The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-09 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Adventures of a Cat. By Alfred Elwes, author of
"Adventures of a Bear," " Adventures of a
Dog," &c.. With eight illustrations, by Harri-.
son Weir. Adey and Co., Henrietta-street.
Cats and kittens are among the household idols
of childhood. Who of our philosophers, state--
MOD, and financialists has not in his time indulged.
in luggings, hugginga, and tuggings of some feline
memier cf the world's family ? Have not the
greatest and wisest of us lavished admiration and
devotion on some tabby or tortoiseshell mamma
and her beautiful offspring, with all possible theo-
retical kindness, but, we fear, too frequently, with
considerable practical cruelty ? However, it is an
established fact that we all have had a natural
yearning to kittens, puppies, hard-bake, and but-
tercups and daisies; and we believe there are many
among us who retain enough of childhood's fresh-
ness and folly in their hearts to enable them to
peruse this book with a smile of pleaurable radia-
tion and a palpable degree of sympathetic interest.
The story is well concocted, being rather above the.
usual orthr of juvenile volumes, buti perfectly
within the comprehension of any tolerably acute
Miss Polly or Mater Freddy. The numerous
illustrations, by Harrison Weir, are fraught with
expression and fun. The assistance of this talented
artist is alone enough to sell a much higher priced
and less amusing production than "The Life of a
Cat;" and we predict a large appreciating circle
of admirers at the shrine of such a learned and en-
tertaining Grimalkin.

Systematic Philosophy, and New Theories of Light
and Heat. By George Fellows Harrington.
Smith, Elder, and Co., Cornbill.
- -

The author of this ,attempts to perfectly recon-
cile and elucidate all practical and developed
sciences and natural existences, with Scriptural
assertion and revelation—a rather delicate and
difficult tisk, which we are neither ashamed nor
afraid to confess is so far beyond the power of our
blindly reverential brains that we decline even
offering an opinion on its merits ; saving that we
think the abstruse ratiocinations of its tendency to
desire to explain the mighty mysteries of creation
in their infinite and sublime origin, will limit its
circulation to comparatively few readers.
Kansas. By T. H. Gladstone. Routledge.

This little volume is founded on a series of let-
ters on the state of Kansas, which appeared in the
Times newspaper during the course of last year.
They have been revised and rendered more com-
plete, and are now published, iu the hope of giving
a faithful picture of the political. strife and border
warfare, of which Kansas has been lately the
scene. The author has wisely avoided discus-
sions on the vexed questions of the district,
having only incidentally referred to the subject
of slavery, nor• has he advocated any of the
Free State party measures, though be appears
to consider them favourably. Having desired to
confine himself chiefly to what he saw and verified
personally, he has only noticed cursorily the events
that have occurred since his departure. A few
concluding chapters on the origin of the troubles
in Kansaewill be of service toithose unacquainted
with the rise and progress of the contest.

Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches, with Eluci-
dations. By Thomas Carlyle. Vol. 111. Chap-
man and Ha'l.

The third volume of this work has now been
issued in the new edition of Mr. Carlyle's works,
publishing. Two of his most remarkable works
are therefore completed—" The, Frmch Revolu-
tion" and " Oliver Cromwell." His great ad-
miration for the Protector is well known ; but
however much his reader may differ from his opi-
nions of the English Dictator, it cannot be denied
that the present work is most valuable to the his-
torical student, as the letters, speeches, &c., are
given to speak for themselves, and the reader is
able to draw his own inferences. The series is
issued monthly, and will include the whole of Mr.
Carlyle's works.

7hv Woodman. By G. P. R. James. Hodgson.
The Parlour Library is one of the best of the
cheap series. It consikts chiefly of reprints of
standard works, and, as these are far superior to
translations from the French and original works of
an indifferent character, those who wish to pur-
chase cheap books of &ton should avail them-
selves of it. " The Woodman," by G. P. R.
James, is the last issued. Those who pre-
fer the foreign school of literature will
find some books from the French among the series,
but it is to be regretted that so many of these are
now in circulation, as they form anything but a
desirable library for those of limited experience.

The Heroes of Asgard and the Giants of Jotnheim.
By the author of " Mia and Charlie," and her
sister. Bogue.

This is a pleasing and instructive little book for
young folks. hi—ai;iniple manner a very good ac-
count is given of the early mythology of the Druids.
This author has previously published some excel-
lent works for the young, and therefore many will
regard with satisfaction an addition to the, list, in
the shape of one containing a description

" Of forests an& eochaotn3eots drear,
Where more is meant than meets the ear."

Jack Hinton the Guardsman. By Charles Lever.
Chapnian and Hall.

Another work of this brilliant author has just
appeared in the cheap series, and it is one which is
generally a favourite among his admirers. The
illustrations are some of the happiest of its clever
illustrator's, and how successful H. K. Browne is
sometimes every reader of the serial stories of the
day must know. The edition is offered at a mode-
rate price with good typo and binding, and is in
every way suitable for a library.

DOM Viquette. By H. Jameson. Effingham Wilson.
This is a Spanish story, full of romantic adven-
ture, and not devoid of interest. It does not dis-
play any great ability, but may serve to entertain
an idle hour for those who follow its hero's Quixotic
fortunes.

Naval and !Unitary inteingence.

APPOINTMENTS.

Surgeon.—Archibald Elliott, M.D. (1851), to
the Victory.
Paymaster's Assistant.—Alfred Whitlin (1855),
to the Centurion.
Clerk's Assistant—George B. Westcott, to the
Calcutta.