The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-07 00:00:00

CHEAP PUBLICATIONS.

CRICHTON. 1 Vol. By W. Harrison Ainsworth.
fu due succession another volume of Mr. Ains-
worth's popular romances has appeared—like its pre-
docessors, " Crichton" being characterized by remark-
able compactness, and a cheapness quite as extraor-
dinary. The next volume promises, however, to be
yet more singular for its cheapness, comprising as it
will the whole of the novel of the " Miser's Daugh-
ter," embellished with an engraving from Daniel
Maclise's celebrated portrait of Harrison Ainsworth.
The circulation of this, we doubt not, will be com-
mensurate with the amount of enterprise evinced in
its publication. But turning again to the book now
under consideration, we find ourselves precluded from
any detailed criticism on " Crichtor," frorn the circurh-
stance ( f our repeated r( ferences made to it, from
month to month, on the occasion of its late repub-
lication in the pages of Ainsworth's Magazine—
that reprint having on its completion, more-
over, been again collected together in a substan-
tive form, il'ustrated profusely by the pencil
of " Phiz." Besides possessing many other attrac-
tions, the story of " Crichton" cannot fail to enthrall
the reader's attention throughout his description of the
career of the admirable Scott, and beyond that, the
fascinaing prose of our author being prodigally
sprinkled with his musical, and in their way, icitni-
table lyrics. From these, bad we space, we might
cull many in testimony of the truth of our pane-
gyric; but as it is we are compelled to content our-
selves with briefly but earnestly commending this
charming volume alike to the lovers of lyrical poetry
and of genuine romance. '

SLATERS' SHILLING SERIES.
Among the most recent additions to this cheer,
and therefore, most accessible library, we have
especially to direct attention to the reprint
of some of the latter essays of Emerson, and some of
the poems of Longfellow. One of these volumes of
the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson comprises his
celebrated essay on Nature, followed by lectures on
the Times and on War. Another volume comprises
his eight essays beginning with the "Poet" and
ending with the "Realist." The reprint of the ear-
lier poems of Henry Wardsworth Long fellow consists,
as might be anticipated by those acquainted with the
progress of his poetic genuis towards its develop-
ment, a his " Voices of the Night," Lis juvenile
verses, and his translations. Both these and the
essays already referred to, by Emerson, only require
from us, we might even say only admit from u', a
simple announcement. Their large and lasting popu-
larity renders criticism almost superfluous. Besides
the books already particularised, there has also re-
cently appeared, in the same series of volumes, one
containing certain ingenious "Thoughts on the
Poets," the said thoughts being penned by the author
of "The Characteristics of Genuis," Henry Tucker-
man. The mere title of the volume ensures its cir-
culation.

LITERATURE.
SKETCHES OF NAVAL AND MILITARY
ADVENTURE. By One in the Service.
It does not often fall to our lot to meet with a book
the first impression of which is so favourable as that
which bears the above title, and so likely to repay the
reader for the very little trouble requisite in order to
make himself acquainted with its contents, by an
amount of satisfaction and pleasure at variance only
withits modest size, and the extent of amusement
and occasional positive information it contains ; only
one volume, of some 300 pages or so, some of which
are devoted to very honourable and praiseworthy
purposes, no doubt, but forming no part of the
" Sketches." Yet, we must admit, that to some of
these very pages the author is indebted for a certain
portion of that good opinion which we would gladly
impart to others ; so much so, that we will plead
guilty to the foible, or fault, or merely to the fact,
that despite the stern propensity of our nature, con-
trary to the laws of sound criticism, and in opposi-
tion to the dictates of experience, we suffered
ourselves to be rather more favourably impressed
than is our wont, with the book, as a mere
book, with its very preface, with its un-
pretending inscription to "Friends," under circum-
stances of which the record, however brief, is
an honour to the feelings of the writer, with its de-
dication, so unassuming yet so cordial to his "Males,"
and with its introduction, simple, natural, yet
poetic, or rather poetic because it is simple and
natural, and we felt ourselves impelled to like a book
ushered in under such auspices. We need, how-
ever, scarcely add that we assumed our task with a
proper determination to do justice to our subject, and
right pleased we are to say that our feelings will not
have to suffer from our sense of justice; nay, more,
we like our justice the better for being in harmony
with our feelings. There is about the first, or rcndi-
eal part of the work before u', an air of earnestness
and simplicity, which, while it seems to reveal a first
attempt at authorship, pleases us the more on that
account, and we deem it no disparagement to the
abilities of our unknown friend, to say that if his
style is not always equal to itself, it often exhibits traits
of genuine pathos, and rises to positive descriptive elo-
quence, as in the narrative of a truly stirring in-
cident, at page 69. Of the tale which immediately
follows we scarcely know what to say, not having
made up our mind whether its very moral termina-
tion does or does not destroy its pathetic character—
let the reader decide. Nor are we quite disposed to
agree with our author upon two points ; first, we
doubt whether having introduced in his pages so
eminent a personage as Napoleon, he should have dis-
missed the ALIGIITY FALLEN with so slight a notice;
secondly, we are not quite certain that the Latin in-
terpretations in the first royage, however humorous,
will be deemed either very classical, or in keeping
with the characters introduced. Pass we on to the
second, or military part of the " Sketches." Here we
must, at the risk of incurring the blame which at-
taches to a twice-told-tale (not even the rhyming
power of our friend Jack Pool, in the first voyage,
would be required to name the consequence), say
that we greatly commend the author's taste in pre-
facing his subjects, and as a match for his beautiful
introduction in the first part, we have now an equally
beautiful song. So then we have another touch cf
the sea, and we reach Calcutta! Well, we must
admit we never before had the capital of India so
completely before us, and our author has done us an
essential service, by removing for ever from our
mind, so vividly does he pourtray the peculiarities of
that city, the wish of journeying so fir, in search of
the scene he depicts, save on one condition,
that we are sent there to assume some
cidedly lucrative (of course honourable) civil
post—but this is our concern, not his. We
are not quite disposed to agree with the wish
expressed by him, page 133, and pro bona publico,
are content to have, instead of a bona fide picture, the
following description of a preparation for a march—
"l have often wished I were a skilful painter, that I
might depict the breaking up of a camp in the morning,
preparatory to the march. Such a picture would require
a master's hand, and would be worthy of it. Let me
pourtray with the pen what I cannot with the pencil.
The camp stands in a grove of tamarind trees. It is three
o'clock, and the sky is quite dark. No one is stirring,
save the sentries, who aro to be seen pacing to and fro
beside their watchfires, placed at short distances all round
the camp. Suddenly the tap of a drum is heard, fel-
lowed by a regular beat up,' and the sound of a bugle.
In a moment all is life and action. The soldiers, who
just now seemed to be wrapt in sleep, are hurrying out
with their arms, piling them together, and while some
pack their beds on the baggage carts, others are loosen-
ing the ropes of the tents, and pulling them down. The
elepbauts approach from their station in the rear, pour-
ing forth a merry scream, and the camel-driver leads
forward his nawilling beasts. Camp followers are run-
ning to and fro, and officers, halt asleep and half awake,
are sitting outside their tents drinking huge cups of
coffee, and smoking Manilla cheroots. Now look again!
The elephants bend at a word to receive the loads which
the soldiers hoist on their backs, and now the latfer,
hastening to collect the straw they have laid on during
the night, and the loose wood of the forest, make up
blazing fires, and circle round them. The growling and
groaning of the surly camel is heard, as his master forces
him downon his knees, and slips a rope round his forelegs
and neck, which keeps bins prostrate while being loaded.
Dogs are seen running about, barking, howling, and
seeking their owners; grooms are getting their horses
ready for use; bearers are taking the lathers, palanquins
to their tent doors; and the. guides are lighting their
torches. All are seen in full relief against the huge and
numerous fires, around which the soldiers stand chatter-
ing and warming themselves, and which illunaiiate the
gros e, presenting to the eye a rich contrast between the
sombre hue of the trees and their foliage, and the red
coats and bright arms of the troops. And now the bugle
again sound*, the soldiers slip on their knapsacks, catch
up their arms, and hurry off to the parade; the officers
buckle on their swords and march down to the place of
assemblage; the names are called over; the regiment
forms up; the elephants, camels, and baggage carts fall
in behind it; tLe word `March!' is given, the band
sinks up a lively tune, and all, with the exception of the
rear guard, move off. In a few minutes these, too, fol-
low, and now the scene which was just before so lull of
life and bustle and activity, is solitary and silt nt, and
but for the }et smoking embers here and tt e e seen, it
might be supposed had never been the site of a camp.' "
The following graphic narrative of the pursuit after,
and death of, a rebellious elephant, will be read with
interest :

"Some three months passed away, during which no-
thing of importance occurred, and the monotony of can-
tonment duty had, with the daily increasing heat, become
more and more fatiguing and insipid. One morning,
however, just as we had finished breakfast-, intelligerce
was brought that an eb,phant belonging to the Honour-
able ComFany, which had for some time been confined
in irons as a punishment for ill conduct, had broken
loose, killed his keeper and one or two other peraimF,
and was now running wildly about the station, tearing
up and battering down all Oat opposed him. Orders