The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-02 00:00:00

LITERAT URE.

T f.

POMFRET; or PUBLIC OPINION and PRI-
VATE JUDGMEAT. Ey henry F. Choi-ley.

3 Vols.

In the present state of literature we shoUld hardly be
surprised at any form which a work of fiction might as-
sume. Novels are now Rot merely love stories, as of old—
history, religion, polities, all the topics of the day, are
freely discussed in three volumes in the form of a
romance. Yet, notwithstanding this, " Pomfret" is,
even now, a work of,ratiher extraordinary character.
Its object is evidently to promote a spirit of toleration.
Such an intention is praiseworthy, and it is to be hoped
will not be without effect. This is, indeed, an intolerant
age, at least with regard to religion ; for in this instance
Church and State are at variance ; political feuds are
comparatively at an end ; opinions have modified ; op-
posite sides have combined, and party spirit for a time
has been subdued ; while in religious aiLirs, feuds and
quarrels between those of different persuasions have
continued with unabated vigour. The Maynooth ques-
tion sufficiently illustrates both cases. The story of
" Pomfret" is intended to soften the rigour of " public opi-
nion," and to claim a tolerant recognition of " private
judgment." It is entirely free from religious contro-
versy ; we are not asked to decide between different per
-suasions, but simply to acknowledge the right of indi-
vidual liberty of conscience. For this purpose, Mr.
Chorley has supposed au extreme case. Charles Pom-
fret is a clergyman of the Church of England, greatly
beloved by his flock, but from certain considerations
with which we are not made entirely acquainted, he
finds that his conscience cannot permit him to continue to
officiate. In spite of the sorrow of his family, the regret
2, his parishioners—above all, in defiance of " public
opinion," he resolves to follow his " private judgment;"
he gives up his ministry, and secedes from the Church.
We are not told the sect that he joins; we are not re•
quired to investigate his reasons; the object is, to decide
whether a clergyman, feeling his conscience at variance
with the rules of the Church, should continue in his
office, or voluntarily withdraw, and if so, how he should
be weighed in the balance of public opinion. In the
case of Mr. Pomfret conscience " is its own reward ;"
he finds no other ; he is universally condemned ; he for-
feits at once his position in society and the countenance
and approval of his friends ; he is compelled to seek a
foreign country, and to endure the greatest mental suf-
fering. This, as we have said, is an extreme case; men
are naturally disposed to think lightly of those who
change; it is evident they have been wrong once, they
may be so again. We feel more respect for one who
firmly maintains an opinion at variance with our own, than
we should do were he to yield to our persuasions and come
over to our views. Public opinion admires consistency;
but what is so inconsistent as itself ? Private judgment
is a surer guide; in following it, a man is liable to err—
he is almost certain to be misunderstood ; but, at least,
he will not be hypocritical and dishonest, as are too
many of those whose only aim is to bask in the sun-
shine of " popular favour." Such is the moral of this
tale. In spite of its serious import, it contains much to
amuse the general reader. The character of Grace
Pomfret, the heroine, is a beautiful creation, combining
deep feeling and strong self-control—ardent love and
voluntary self-sacrifice ; her story alone would render
the work interesting. The letters of her wandering
lover, Walter Carew, contain many descriptions of Italy
likely to amuse those on travelling thoughts intent, and
the introduction of Peter Gray (the supposed author),
and his well-meaning, free-spoken sister Harriet, gives
an air of reality to the whole, which greatly increases its
attraction. The style is free and animated—effective
because it does not strive after effect; and the story will
interest and amuse, even should it fail to make many
converts to the right of " private judgment."

STRUGGLES FOR FAME. A Novel. 3 Vo/s

By Eliza Mcteyard.

No ordinary mind produced this work. It is unequal,
but never weak. The plot is over-intricate for our taste
—sometimes it appears confused—but there is no deny-
ing that the principal characters are marked by strong
individuality, that the dialogue is natural, and that (to
borrow a phrase more timidly applied to the drama)
" the situations are admirable."

The story is that of a poor girl, brought up amid the
trying scenes of sins and poverty, yet ever keeping her
soul unsullied: striving, through difficulties which would
crush a less noble spirit, to obtain that fame which is
won by the successful prosecution of letters ; and work-•
ing her way, from the depths of obscurity, to a high re-
putation as an author. From the very first we feel
interested in this poor child of genius, Barbara Leaf-
dale. It would appear as if in drawing her, Miss Mete-
yard had resolved to show ".how divine a thing a
Woman may be made." And, because they are linked
with her fortunes we .are interested, too, in Adam, the
kind old bookseller, in the idiot Jock, in the benevolent
Mr. South, in kind-hearted Justice Tender, in Tom
Purland, and his violin, Captain Dogget, and his " great
Tom," and Mr. Brascord, the blind organist. So true is
it that

"One touch of Nature makes the whole world kin."

Less to our taste, we confess, are the loves of Mr.
Crumpsure and Miss Snig, and the hates of sundry other
unworthier. We are even grieved that much cleverness
should have been expended on these characters. Still,
the skill must be admired, and others, perhaps, may
better like the Tenier's mode of writing. If intended
as a contrast to the more gentle scenes and persons of
the novel, it has succeeded.
The first volume unquestionably exhibits most power.
Curiously enough, like Dickens with " Oliver Twist,"
the writer of this work has succeeded better in the
early than the later part. The delineation of Oliver's
sufferings as a "parochial" orphan is not superior to
Miss Meteyard's narrative of the sayings and doings of
the Kite family, illustrative of the old system of hiring
out .youthful parish incumbrances to be starved and
beaten, dragged and knocked about at so much per week.
The power and the truth of these scenes are very great.
Life in the metropolis is not so well drawn as adven-
tures in the country, because the darker phases are ex-
hibited. Indeed, we think that Miss Meteyard's forte
lies in the description of country life. Her glances at
rural scenery, by the way, are excellent. If Cuyp had
used a pen instead of a pencil, he would have described
even as this author does. If, as we judge from internal
evidence, this be Miss Meteyard's first published work,
we rejoice in the promise it exhibits. She has the
" faculty divine," out of which come those good works
which " the world will not willingly let die."

A young woman named Carr, who was lately
a ef,:nestic servant in Lord Strangford's family, has become
nf a fortune, estimated at 10,000/. the luck really
possessea --crh the novelist's hackneyed incident " the
happening throe
a. —Essex Herald,
death of an uncle in
"faice of the increased
WHISK ci,
Y.—ln conse
eighbourhood of Elgin,
prices of grain, the distillers in the .7
and surrounding districts, have advanced t,
the of whisky
sixpence per gallon.—Aberdeen Herald.
A train going west on Saturday evening last, after
dark, on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, between Hay-
don-bridge and Harlwhistle, ran against a cow, which was
instantly killed. It appears that the animal jumped out of
a truck from a train going east, and had broken its thigh.
The engine, the Rapid, was thrown across the rails, and the
driver, Gallon, into the hedge, but he escaped unhurt, and
no further damage was done.—Newcastle Journal.
OPENING THE PORTS.--OH Monday a public
meeting convened by the Mayor, was held at Nottingham,
to memorialise the Crown for opening the ports immediately.
FOOTPADS.—As Mr. Wells, grocer, of East Berg-
holt, was going from the Ipswich Turnpike Road to East
Bergholt, on Tuesday night last, when nearly opposite to the
lodge there, the residence to Sir R. Hughes, Bart., he was
accosted by two rough fellows, who demanded where he
was going, and what he was after there, and then muttered
something, which Mr. Wells interpreted into a demand of his
money, but at that time a light appeared at Sir R. Hughes's
gate, and Mr. Wells immediately ran towards it, and the men
made off. Mr. Wells was dreadfully alarmed, and reached
the house in great trepidation, but without further molesta
tion.—lpswich Express.
THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE ON A GRAVESEND
STEamnoier.—Mr. H. J. Colebrook, the young man who
fired a pistol at his head on board a Gravesend steamboat, is
now out of danger, and was yesterday delivered into the cus-
tody of his friends, as the mayor of Gravesend did not think
it advisable that he should be proceeded against for attempt-
ing self-destruction.
r'• Baron Parke and family have been placed in
:
mourning Dj the demise of the learned baron's brother, John
Parke, Esq , fortru;:ly her Majesty's consul for the Roman
States, at Stretton Staffordshire, the seat of General
Monckton.
ROYAL PRESENTS.—geCeraI packages, containing
presentsfrom his Majesty the King of Prussia to her Majesty
Queen Victoria and his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge, are expected to arrive by an early steamer from Ham-
burgh, and the Lords of the Treasary have issued the usual
order for their delivery on their arrival to the Prussian Mi-
nister at this Court, for the purpose of being presented to
the royal personages mentioned.
Their Imperial Highnesses the Archdukes Ferdi-
nand d'Este and Stephen of Ausfriahave arrived at Vienna.
Grand preparations are making in the Austrian capital for
the reception of the Emperor of Russia, wbo, according to
official accounts," is expected to reach Vienna towards the
12th of this month, and remain therefor one week. The matri-
monial alliance between the Princess Olga of Russia and the
Archduke Stephen of Austria is generally spoken of, but in
high quarters nothing Lis yet positively known on the sub-
ject.
ATROCIOUS CRUELTY.—A case of horrid crulty
came before the mayor and magistrates at the Guildhall,
Rochester, on Saturday, in which Mary Ann Vigo, a girl
aged 13, was charged with forcing Sarah Gould, an infant
between three and four years of age, into a quantity of hot
tea, by which she was so dreadfully scalded that the skin fell
from UV soles of her feet, and the effect of which cruelty-will
be, should the sufferer survive; that the feet will be con-
tracted and she will become a cripple.
CAUTION.—The public ought to be on their guard
against certain parties who are going about collecting sub-
scriptions for what is called " The West of Scotland Emigra-
ttoit Society," and to which it is represented that the Rev.
James (1, Wood, of the Middle Church, Paisley, is treasurer.
We have the authority of tilt
...,eentleman for stating that he
distinctly disavows any cow:a-ion Nylol thp p!gti,eo alluded
to, ~t? sin, taking advantage of his name for ittrposes which
are utterly at vanaiiZ with those for which his co-operation
was solicited.—.Renfrewsiii,e• Advertiser.
bers of the Royal Southern Yacht Club are about to
THE ROYAL SOUTHERN YACHT ,--
ri,UH.—The mem-
--"et at
Cowes a new Club-house, at a cost of 6,0001., the foundation
Marquis
e venerable of
stone will be laid in a short time by the Commodore, the
Cm n
Lordghani. Ravensworth's health is gra-
dually improving. The remains of the late Lady Ravens-
wo th were inferred in Lamesley Church yesterday.
Lady Dover and family intend to •
winter at
Rome,