The Sun. — 1850-01-30 (London, England)

TIIE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 30, IESO  LIT E ;', ,A.TURE.  sAf AT I,E; GER ; or, thc Tlire(ills (f life. 1 VOL S, '17)!:=*(-::4 bizto:tes e•ith !v,i7;ture, iii ii eijtn.s .:re espttialy rr..sei,e.l by tho;e ' Lich el 1••eli nyiGn pii,ssl,m I-other t1(1 detail thoilitts in,;ead of inniJents, " St. Leger" all ertains, in a degree', to both cLsses. The lovers of the marvel, „ous aTri the nry:tical will, without doubt, be charme.d by the a/at:). biographer's preliminary announc; oenf, " the age of twenty-three I find myself up ,n th threshold of two wuildf. I have, fini•lied rnv IS; u 1 on earth," &c. j Tney will furthermore Le delighted by an introductic.n to the mysterious and villancus VaArey, who either alienates or fascinates all with whom he comes in contact ; thy will linger with horrible delight over the moun.fal prophecy which overshadows with gloom the early cars of tie unfortunate S'. I.?i,:er. The tenibly st.,ry f b.ve, dcceit, murder, and madness recoun!td one of L-;>>;r's fellow-3`Udents, The i,t,iat'd and the strange brid..l of his thught, r these innumerahl•J other most romantic the-nes are to be met with in d e pages of this One voltune—a pci f .ct feat for the lovers t f strangely romantic adventure. For our.seive!, "S . Leger" in this Feint el view is without attraction. I s incidents are too impiobable, not to say imp, ssible, and some of its characters too unnatural, to excite on our port any interest in the work as a tale. Taken in its other character, however, as the de' velopinent of an inward lif , as a book of thought, it is both attractive and excellent, so much so that we gladly oveiloole the improbabilities of the tale, for the sulk of the moral reflA:tions which it strings together. \Ve are willing to linger in the company even of the terrible Vautrey and the amazing IS"cedallab, in order to become better acquainted with the pure-minded Theresa, or to dive in'o the recesses of the doubting heart of William S. Leger. There are in this volume so many truthful thoughts, so beautifully expressed, that its perusal cannot fail to give pleAsure, and very probably to prove beneficial, to all who read it. It is difficult among so many to select any passages for specimens. The following are, perhaps, among the best  eve' -;2l;anginy, always Leng. Bet that which fhttcr,d my pride, do roved Itppin,.:!ss; aryl Ie x!'a':r-t-41 in n!tguis!, t Wr.o give te,,s back my- soul?' 13nt of rit t)e most dc, ply mournful were tliesp tb.a ,tlt,rkt.l throbbing, threbbinr, close in under Lby hear;, whenv-,,r I saw my motht.r. I eculd not (neGunter her sort, kind, inquiring eyes, raised !O min e, anziou,ly bat silently asking what it seas that disturbed her chip'. There vras that in her p,azl which I dared not meet. It was t.o pure, so peaceful, so hetv-culy—yet so troubled. " At:d could ray new philosophy I e truth-inspired and yet not support toe undrr ti e e fresh trials? In my ilstrcss I af plitd to :'e Lisle, I,ut received no aid." The pure true-hearted Them s^, who enacts towards LEger a part 4Lnikr to that of the gen:le .A.gees towards David C.Tperfleld, wins him back to holier and heppier sentiments. "St. Leger," notwith  standing its improbable character as t story, is beautiful bock, full Lf beautiful thoughts, and w,.11 worthy cf perusal.