The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-16 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Woman's Kingdom. By the author of "J°l3/1
Halifax." Three Vols. Hurst and Blackett.

This work should have been dedicated to 1Ir;
John Stuart Mill and his colleagues and disciples
The advocates for the rights of women who 51
now expending so much superfluous zeal, and
wasting so much unnecessary eloquence in an en'
deavour to obtain for their fair countrywomen
political rights and privileges to which they hale
rarely aspired, will do well to learn from one who
is eminently qualified to be the spokeswoman of her
sex, what is the real ambition of an English women
and what is the kingdom over which she seeks to rule.
In the stories of two sisters, Edna and Letty Ken'
derdine, we have a picture of life and its lesson!'
such as the author of " John Halifax" 13
so well skilled to portray. In the earlier
chapters of the tale we find the two sisters taking 5
little respite from the laborious occupation of
school-keeping, and seeking health by the sea
shore. Letty is somewhat of an invalid, and 15
tenderly nursed by Edna, who takes pleasure in
sacrificing herself to her spoiled, capricious sister.
Letty is a beauty, and is accustomed to continual
admiration. Dr. William Stedman, a poor bard
working physician struggling for practice and post:
tion, has come to the same retreat with his invalid
artist brother Julius. The two brothers and the
two sisters meet, but we shall not pursue the detail°
of the story, which is worked out in the natural'
attractive manner with which the readers of "J°ll3
Halifax" are familiar. The vain and frivolous
Letty abandoning the life of happiness With°
her reach, !gratifies her ambition at the ex"
pease of her heart, or rather of the hearts of those
who love her, and finds herself a dethroned Queer'
and the kingdom, over which she might have
reigned in triumph, a desolate ruin. It is other-
wise with the humble-minded, true-hearted Dins*
Years elapse, and cruel vicissitudes occur, but We
find Edna radiant in happiness in the home of her
choice, with sons " rising up to call her blessed,
her husband also praising her." The character n.
Julius Stedman is somewhat extravagant, but hl5
provocation is certainly great. The handsome, Pas'
sionate artist, and the stout and stately 's'r.
Vanderdecken present as great a contrast as enan
well be imagined. A great variety of persons do
not figure in this tale—the interest is concentrated
upon the few principal characters, and they are vividlyportrayed. The beautiful Letty and the h0131%7
Edna, the practical doctor, and the excitable artist'
present a group of sufficient attraction, and the
joys and sorrows of their chequered lives, and the
,
delineation of their varied characters, are full 01'
interest. The especial attraction of the work, lovr..
ever, is the vivid example which it affords us of. the
value of a happy home—the Woman's Kingdom
" There woman reigns—the mother, daughter, wife
Strews with fresh flowers the narrow way of life.
In the clear heaven of her delightful eye
An angel guard of loves and graces lie,
Around her knees domestic duties meet,
And fireside pleasures gambol at her feet."

The Jurisdiction and Practice of the High Court of
Admiralty. By R. G. Williams and Gainsfor
Bruce, of the Middle Temple, Barristers-at-
Law. One Vol., pp. 578. William Maxwell ao

Son.

The business of the High Court of Admiralty
having largely increased since the passing of til°
Act extending its jurisdiction, and taking away the
exclusive privileges of the advocates and proctors,
the want of some book especially treating of the jarls.
diction and practice of that court has been generally
recognised by the profession. The authors of this
present work have endeavoured to supply that des
ciency, and, to judge from its very compreheaoBo
character, they appear to have carried out their task' 1
the most complete and satisfactory manner possib,lee:
Ten chapters are devoted to an explanation of
of
jurisdiction jurisdiction of the Court, and sixteen to a reviewj'a,
its practice, which include a sketch of the procee
ings on appeal to the Privy Council, and nutneros,;
forms of pleadings and bills of costs. The appetuile,
is very elaborate, and stored with facts and fleet°
dents which are likely to prove invaluable alike er
the legal student and to the habitual practito
in the High Court of Admiralty.

The Parana, with incidents of the Paraguayan iTia,,t
and South American Recollections, from 1861 '-
1868. By Thomas J. Hutchinson, H.B.M. c°
sul for Rosario. One Vol., pp. 426. Edsviir
Stanford.
Regarding this as an age in which emigration 11::
become an European institution, and believing tba
countries " most favourable for the Hegira t° he
pre-eminently deserving of public attention," tga",
author of this volume, well qualified from his °7lO
cial position for the task, has here presented the
intending emigrant with a faithful portral.
ture of the Argentine and Uruguayan Repubaes
these countries being remarkable for their geegr,so
phical position, the mildness of the climate, tvc
purity of the soil, and the navigable character
rivers. "The only immigrants needed out bere'd
he observes, " however, are men of capital 5134
labourers hands that are expert with
shovel, the hoe, and the -plough. The chief 'l,,
ticulties for the English immigrant are thre'e,•
Spanish being the language of the ceillltri;i;
the Governments not being founded on a stoo
basis; and the want of protection from any of
Governments. Notwithstanding these diffiell'ut"r'
and they are certainly not trifling ones ! the sunhat
" v
from his own experience of facts, promises 3g
men with stout hearts and strong hands, keeePlibe
themselves clear of the political squabbles 0' to
peoples, can get ou in the River Plate territorie*oo
a position of independence, as well as in atlY 130,
State in the world." All who may feel courage
quisite for the adventure, and the yet larger n Xlll
ber who may prefer to stay at home at ease' bio
find in this volume a most interesting and grail ,
account of these romantic regions, together ,ar,
glimpse of the horrors of the Paraguayan
this
The author assures us that he has written ne:th.
on this subject but what he knows to be the tr-pi.
Maps and illustrations of the scenery and is
tants increase the interest and value of his vOr

Routledge's Every Boy's Annual.
attar
" Every Boy's Annual" is, as usual, full of ra
of merriment and of interest. The principle,94,-he
is not much to our taste, being entitled To
Gaboon ; or, Adventures in Gorilla Land." Oa-
some the subject may have its attractions ; f°r, -sire
selves, we must confess that we have little ue gut
for a closer acquaintance with the hairy inhabitraie.4
of that debateable laud. Boy's Sports anal:l4%l.olf
of every kind find their plac3 in the 80Y5i,11.13- coo
together with puzzles sufficient to 1)3'1%1 to
that proverbal amount of information suPP°3-
belong to " every schoolboy."
,are.

Routledge's Christmas Annual. First-class
One Shilling. r, to
Routledge's Christmas book is certainly up to
time! On the title-page we have a glimpse the
first-class carriage, the various passengers beiiil37,,Di-
authors of the tales collected in the volume. '‘,l-„,no
liar faces will be recognised with a cordial we'c'tio
by many. The guard being appropriately ye-
Routledge, the editor. The stories are of the
3 of
rage excellence of works of this character. S°`
ter,
the pictures are of a highly sensational °1131.3,, e:c-
bpt they are enlivened by others of groteg(l;liog
travagance. This is as it should be, for thr
fivi are
tales of horror, and feats of frolic and
od°'
appropriate at the Chriotwal gre
equally