The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-30 00:00:00

REVOLT IN MADAGASCAR.

"The vows whi h we receive from Madagascar,"
says the Cerneen of the Mauritius: "is most im-
portant. A revolt had burst out in the province of
Ermine, and upwards of 4,000 insurgents had made
their appearance at Tananarivo blore the Queen
claim-ng protection against the acts of brutality of
her delegates in the province. But not only their
complaints were unattended to, but 1,800 were
arrested and thrown into confinement, to be put to
death on the Itst of June, at the f-te of The Bath,'
the greatest.of the Hova people." The accounts
received proceed to say
"It appears, however, that Prince Rikoute, on
learning this decision of the Queen, formally pro-
tested against so sanguinary an order, and affirmed
tliat the execution should not take place. He
aided that already to&much blood had been shed
by his mother's GlovernmPnt, and that it was 'his
rum intention fir the future to to 3 that a more
humane and more equitable system of administra-
ton should be acted on with respect to the Hova
people. This declaration, made publicly, in pre-
sence of the Queen, of her ministers, and of the
and grave events were expected,
whole court, had produced an immense sensation,
Go-
vernment ventured to proccel t ) the execution of
the prisoners. M. Lambert (he French agent)
to Ermine, followed by the precious
had quitted Tamatava on the 17th May.to proceed.
in ca,e the
be was charged to convey to the Queen and to.
aides-de-camp to meet him, objects which
Prince Bakoute. This latter had sent five of his
placed at his orders a nutnerons escort.. . It was
and the Queen had
supposed that he might reach Tananarwo in about
a dozen days, in time to be present at the grand
fetes of the Bath.'"
The presence in the waters of St. Louis of
.eight
vessels of war of the French division in the Chtnee
seas had produced at Tamatava a great sensation.

LITITuATURL'.

Lucian Playfair, By Thomas Mackern. 3 vols.

Snail and Elder.

This work is of a peculiar style, and deals with
many important questions of social life. Although
many may differ from the views expressed, they
are brought forward in such a fair and candid man-
ner that they merit attention and respect. The
story is very ingeniousiy arranged. It is romantic,
which contrasts curiously enough with the practical
cast of the reflections. The narrative is not very
connected in its several passages—many years are
passed over, and the scenes and persons vary ;
that discrepancy suits a work that has more fur its
oiject, to give utterance to opinions, than to be the
veh.cle of an atinusingkgend. A great deal of feel-
ing is displayed in tharAketches of human sorrow,
sin, and suffering, with which the book abounds.
The unhappy poacher, driven by famine to his first
misdemeanour, and then hunted like a beast of
prey, is naturally represented as sinking lower and
lower an the scale, till he consumma'es his misery,
and others cruelty, by suicide. The passage of the
pedlar is an exciting one, and a mournful interest is
attached to the tale told under the greenwood tree,
by the adventurer in some of life's most dreary
highways. One point especially referre tto in the
varied and complicated plot, is the intrigues of the
Jesuits. The wife of Luc an's uncle had escaped
from the power of the society, but was re-captured
by their arts, and for long weary years did she pine
away, at last her son (unknowing their relation-
ship) rescued her from a madhouse, conducted on
the old plan, determined to escape from its ho; rors,
he formed his plans and was able to serve his mo-
ther. The several scenes of misery which Sylvester
had passed through are graphically depic.ed, and
exhibit horrors of a sadder kind than actual want,
however distressing, or sickness however heavy.
The evi's here tre ited of refer to the gloomiest
epochs of existence, the interior of the gaol, the re-
Cc-S3CS of the madhouse—a darker night than that
of the grave enshrouds their chronicles. Clement
Maine is a worthy and upright character ; men
like him are shining lights in their generation, and
when called away, their memory remains bright
and lasting, as is forcibly delared by the writer in
telling of his last moments. The reader who de-
sires occupation for his mind, as well as entertain-
ment for his fancy, will not be disappointed in
" Lucian Play fair."

Leonora D'Orco. A:historical romance. By G.
P. R. James, author of "Darnley," " The
Gipsey," &c. 3 vols. Newby.
This indefatigable writer, who has contributed
so largely to the enterta'nment of r. aders of fiction,
has added another work to the list of his literary
labours, It is with pleasure that we find in this
novel a considerable improvement on the last, and
though not equalling some of his earlier achieve-
ments, it is superior to many of his later novel=.
He has selected tLe epoch of Charles the Eighth's
invasion of Naples, and mingles French and
Italian, the gay soldier and the cunning politician,
in continual variety. His
.heroine is an Italian
laly, the daughter of Ramiro D'Orco, an ambitious
and not very scrupulous Italian politician of that
day. His hero is Lorenzo Visconti, a des !endant
of the rulers of the Milanese, though at the epoch
of t'le story the Duchy had passel from their
hands. The love tale has all the proper ingredients
of romance, and its course is not at all a sm-oth
one, for though the prospects of the lovers
are at fir,t most auspicious, the chances
of war, and the treachery of a revengeful
Rabat), seporate them during years of sur•ow
and estrangement. This part of the work is told
with the skill of a practised novelist, and the talon !s
of the wiitcr as a historical romanc'st are well
known to his readers. Many of the names will be
familiar to the reader of history, Caesar Borgia,
Ludovic the Moor, the young Chevalier Bayard,
and many other actors in these stormy sxnes.
The history of the Italian States during the middle
ages furnish almost unlimited opportunities to the
romancist, in their perpetual strifes, rebellious
plots and factions, and the dark records of
treachery and violence which sullied the names of
the wisest statesmen and the bravest soldiers. Mr.
James knows well how to use such matsrials to
advantage, and has chosen a field well calculatl
to display his powers. Ilia last romance, it will he
remembered, was of the time of the American
war, but it is in the older days of history, in the
delineation of the intrigues or powerful courts and
the feats of pretax chevaliers that he is most suc-
cesF.fnl. We are glad to" find him producing a
work, which will not diminish his reputation.

A graduated course of French Studies.
Aigre de Charente. Longman.
M. de Charente is already known t 3 French
students by his educational works. He proves
himself a valuable assistant to those desirous of
becoming practically acquaintei with the French
language, not merely of a'taining a superficial
knowledge of its rules, but of acquiring a thorough
familiarity with its idioms and pecu'isrities. His
position as French master in the Royal Military
Aca-lerny has, doubtless, enabled him to discayrr
the difficulties met with by those who put their
knowledge of a foreign language to the test by u9n-
ver,ing with a native, and he has endeavoure! t
remove some of the obstacles. His work is d vided
into four parts ; the first treating of pronunciation
and accidenc3 ; the second comparing, the French
and English syntax ; the third pact being devoted
to Giallicistns and Anglicisms, and the last, written
in French, teaches the more elaborate portion of
the syntax. The three first pants be itit'nds to im-
part to the English student about the same amount
of grammatical kr,osledge acquired by a French
collegian at the age of sixteen, and the remaining
part to serve him as a grammar similar to that
which the same student would use in France. Per-
haps the most remaikable and commendable feature
of the work is the long treatise on Gallicisms; little
idioms, phrases and expressions . that can scarcely
be translated, but whicti give a national and cht-
racteriitic turn to the sentence. These often pre-
sent a succession of apparently hopeless difficulties
to the learner, who will find this part of the
present course of great assistance. W© are pro-
mised a book of exercises and a French reading
book by the author at a future period. He metits
encouragement from bothteacher3 and pupils by his
laborious undertakissg, which contains upwards of
5,000 examples, all of them entirely original.

By A.

.Reliques of Ancient English Poetry. By Thomas
Percy, Lord Bishop of Dromore. Edited by the
Rev. Robert Aris Wilmott. Routledge.
Percy's Reliques are too well known to need
criticism. They are the delight of the antiquarian,
and have a large claim on the gratitude of all
lovers of the old ballads for collecting and pre-
serving them. It is, therefore, with much pleasure
that we sea this volume added to Mr. Rouiledge's
cheap and compendious edition of the English
Poets ; setting these old friends within the reach
of all who are stirred by the martial music of
" Chevy Chase" and "The Battle of Otterbourne,"
or who can mourn over the pitiful tales of true
lovers, or who can delight in the tricks of Robin
Hood, or the more stately feats of King Arthur.
We must not omit to mention that the editor has
prefixed a memoir of Thomas Percy, and an essay
on the ancient minstrels, to the volume, and that
he has been careful to add to each ballad some
I account of its origin and preservation.

China. By Sir Oscar Oliphan'. J. Blackwood.
As China and the Chinese are dividing public
attention with Indian affairs, the pres=ent litt'e
work is very appropriate. It describes China of the
past and present, the old war and the new war,
the character and customs of the people, the laws,
the religion, the trade, the literature, the principal
products, the chief national works, and adds a chro-
nological account of the most remarkable events
which have occurred in Chinese history from the
earliest records to thepreseut day. When so much
information is offered in a concise form at a low
price there is little doubt that its circulation will
be extensive.

Proverbial and Moral Thoughts.
_ln a series of

Essays. By C. H. Hanger. T. Cornish.
This little volume contains much sense and good
advice, but it is conveyed in a somewhat eccentric
manner. The essays are written in a metre very
similar to that of. Evangeline, but it is scarcely
suited to the character of the work. They or
many valuable and elevating suggestions, which
may, perhaps, be more striking to some under their
present guise than in a simpler form. They show
reflection and observation, and may lay claim to
some degree of originality.

The Forfeit Hand. By T. Colley Grattan.
The Hussar. By the Rev. G. Gleig.
The Buccaneer, By Mrs. S. 0. Hall. Thomas

Hodgson, Paternoster-row.
' These three romances have recently appeared in
the Parlour Library, and maintain the character
of'that series. It consists chiefly of reprints from
the works of standard authors, and though occa-
sionally some indifferent works are admitted, as a
general rule, the romances, whether historical or
sentimental, are of a superior character.

The Rifle and the Round in. Ceylon. By S. W.
Baker, Esq. Second Edition. Longman.
This is a new edition of a popular work, by
the author of " Eight Years' Wanderings in Cey-
lon." It is reprinted in a cheaper form, and nar-
rates the adventures of
.a sportsman in the island of
eimianion groves. This beautiful island, which is

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so eagerly hailed by travellers to the Eas, after
their monotonous journey, possesses many natural
attractions, and offers many exciting prizes to the
sportsman. The illustrations represent some start-
ling adventure 4, and the narrative relatts many
more. What wjth elephants and crocodiles, boars
and buffaloes, a day's sporting seems rather formid-
able, and many readers will prefer to become ac-
quainted with jungle hunting in the author's pie-
sant pages to a inDre personal knowledge.