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

LITERAIUR.E.

The Woman's Kingdom. By the author of "OP
Halifax." Three Vols. Hurst and Blackett.,

This work should have been dedicated to \lr.
John Stuart Mill and his colleagues and disciples
The advocates for the rights of women who a
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 WM
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 wora'll
and what is the kingdom over which she seeks to rule.
In the stories of two sisters, Edna and Letty XOO.
derdine, we have a picture of life and its lessons,
such as the author of " John Halifax" is
so well skilled to portray. In the earlier
chapters of the tale we find the two sisters taking t
little respite from the laborious occupation 0`
school-keeping, and seeking health by the sea
shore. Letty is somewhat of an invalid, and is
tenderly nursed by Edna, who takes pleasure ill
sacrificing herself to her spoiled, capricious sister'
Letty is a beauty, and is accustomed to cantinas'
admiration. Dr. 'William Stedman, a poor hard
working physician struggling for practice and pose'
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 details
of the story, which is worked out in the natural,
attractive manner with which the readers of "John
Halifax" are familiar. The vain and frivolous
Letty abandoning the life of happiness within
her reach, :gratifies her ambition at the elc'
peuse of her heart, or rather of the hearts of those
who love her, and finds herself a dethroned Queen
and the kingdom, over which she might hale
reigned in triumph, a desolate ruin. It is other-
wise with the humble-minded, true-hearted Echin.
Years elapse, and cruel vicissitudes occur, but Re
find Edna radiant in happiness in the home Of bet,
choice, with sons " rising up to call her blessed, sad
her husband also praising her." The character?,
Julius Stedman is somewhat extravagant, but Ills
provocation is certainly great. The handsome, pas'
sionate artist, and the stout and stately
Vanderdecken present as great a contrast as °Il
well be imagined. A great variety of persons i°
.
not figure in this tale—the interest is concentra.ri,
upon the few principal characters, and they are viva,/
portrayed. The beautiful Letty and the homely
Edna, the practical doctor, and the excitable artis,:e
present a group of sufficient attraction, and %it,
joys and sorrows of their chequered lives, and
delineation of their varied characters, are full of
interest. The especial attraction of the work, hod'
ever, is the vivid example which it affords 115 of ,
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 feat."

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

Son.
The business of the High Court of Admiralty
having largely increased since the passing of the
Act extending its jurisdiction, and taking away the
exclusive privileges of the advocates and proctoo'
the want of some book especially treating of the jari3ii,
diction and practice of that court has been gener9,is
recognised by the profession. The authors a tjl,
present work have endeavoured to supply that deDe
ciency, and, to judge from its very compreherole
character, they appear to have carried out their tate.
the most complete and satisfactory manner possib,be
Ten chapters are devoted to an explanation a vof
jurisdiction of the Court, and sixteen to a revio
its practice, which include a sketch of the proceeto
ings on appeal to the Privy Council, and nunler°o
forms of pleadings and bills of costs. The apPerl 0,
is very elaborate, and stored with facts and Preto
dents which are likely to prove invaluable alila/es
the legal student and to the habitual practito"
in the High Court of Admiralty.

The Parana, with incidents of the Paraguayan to
and South American Recollections, from 186%•
1868. By Thomas J. Hutchinson, H.B.g.
sul for Rosario. One Vol., pp. 426. VW'.
Stanford.
Regarding this as an age in which emigration be
become an European institution, and believing tbe
countries " most favourable for the Hegira t°,o
pre-eminently deserving of public attention, vs,
author of this volume, well qualified from his °
cial position for the task, has here presented 00
intending emigrant with a faithful ports
ture ture of the Argentine and Uruguayan Republiv;,
these countries being remarkable for their geng:to
phical position, the mildness of the climate, the
purity of the soil, and the navigable character
rivers. "The only immigrants needed out h 0 ov3
he observes, " however, are men of capital the
labourers hands that are expert with iif,
shovel, the hoe, and the plough. The chief
ficulties for the English immigrant are thr,ref;
Spanish being the language of the coal:1'1116
the Governments not being founded on ato
basis ; and the want of protection.from any of
Governments. Notwithstanding these difficult or,
and they are certainly not trifling ones! the anti."bot
from his own experience of facts, promises "4". pg
men with stout hearts and strong hands, keeroo
themselves clear of the political squabbles 0`„
to
peoples, can get ou in the River Plate territori'of
a position of independence, as well as in ail ilre•
State in the world." All who may feel courage 0#
quisite for the adventure, and the yet larger 110
ber who may prefer to stay at home at easel bio
find in this volume a most interesting and gr;Pb
account of these romantic regions, together vilior.
glimpse of the horrors of the Paraguayan 44
The author assures us that he has written ncl'utlP
on this subject but what he knows to be the throi'
Maps and illustrations of the scenery and
tants increase the interest and value of his

Routledge's Every Boy's Annual. jtor
" Every Boy's Annual" is, as usual, full of s"tod
of merriment and of interest. The prinelPle,%lo
is not much to our taste, being entitled
Gaboon ; or, Adventures in Gorilla Land: ode
some the subject may have its attractions ; Oa' 000
selves, we must confess that we have little .000
for a closer acquaintance with the hairy inbilbit;oo
of that debateable laud. Boy's Sports and PAg 0111
of every kind find their place in the Boys'filt
together with puzzles sufficient to ba-waea v'
that proverbAl amount of information suPP°—

belong to " every schoolboy.'
,are.
Routledge's Christmas Annual. First-class fr
One Shilling. oP to
Routledge's Christmas book is certainly
time! On the title-page we have a gilt:111W -„ tll3
first-class carriage, the various passengers be`fiti:o3i'
authors of the tales collected in the volume. loll°
liar faces will be recognised with a cordi3l vr; 003
by many. The guard being appropriatelY ore'
Routledgo, the editor. The stories are of the ore
of
rage excellence of warks of this character. S°
oterf
the pictures are of a highly sensational ellaro
;
but they are enlivened by others of grote ctrou
travagance. This is as it should be, for, tfo at
tales of horror, and feats of frolic and ^-
equally appropriate at the ChriAtmas /troll°.