and the spirits at least, dessecated from.
fleshly stain, of the best and wisest of earth, visit
in love. God has not shut out poverty from the
divine realms of literature, and thoughts, in which
we often entertain angels unawares, can live in an
atmosphere redolent with no earthly
splendours.
There is considerable skill displayed In the descrip-
tion of " Mr. John Caractacus Smythe de Smith°
Smith." He was an essentially coarse and vulgar
man, who had become rich, and endeavoured to be
.44ware informed that " his origin
distinguished e sokinsn obscurity and mystery
was veiled in t:Obi]
which enveloped that of the Nile." His wife was also
quite a character in her way, and the family of
daughters quite fu expectations;
the fulfilled their parents'
exception was "Lily,"
who afterwards
became "Mrs. Charlton," and was indeed a star in
In the various transactions
the domestic darkness.
of this worthy family we meet with satirical
sketches and personal traits that exhibit humorous
powers of description and enliven the work, which
otherwise might 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 the Landed Estates Court, Dublin, on
Tuesday, before Judge Longfield. The rental mas £375 a
year, and it was bought in trust for Mr. Malcohnson, of
Waterford, for £B,OOO. The petitioner for sale was an
officer of the London and County Bank.

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