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

LITERATURE.

Dark and Fair. By Sir Charles Rockingham,
author of "Rockin4ham," " Electra," (tic. 3
Vols. Hurst and Blackett
This work is likely to he one of the most success
ful of the season, tt is bri liant and sparkling in its
style, amusing and entertaining in its story, and
posse,s,.s pre eminently that kn,wledge of the
world which imparts to the descriptions of person;,
and the details of thing,, a life-like impress, and a
red appearance, "a local habitation and a naine,"
The scene of aiftion is laid in one place, Rocking
ham Hall, and the dramatis persona are not very
nutnerou4, yet the interest never flags, the
attention does not weary, and the excitement is

sustained by the variety of the characters presented
to notice, and the skill with which it is depicted.
Sir aiarles himself does not do so much, as be is
made to be the excuse for the actions of others.
His home is the refuge for the distress d suff,,rer
trom worldly mischances, :Ind at the same time, the
fortress to which the enemy lays siege. What
none of the party could or would have done at
home, they contrived to rendzr perfectly fe isible
in the mansion of the bachelor, as they styled the
owner of Rockinghatn. Although a pleAsing and
engaging maiden, it is most probable that few
readers will prefer Lavinia to her cousin Camillat
than whom a more charming representation is

seldom seen in the pages of fiction. It is
true that some might hold the objection of her
being too unguarded in her ways and manners,
but those were peculiarities that time would ine-
vitably soften down, while the genuine good-na-
ture, the ready wit, the lively t‘tcmper, and tie
high spirit, invested her being with a charm and a
grace, that would remain as a lasting monument,
when the smiles of youth and the gliiries of beauty
should have vanished as a dream. There is some

thing fresh in her whole composition, some genial
influence pervades her actions, and the reader,
delighted, pauses to contemplate her, as the tra-
veller Might tarry to inhale the breezes of a spring
morning, or dwell upon the verdure of a sunl,t
landscape. Lavinia Dieaway is of a totally diffe-
rent cast, yet she is animated by her lively friend
into a fair picture of social existence, when left to
her own desires and her mother's management.—
she becomes sulky, downcast, and irritable, by
turns. Lady Edward Dieaway is a., apt illustra-
tion of a. fine lady mother, a worldly parent, who
has one fixed idea uppermost in her mind, above
or beyond which she wilt not look. When people
have once sacrificed sense to speciousne-s, and rea-
son to-folly, there is no mistake too great for them
to commit. Hence, Lady Edward brought a
de'ermined dauguter to a dreary country house to
divert her mind from London pities, and to
drive away au unwelcome intruder on her peace,
she kept up a series of sallies more or less
bitter, devised at every possible opportunity, as
might be expected " Vinny," as she was called, be-
came at first angry and at last depressed. This
latter phase was too much for the well-meaning
though perplexed host to endure, and he made
private arraTzements for procuring the society of
at lessi one friend for the deserted, as it often hap-
pens, more resulted from this concession than was
at first intended. Lady Camilla came as reqnes• ed,
but brought with her the redoub,able Lord Walter
Dieaway, the fatal cousin to avoid whom the politic
Lady Edward, and the demure Lavinia had quitted
the London season in its zenith, for the rural retreat
of neglected Rockingham. Here was a catastrophe,
the distracted mother knew too will that to meet
with Lady Camilla and to part with her, were two
very different t 'lugs, when she was an ally she was
a mighty one, all these untoward events conspired
to make her really ill, her threatened departure
was inevitably postponed, and an opportunity that
London formalities could never have presem.ed9
was afforded to the lovers by the unrestrained •
intercourse of a country life. This pissage is
amusing with the diversified tampers to study, Ca-
milla's vivacity, Lavinia's quiet fun, Lord
Walter's imperious self-complaeency and noncha-
lence, and the bewildered Sir Charles' successive
attempts to play the partof mentor, host and mutual
friend. In vain he tried to be indifferent, and no t
interfere, he was always getting into difficulties
and being compromised. This calm was rudely
broken in upon, by a discovery of Camilla's of
Walter's faithlessness. The mortified Lavinia was
implacably °Wendel, and in the hour of her despair
Lady Edward rejoiced. In order to remove the
now obnoxious Walter from the some, Cam.lla had
to resort to endless strategerns, wheh fin .lly sue
ceeded, but • involved, her own departure from her
friend as well as that of her enemy. A new period
then ensued; at first Lavinia and her mother were
to return to London, but the health of rue former
again gave way, and she was confined to her own
apartments for some time. During th's interval
Sir Charles, and his beautiful sol,-remaining guest,
had ample opportunities of reflection. Vinny de-
pressed by her disappoinment, was ready to take a
calmer view of life than in her first romantic days
of girlish enthusiasm, while the master of Rock-
ingham, at last roused from his almost lethagic
state, began to think the world net quite the desert
he had imagined, or, at lease, if it were, with such
bi ight beings as those who had lately croesed.his path,
its wilderness might blossom like the rose. Scarcely
had these two arranged an agreeable routine of
study and recreation, when an event they had bten
desiring came to pass, and Lady Camilla returned.
Her father had gone abroad, and she hastene I away,
it did not seem very pleasant news to the retired
inmates, though they strove to give her a cheerful
welcome. Had they been gifie f with a prophetic
vision, however, they could not have felt otherwise,
for the arrival of the charming Camilla proved the
forerunner of endless mishaps and misunders'aud-
ings. The intercourse between the fair cousins,
that had always bean of unbroken harmony, was
jarred and jangled like the melody of a sweet instru-
ment struck out of tune. To complete the compli-
cation, Lord Walter returned ; hoping time had
effected great things in his favour, but he was mis-
taken, Lavinia Dieawaywas no fickle lady, she could
not frown one day and smile the next, once de-
ceived she male no second trial. After an exciting
epoch of smiles and tears, clouds and sunshine,
some stormy scene gives rice to a general
eclaircissemeut which commences by the en-
gagement of Sir Charles arid Vinny, and is
concluded by the mole surprising fact of Lord
Walter and Lady . Camilla following their
example. It is to be questioned if these meta-
morphoses were not r ational ones, as Lavinia could
never have rested satirefied, with one so volatile as
her early choice, while with an energetic spirit, like
Camilla's, Lord Walter would to urged on, and
incited to better things:. Among the minor acces-
sions to the story may be mentioned the band of
servitors, who professed to study their master's in-
terest, but meanwhile only regarded their own'. It
is ludicrous to mark their indignation, and resent-
ment, at the innovation of their tenement, by the
arrival of the a isitors. It will be. apparent from
the above resume of events that this novel presents
many distinctive features of interest. It will repay
perusal, if only, from its 'lowing style, and ease of
construction, there is notking overstrained, or made
up in its composition. It introduces us to the
highest circles, but its to no is free from conven-
tional restraint, and its ma. riner devoid of artificial
guise. If less seriking a ,nd elaborate than its
brilliant predecessors, by
Fitt 3 vigour, and vivacity,
its taste and judgment, it
,possesses its own pecn-
liar attractions, while with em it exhibits a degree
of excellence, that denotes :the arrangement .of a
1 master hand. .

Modern English Literature : zs Blemishes and
Defects. By Henry Breen, Msg., F.S.A. Long-

man and Co.
A portion of a paragraph from. Mr. Breen's Pre-
face will convey the readiest idea of the intention
of his publication :
"No one is surprised to hear t hat ungrammatical
forms of speech are to be met with at every page, in that
species of literary production to which we apply the
fugitive.' I't,•was always so,
terms light,' current,'
and will continue so to the end of time It is so in the
same department of literature in other coun'ries, and
there is no reason why ours should 1 e an Exception to
the common lot. But that the grog meet soleciErns and

Nlr. Breen has pointed ont and corr-cted these
solecisms and I.lundeis. The various inaccuracies
of dicton and compo4ition, the faults of mannerism,
the qualities of critici,m, the varieties of plagiarism,
and the whole catalogue of literary sins and offences,
too common among even our finest modern classics,
are placed before us in scholarly style and genial
spirit, thesym[athy of which at once annihilates
all notion of petty carping or impertinent and in-
competent meddling. By perusing this Yolutn9 we
may learn much to enable use-to "speak and write
the langulge Nun propriety and elegance,"
as Lindley Murray has :t; and t Omit au hors
it will constitute an invaluable mm ntor, whereby
they may acqu re perspicuity, freedom, and vigour,
in lien cf obicurity, complexity, and weakness.
We have rarely met with a volume so thoroughly
fulfilling the purpose which it undertakes ; and
English students will do well to make their bow of
gracious thanks to Mr. Breen, and purchase his
useful work immediately.

the (DOM, palpable blinders shoal be of frtqu,nt occur- p—nrstiPcl de-el.:es at enti. n. A paper on " The
ren3e in those who claim t' occupy the highest place in gluts (4' Londirn," carries us la:.k dine of
the republic of letters, is what few may be prepared to thi• Restoratioa. Bes.des t Topics, there are
ainat."
on " Ancient In I ia, " a' d " Tire Memoirs
of Saint. Simon," for tie historical reader ; on.
" The Phasic of Force," fir tnose devote,' to ab-
struse science ; and a paper on " Foreign Policy,"
for those interested.in the politics of the day.

THE NEW UIVDER-SECRETARY FOR THS

WAR DEPARTMENT.

In selecting Sir Jolla Ramsden as Under-Secre-
tary of state for the War apertment, Lord Pan-
more ha e all things considered, made-a good choice
of a repr sentative in tie Holt, eof Comm ins. In
the latt ParLa nt Sir John was one of tie flw
young English members who acleeeeit anythinglike
a Pa•liaiee, tiry success, and exhib ted a certain.
.cap ,city fer official life. The occasion on which he
first di-tinguisited himseif in the House was one,
too, which at once placed him among ;the more
advanced Liberals—the Ballot. Nur are there
wanting other circumstances connected with Sir
John Ramsdeu's personal position in life
indicate the possession of practically lib-ral views.
Though the possessor of a property in Huddersfield
soextensive that it iney be ,upposed to convey with
it very considerable influence in that im-
portant borough, Sir John .Ramsden commenced
his political career by the c•edi table re-olutiou, not
only of never seeking to avail himself of teat influ-
ence, but of never permi.ting it to be u•ed for the
advantage or to ihe disadvantage of any candidate
for the, representation of Huddersfield. We do net
of course assert that had Sir J. Ramsden pursued
an opposite course, his influence could have con-
trolled the choice of so important a town. But
thi-re are perhaps few persous in his situation who
would have resisted the temptation te assist politi-
cal friends to the utmost extent of their power.
Sir John Ramsden, by resolutely abstaining from
any Ruch attempt, has honourably distinguished
himself from that large class of proprietors who so
misunderstand the attributes and duties of pro-
Petty as to think that it entitles them either to in-
fluence or dictate the political opinions of those who
hold under teem. In seleeting Sir al elm Ramsden,
Lord Panmure at least has not gone into the ranks
of doubtful and hesitating L beral.stn. On the con-
trary, he has made choice of a man as his Under-
Secretary whose opinions on some*subjects are even
more advanced than his own. On the Ballot, for
instance, the War Minister and his sueordinate do
net, we regret to say, agree-; and as on that
subject Sir John Ramsden has avowed such
stiong convictions out of office, he must have en-
tered the War Depattweut, not only without any
abandonment of them, but with a full *purpose of
giving them effic encv by his subsesequent votes. At
all events, it is something to find that there is one
Minister in the Cabinet not afraid of liberality in
his sulioid in tees, and who seeks for assistance from
and co-opeiation with the rising blood of his party.
As far as we are aware, the only possible objet ion-
to the appointment is hat Sir John eatnsden as
yet knows nothing of the War-office, and that
our Military Establishments, both in their totality.
and their details, must form a vary important sub-
ject of the deliberations of the House of Commons
this Session. This, however, is an object-on that
would equally apply to almost every other pos-
sible appointment. Previousexperienceand depart-
mental knowledge cannot be secured in new Under-
Secretaries under a pariatnentaty system. All
that can be reasonably required is the indication of
capacity, and the promise of success. It is, more-
over, understood that Lord Palmerston will him-
self move and detend the Army Estimates; and
that being the case, the question of the extent of
our Military Establishments in a time of European
Peace may be expected to receive even more seri-
ous attention than had those Estimates been mov-
ed by an Under-Secretary. The question has at e-
sent risen to one of the very highest class of poli-
tical subjects, and eminently demands discussion by
the ablest financial state-men in the House of
Commons. It involves considerations Of future
finance, of foreign and colonial policy, of profes-
sional reform and improvement, as well as of im-
peiial power and prestige. These are points on
which it is mo-t important we should have the full
and matured views of the really responsible Mini-
sters of the Crewn speaking for the Cabinet, and
not the mere second-hand infermation of an Un-
der-Secretary, however intelligent and able. Here-
after there will be °ppm tunities for Sir John Rams-
den. Just now we confe,s to a satisfaction that the
exigencies of the War-office are likely to give Par-
liament the full benefit of the Premier's experience
as to the extent to which, and the system under
which, the Bri ish Army has to be mainisined.
Mr. Frederick Peel having resigned the Under-
Secretaryship of the War Department, Ministerial
consistency reqiiires that Mr. John Ball should
also retire from the Colonialeuffice. That Mr. Ball
either has already resigned, or will do so, we enter-
tain no doubt. In considering the question of his
successor it ought to suggest A.-elf to Lord Pal-
merston that as Mr. Labouchere, the Secretary of
State, is in the House of Commons, where, of
course, he transacts all the colonial business that
can arise in that assembly, there can be no neces-
sity that his Under-Secretary should also be a
member of that House. Al we have before re-
marked, of late years the number of Government
officials in the Commons has been considerably in-
creased by the creation of new offices, and every
opportunity ought to be taken, consistently with
public inn rests, to diminish the number. At pre-
sent the Colonial-office has no representative in the
House of Lords. Neither is there any Cabinet
Minister in that Assembly who has given much
a‘timtion to colonial questions. Surly, then, it
w,,uld be far more useful i 9 every respect to appoint
some yovng Liberal Peerlean fiad a successor for
Mr. Ball in the House Of Comm, eras.—Daily NUN.