Subscribers enjoy higher page view limit, downloads, and exclusive features.
2 (F attuser: yY It LITERATURE. “Lord John” Russell’s Recollections x ; and Suggestions. THE LAST OF THE WHIGS. +ton” vuon --- “Speeches of Lord Ly “The Land of the Czar.” : | TRAVEL AND BIOGRAPHY. Chats About mance—“Sylvia's Choice “Mistress Judith’--Stage Ro- *Wildmoor,” Ear RUSSELL’s RECOLLECTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS, * 1815 To 1873. The interest of this rather Bnd entirely Characteristic volume is been, as the phrae is, discounted in this country through advance sieets and pre Wmioary puts, but still, in many of its as- pects, it is quite moteworthy, leaving at the end rather @ pleasant impression. It tg not an auto- Diography m any sense. It is not altogether ret- Fospective. It is not, in Shakespeare phrase, ‘whneb Earl Russell 19 fond of quoting, “a large iscourse,” butit is a discourse looking “be/ore and after.” So little of a personal biography is it Shat we look in vain for the date of the birth in the files of the writer (1792) except. inferen- Miaily, the opening words veing:—l was elected a member of Parilament for Tavis- " Sock” (he might have said a Bediord borouga) “n July, 1813, just a mouth before I be- came of age.” It 1s fitly entitied “Recollections and Suggestions”—quite as much one as the other—and yet tt ts tull of oright parliamentary reminiscences which are very pleasant to en- counter, 30 long as British polities command tn- terest, as they always strangely have done here and wherever the English language is spoken, We cannot do better justice than by giving our weaders some specimens, Earl Russell ia of that type of men which the in- Btitutions Of Great Britain, either for good or evil, can alone create and preserve. He 1s an historical man if ever there was one, liveral and reformer, Man Of progress though he be. We of this country Dave a bistory aud historical characters, but we “Rave no historical families. We have not even Men inheritors of great names, barring afew scattered ones—representative Quincys and Schuylers and Winthrops and Stayvesants, and one family of Adams. In tho Senate of the United ‘States at this moment we can count but two, orat most three, Dames that have the flavor o! Kevolu- | remarkable San ha pene , NEW Y of them. It has been commonty sup} a it, after the refusal of Sir Robert Peel, the Dake of Wellington had recourse to Mr. Alexander Baring, a man of great experience, of great Cd and intimately acquainted with the means by which the credit of the country Was upheld, But while these negotia- tions were pending, and while Mr. Baring, Whose mina was irresolute, doubted as to the course he should puréue, events rushed rapidly on and turned 1s hesitation into despair, There ig an anecdote somewhere in tradition that when Mr. Baring (Lord Ashburton) was coming to this country, he informally consulted the Duke of Wellington, and hinted at the possi- bility of settling the Mame boundary question on a pecuniary basis, to which the old soidier tartly repiied, “Tus, tut, Baring, don’t talk lke a mere chant.” There 1s something interesting, and at least amable, in this reference to that best abused man of his day—one whom 1n other parts of bis book Ear! Russell acrimoniously denounces—Lord Castlereagh :— , . Lord Castlereagh had entered the Irish House of Commons eariy in Iie. He nad professed opin- ions tavorabie to parliamentary reform, But hav- ing received trom the irish government the offer of the bigh and responsible office of Chief Secre- tary, with the lead of the Irish House of Commons, he accepted it, and became the exponent o! tne policy of the government on the criticai questions uf the rebellion and the union, ‘There can be no douvs that the insurrection was suppressed with hitue regard to hamanity, and that the union was Carried by means of political corruption. But Lord Castlereagh, while’ie obtained the praise of Lord Cornwalus for big abuity, judgment and habits of business, did not imcur any peculiar reproacu for wapt of feeling or want 0! integrity. Alter the unton it was proposed to him to lead the (rish supporters of government in the House oi Commons, But ve declined this separate posi- tion aud chose rather to be merged in the general body of the Ministertal party than to be the leader ot the Irish members. He did not resign with Pitt; on the contrary, he held an important office in the Addington administration. Yet be was favorable to tue ciaimso! the Roman Catholics and gave them hig support as soon as George IIL ceased to bave personal control over puolic meas- ures. It ig said that many years alterward, wuen Grattan’s friends were assembled round his sick bed, the dying patriot said to them, “Don’t be haru upon Castlereagh—he loves our © It is added that when Lord Castierca, these words of nis great opponent, he burst into tears. I cannot vouch for tue truth of this anec- dote, but 1 think 1t probably authentic, Here, too, we have a reference to Canning in his final struggle (at the end of which he died almost broxen hearted) with the whig aristocracy, headed by Earl Russeil’s dearest friend, Lord Grey:— With the alteration of one word, I may apply to Canuing Dryden’s lines on Shaitesbury— A fiery soul, which, working out its way, Freued the'tragile body to decay, Ana o’er informed the tenement of clay. In the conduct of affairs he had not preserved the calm and cold demeanor of Castiereagn. Wueu Brougham attacked him for ms tergiversation, ne rose With passion to repel the imputation. When an anonymous pumphieteer threatened bim with death, he was So imprudent as to send a personal challenge to the antagonist Whose mask Was worn jor tue very purpose of evading responsifility. Thus easily eXasperated, tuwarted in his foreign Policy vy tue King and nalt his colleagues, holding @ position un the Catnolic question which kept Jreiand in perpetual ferment, distrusted by many of his party, and prevented by nis opinions on reform Irom coralally uniluing with tne whigs, 1t 18 LO Woude? that ois temper and nealth gave way. lremember the unpression made upon me palu- fuily by a singie word, uttered by him in answer to tionary ancestry. Nor is this ail; tor if a manin this unsentimental] land of ours has a little pride | wm th whose pame he bears for their deeds in | the brave days of old, and tries innocently to te them, he is either laughed at or defamed, So far gs this goes we are a most iconocia: ace, Just the reverse is tvin England, and Earl ell 4s, as we have said, the most bistorical of Englisn- men. He is the mearnation of whig tradition— hough not inheritor o1 a whig peerage, for his he secured lor bimseli—anod we may incidentally say | | Voice of tue deepest anxiety aud emouon, @ question evidently intended wo vex and embar- Tass tum. The resignation of ali the anti-Catholic members of the government piaced at Mr. Can- Ding’s disposal toe Office of Judge Advocate. There was some delay in naming # successor. The quesuon Was usked Whether tue Office bad been hiled up. The answer was the monosyllable “Yes,” Dut pronounced in such @ tone of min- gied scorn, anger and grief that it seemed as if tue beart of him who uttered it were breaking wit vexation and disappointment. 1 remember nothing uke it but Kean’s answer to Jago, “You are moved,” when be replied, “Not a jou,” in a And again :— that ne has proved nimbelf no exception to the | Tule that “whig’ and so-called “iberal’ English Statesmen have always beeu the least iriendly +0 | our Anierican institutions and the most trouble. | @-me to deal with. How tnoroughiy the priae of L.storical Mueage impregnates his being may be #-eu in the lollowimg rather striking passage in weience of thg House of Lords, trom whieh, tn his | enumermuon of great uistoric names, he modestly | eliminates nis ow | The vest government consists In the unton of | liberty and order; we are at preseat 1m ull pos- sess.0n vi liberty, but order 18 symetimes in dan- ger. Now ior the purpose of order, it 1s material | Tuat tuere should exist iM the great bodies of the | State the power which is called authority. Noth- ing more excites reverence than ancient prescrip- ‘uve piiViiege; nuthing more moves the imagina- {| tion tuau ancient lineage combined with recent | achievement. Thus, ro see in one assemoply the | descendants of the Talbots, who !ought jor their | coun'ry in the fourteenth century, with the Na- | wer WO So lately triumphed in Abyssinia, the | jer of Marthorou; the battie of Blen- m. aud of We ctor of Waterloo, ond gar, of Ceet!, tre | of . of Grey, the } Nuoright Minister of William IV., witn the Tepre. | #entai Ves Of Mansfield, ana of Camden. ot Hard- Wicke, und Of Somers, gives dignity and weight to ihe Mouse, ef au irye gaa 1aTHisn ut a lew. sare Ruliee a betley Senate thyy, the Bri tee Ho 3 ia i E ple of Give little atten. | Haoplly the pe i tion to thos fancy 1 Schefnes. The nobility of Engla eas Dot, ike the French nobility besore | tug BeVoidtion, slavish sycophants of a court. | ey are kgown ih their country houses as the free landlords of qinee tenantry, promoring social ood Will by & becoming hospitality. Taoey are | focwn {n courts of justice as ioremeén gf ane | Juries and magistrates at quarter sezsion#. ey ' share iM DawWonal sports, aud their wives and Gaugiters visit the Widows and iateecless in tue aciction, Tastl?, when a great question arises, whicn re- | quires a display of more taan ordinary snowledge history, mure accurate learning, inore constl- tute and more practical wisdom than ts to | be found in the usual devates of bditor of a magazine can is Parliament, | | know uot waere | ‘The general debate, are to be jound In greater periection than among the preiates on Lhe episcopal bench, the peers of | i 1 nuvilty, aud the recent occu- woolsack. ’ © book and its attractions—especially the pleasaot parliamentary reminiscen It opens with picturesque p ories of poleonic | times—or Lord W Bgtion within the lines of Torres Vedrus, where young Russell was when @ Jad, and is vettung a a with Lord Pousouby that Wellington would hoid them; aud then, again, bis visit to the War after Suamanca and belore the rat Wellington’s mic” description (taink of 1 Ullerists 0; to-day, with your Rodmaus and lings and banigrens!) of mis “three trou g Thunder, Lightning and N of wich one had a@ sey wound jn the mou'a and another had Jost tts trunnions by the fire of the enemy”’— (p. 15) and, then again, Weilington in the Pyre- noes, advancing as a vicior into France; anda visit to Napoleon in 1814, im Liba, when the extie— | fi such be can then be cajled—does not seem to | wit, were delignttul to all wuo beard tim, | Lo fuisned poetry and elaborate oratory Homer, e of Burgos, and | The period from 1820 to 1827 was the most bril- hant period for oratory in the House ef Commons within my recohection. ‘vue gracetul, finisped, well prepared speecnes of Canning, sparkling with Classica: quotation, Laypy illustration and refined Some- umes, indeed, the purpurei panni did Dot weil combine With the plain broadcloth of a buBiness arguuent, but, on the whole, the effect was eu- trancing and attractive to all the young members, Who cured rather to support @canse well aelended than Lo eXamine the soudity of tue delences them- Seives. Mr. Ward, Limseil an orator ol no mean Tank, Said once to me, “i ike What is polisued anu periect—i admire Virgil, Kacine and Pitt? Yo suck Men the eloquence 01 Canuing was irresisti- bie. ibose who above ail admired what was sublime, though not faultiess, and who preferred Danie, Stakespeare and Fox wére, however, not Teady to yie.d altogether to the seduction of a stafésiiah who, wae he tougat jor Roman vatho- lic reues and the reduction of protective auties, contended for restrictions on political freedow, und utterly opposed paritameniary relorm, This, too, of Brougham ts very striking :— But his speech On the couduct of tne Conti- neutal Powe?’ of gurope toward Spain—a country gertainy on ft the tents br endeavor over meg l— brignvest allt nS “Wiaston to the protest o: tb” Kassian Minister at Maurid “with norror that b.ood had beed shed 1p to. rye + palece, Was at once @ withering rVettive and a Just | condemnation of despotism. “if I had veen one of the counsevors o: the Emperor of Russia,” né Said, “tue lust sudject I would bave advised my | masier to h upon would have been twat of “‘bioodshed fi royal paiace.’”? ‘Toe reiguing | Emperor of Russia was Alexander 1. Af the ! bis coronation, @ iaoy, writing from st pad described the ceremony in these "ibe Emperor entered the cuurch pre- | ceded by the assassins 0: his grandiatuer, sur- ryunded by the assassive 01 Nis iwiner, and toi- lowed by wis own,’? We “ose “our Parliamentary excerpts’ by a} grape sketch of the late Lord Derby—*tue Rupert | of debate.” Aiver descriving a dull speech by Lora | Al\uorp, op the Irish question, Earl Russel: | says :— due and rr chet, beral majority were disappointed, sullen y tO break vut into MuUay agalust tuerr | Ar. stamiey, Who Was sitting uext to we, | greatiy annoyed at the aspect of tue Mouse, suid to me, “i Weaut Dot to Lave spoken Ul) to-morrow | might, but i Hud I must speak to-migui.” He took Lora Aithorp’s box of omcial papers and went up who had declared |< eserves, HERALD, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY. 14, 1875.—QUADRUPLE ° SHEET. | right to withhold our meed of respect from either | not detaining the Alabama on the opinion of the | stringent comments upon the vagaries of coinage | war isa mean sort of a proverb, and none but a Solicitor General witvous waiting for the slow | in the Native States, A water carrier, who saved | rascal would hive up to it. coach of the Law Lords, This ts creditable to him, | the life of Humayun at Changs, was rewarded by Mr. Grote’s inculpation of our diplomacy is just or not will, 1u our judgment, depend on the final ad- whether by the application of a hard rule to ind!- vidual claimants, and the persistent exclusion of as to* get indirect national damages most tndt- rectly, 1t realized or frustrated, the world will be better able to pass its final judgment. ENGLISH PUBLICATIONS. Lonpon, Jan. 20, 1875, The most important publication of the day has been Earl Russeil’s “Recollections and Suggestions,” but “The Speeches of Lord Lytton, with a Prefatory Memoir by His Son,” give us the reverse of many of “Lord John’s” medals. Lord Lytton had nos the fixity and the sertousness of character which Earl Russell possesses; but he was capable of a strong dislike, not only of whigizm, but of whigs, & dislike for which he had, Mdeed, sound personal as well as party reasons, for the influence of their leaders and agents kept the% House of Commons closed against him for eleven years. The collection of his speeches, now published under the auspices of his son, is rather heavy reading. Sometimes “Bulwer” (as he will always be called) rose to true eloquence; but, on the other hand, he too often sunk to ornate twaddle, and he occasionally descended, like the immortal editbr of the Eatanswill Gazette, in “Pick- wick,” to “twaddle,” which was “angrammatical”? a3 wel Though he wasa liberal up to 1846 he Was glways @ protectionist, and the odd compina- tion comes out curiously in some of his speeches. A certain clumsiness beset bis best turned periods, and if his classicisms were never “Brummagem’’ his utterances In the vernacalar very often de- served tbat epithet. He was not a partisan, though he was a consistent conservative of late years, and he was very tearless and independent in the expression of bis opinions both in speech and in writing. He differed from hts party upon the Anglo-French alliance, the conclusion of peace with Russia after the fall of Sebastopol, and the transfer of India from “sohn Company” to the crown. His letters and speeches on these points are among bis best, His son ‘adds to the collec- tio a fragment of an essay, unfinished at Lord ‘ton’s death, on the “Genius of Conservatism,” ich ig a¢mirably written. The assumption with which it starts, that conservatism and Toryism are two very different things, is rather novel, even startling to the reader, but he makes his meaning clear and proves his case. We admire the bit of an essay, bat feel that a briefer summary, a more succinct generalization, might have covered the whole matter. Let us say, for instance, thus:— “Conservatism 1s endurable, Toryism is uneadur- able.” The second Lord Lytton announces for speedy publication a life of his father. This ought to be @ good book, gOwen Meredith’ knew how to write before he rose to the Upper House at home and at the top of the diplomatic tree abroad. Let us hope he has retained the old picturesque facility. His English was better than his father’s and his Greek and Latin were less ob- trusive. A POETICAL “MRS. HARRIS’? Among forthcoming books @ “Life of Hayden,” Victor Hugo’s new poem, “Les Quatre Veuts de VEsprit,” which 1s aseque,to the “Légendes des Sidcles,” and the long delayed poem of the Poet Laureate, are looked for with considerable inter- est. In the case of the latter speculation bas aimost worn Itself out, and people begin to regard ‘Boadicea” im the light of a contemporary ‘Mrs. Harris,” to whom Mr. Ten- nyson is the “Sairey Gamp.” And this incredulity gains ground, even though Mr. Knowles, tne lit- erary architect of the period, goes about every- where—for he 1s quite ubiquitous in society— quoting bits of the poem, in the brief intervals of leisure which he can snatch from the combined re- sponsibilities of editing the Contemporary Review and boilding Baron Grant’s paiace at Kensington, which the Czar has not purchased at £500,000 for his daughter. GEOGRAPHY. Since the embarrass des richesses caused by the simultaneous publication of Sir ‘Samuel Baker's “Ismailia” and “Livingstone’s Last Journals” we have not had any sensational travels; but an ex- ceedingly valuable book bas jnst appeared, whose form and metiod are lixely to binder its belong appreciated py the general public as it undoubtedly This is 7 s228 Gann oF THE czaR," by Mr. Wahl, which is quite a marvel of fulness of information and method of arrangement. The index alone 1s a work of high art, and though there is nothing very attractive in the style—it 18 heavy, though not tedious, and lacks any touch of tue picturesque—the book is quite fascinating from itg instructivencss, It cannot be denied that it Meets a great general want; that we know very Mttle indeed ef Russia, and are confused, espe- cially as to its geography and ethnology, wit respect to What we do know, and an immense amount of information awaits the reader of Mr, Wahi’s volume. The author bas lived many | years in Russia, visited several of the moss remote portions of the vast Empire and stuaied al! the best authorities in reference to it, He has combined the resuits in @ close, classl- fle® oescription of all the tribes, mations and races who are subject to the Czar; of all the | industries, manufactures, productions and re- sou sof the country; of the poiltical and re- S.airs to a room Where he couid jvok over tem Alter the debate bad proceeded ior two , with BO Change of temper He explaimea witu | rose. ve of ireland. e then Went over, case oy case, | outrages Whichnad beeu | 1, WIth striking effect, tue | nunitted. He de circumstances attending the murder of a cierg ¢ Man and the agouy vi his Widow, Who, aiter s | her wusband icurdered, bad to bear toe Lerror ut | running KNOCKS al the door, kept on ail night by | tue wm ‘eants WOO had commibted the crime. picture whica ne placed beiore boeir eyes; jor the sorrows O1 tue 1unoceat: they were 1 at (he dominion of assassins and roo! | vecaine appulied aod mgitated at tne | | | | ligious aspects of the Civilized provinces, and of 1 ciearuess the isecure and warns | casns are espectally Interesting, and the second 3. | Kasvam,’ though not one of those which every- | Who | about them, 1s exceedingly interesting and beau- | When be haa produced @ thrilling effect by tne ceseriptio turned upon O'Connell, woo led she oppositioa to the measure, ana seemed @ Short ume oefore about to achie a triampn im tavor of sedition aud avarcny, | He recuiled to we recoliecuou of the House | | or Commons that ata recent public meeung O'Connell had spokea of tne House of Commons a8 663 scouncrels, In a tempt scorn and indignation, he excited the any ot have best mach attention on his visitors, | the men thus designated against the author of tue who were chiefly struck, as well they might be, | cailumuy, The Sere hen hours before restiess, iris ok 4 | seemed about to yiel O the great agitator, Was With bis restiess, thquiring look aud manner. | iy wimost ready to teat him to pieces. in t ‘dhe Nupoecouic war esded, the young whig lord | midst of tae storm whicn bis eloqueuce had raisea, thus regarded the stace of things aud policy of the | tory Minisiry at home, and we seem to detect one | nf mews sy jokes about changing | wor exactly imtnis compection, bat in the nata- > ay ig wed \USira- | ya: jine of desuitory criticism, we light upon a aaa matter well calculated to raise @ smile. Every | ive to bave | oae remembers Sydney Smith's Jocular description wasu war in | of Lord Joun’s readiness to do anyruing—*cut for | y with the | the stone or command the Channel feet.” Hereis Peave 01 is! Great ana still wore ir vuriny the conun war, men readily listened to thi ab ALIS Cau erous to repi rrieane sea. pon, and thas Lord & amouth aa iuer vigoied tories Ww ed to leave “windows Which siut out the ugit, aud pass: that ied to nothing,’ mm the 5 and tne liawent. Bot wen the siorr Would paturaily survey toe ouuding, ecrumvling Wai8 200 samt the exe tie sun. Betore leaving Wellington, Rasveil’s judgment of him muct iaier, on With two other public men, with oue of whom ‘we of the United States nad once close relation. Speaking of & Ministertal crisis tu 1s00 be says:— ‘There Was something remarkadic wm the con- trust between the conduct of (he Duke of Welling- ton and that of sir Rovsert Peel at this crisis. They Were Dot men of Digh character, Lov anxious ior the honor of their sovereign and the weilare of tuetr country. Their position app similar, if 1ot identical Yet the Duke of Weiuiugton aeciared Tost, 1 te bad refused 6o axeist 19 tie formation of a government he should have been ashamed to fuow O14 face in the streets; while Sir Ruvert eel cecared in the House of Commons that it he had #ocepled the task prone to oim be could not Juve Walked upright into that House. The Duke ©. Weuington’s feeling waa one of excessive loy- * ‘y 48 4 sabject, Sir Kovert Peel's that of Suu cule oncy as & Piatesial, the ded rays of | par let us quote Earl a cotioca- | Stagley sat down, having achieved one of be powers 01 oratory. the grim comment—tne italics being ours—of tue victim of @ joke waich never seems to have been forg' Ia conversation with Mr, Abercromby I said, more In joke Wan in earnest, bhatt I were ofered Vue Colamand of tie Channel feet and thoagnt if | My duty to accept, 1 suould not refuse It, On this private #ud casual remark Sydney swith a/ter- ward constructed an elaborate charge; and as 1 had consented, in the Kectesisstical Commission, 10 @ proporai the patronage of the deans and chapters should be transferred to the visuops, lie Was $0 angry a8 to Impute to me a Want Of 46 with which 1 trust Lain got justiy chargeavic. Asa general thing the book is marked by a | better and more genial temper than Lord Russell | bas usually been credited with; but omiwo points | the old man irritable makes bunseir mantest— | traneous matter*being leit out, while tae pleas °C | ently familiar tone of intimate communication ts tue | sproatest triompas ever Wok ib & popular assemuy | toon yy va ‘ | myriads of Qrefiies lighted up an tliumtnation in “life” under all its various headings in Russia. ‘The chapters devoted to Siberia and tne Cau- + part of the book, which contains a condensed, admirably arranged history of Russia, from the tine of Rurix to Alexander IL, is the inllest and most satisfactory summary, jor its dimensions, wituin our knowledge. ASIA. A work lately published anonymously, but writ- ten by Mr. Cowell, entitiea “‘Letvers from India and body must read because everybody else 18 talking | tifully written. It i@ a compilation from letters sent home by the author during his journey, and bas been made with quite unusaal skill, all ex- | preserved, No previous writer has conveyed so | Striking @ picture of the beauty of Bombay and the mysterious interest of its cave temples and towers of silence. The author discusses the hit tribes of the Nilgiris, the diapnted Todas, so that they. are positively, not only selientifically, interesting, aud | araws a picture of the famouy Coonoor Ghaut, | | which isasmall poem. Here tt is:-“The shades of night had {alien before we reached the Ghaut from Potocamund, and covered the piain; but a | crescent moon shone throngh a rift in the clouds, and disclosed the deep shadows of the wooded ravine, from which arose the roar of @ mountain when, as she night grew darker, acribabie, the groves. The color of the ieaves they most affected was made distinctly visible by the iignts floating round them, and eome of tne most favored trees led you to fancy that the whole ‘airy court, outon ita revels, was celebrating witu befitting splendor some royal festival.” ‘The depredattons of wild beasts in India and the signal insufficiency of the exertions made by the somewhat of a triumph to us and a consolation to | being permitted to occupy the imperial throne for hisown countrymen, The end of the Alabama | hala day. It was a brief tenure of power, but he case is not yet, and whether Lord Russell’s and | employed it weil, with care for his present benefit judication to be made at Washington as to | and friends, and ne caused bis leathern water honest underwriters, @ surplus can be created so | It was a pity that so clever a practitioner had not torrent. The fascination of the scene was Inde- | | 80n’s daughter would be rather tiresome charac- and provision for his tuture greatness. He pro- vided largely, out of the treasury, for his family vessel to be cut ap into leathern rupees, gilt and stamped with his mame and the date of his reign, @ longer day. The manufacture of the world- famed Kashmir shawls and the celebrated cands of Ellora (which we all know through Mr. Fergu- son) are brilliantly described by thls writer, wn0 bas contrived to lend great attraction to a topic FRED—I cannot understand why Amos should have feared the lying tongue of a lowlived tramp le Paxton Dick. It would have veen more natural had the burly farmer thrashed the rogue and never thought of him again. FELICIA—Judith’s long wating for Jesse, ber behef in bim through all, 1s touchingly described, and to think he, her betrothed, was staying away purposely to give the brother whom he had wronged, a chance to win the girl back again, That was the only generous thing that “Gentle- man Bullen” ever did, but it was done in sucha clumsy way that it had the effect of making him appear @ deeper-dyed villain than he really was. Of course Judith died. A city girl might have borne which is ordinarily rather dull. BIOGRAPHY. The autobiography of Dr. Granville, who was an Italian of the name of Bozzi, and assumed his grandmother’s name, Granville, on coming to England, is an amusing book, less on account of the subject of it than oecause he came tn contact with a great number of important and interesting People, and saw a great deal of the world in every sense. It brings us into the presence of many illustrious men, and as Dr. Granville’s, halcyon days were just in the dawn of that investigation of the physical sciences, in whose noonday It is our privilege to live, nis autobiography isa kind of recora of beginnings to which we return with deep interest. For instance, be witnessed the first demonstration of the Védltaic pile at Milan, and gives a glowing descrip- tion of the intense excitement caused by the very first absolute demonstration of the electric force. His own life was tull of victasi- tudes from his first fight from Genoa to Venice to escape the conscription tn those days of French rule so ruthlessly enforced in Italy (when tie dé- noument was like a scene in a comtc opera, for he Was brought before the Imperial Commssion at Venice for refusing to play a part allotted to him by the manager of the strolling company of actors which he had Joined by the way, dnd found in that stapendous functionary his own elder brother), to -the ricn and prosperongsend. The book 1s very well wortn reading, more varied and interesting than nine out of ten modern novels, and full of most amusing anecdotes. Here ts one of “Morrison the Hygeist” which may challenge competition by the most enterprising ot our advertising quacks, and may perhaps bave suggested to Mr. Wilkie Col- lins the finest touches to his picture of Captain Wragge, the “moral agriculturist,? in “No Name.” In 1817 Morrison, the hygeist, Morrison of the famous pills, who was known In Paris as the “millionnaire Anglo-American,” gave a ball, to which all the Cite uf Paris went. At one o’clock & magnificent supper was served, follow- ing delightiui concert, in which the best talent of the italian and French operas achieved a great success. At dawn of day the company began to disperse, and as each guest stepped into his or her carriage, be or she received a glittering enamelied card which the increasing daylight en- abled the curious to read:—*M. Morrison remercie, and begs to recommend the never failing vegeta- ble pill,” &c, NOVELS, Agreat number of new novels are annonnced, and a great many have recently been published, but there 1s not much to be said of their merits either individually or collectively. t is becoming “trés distingué” not to have written a nove}, under the present severe inundation of them, but, unhappily, everybody is exceedingly anxious to lose that distinction. Mrs. Oliphant is writing two, indeed, some people say thiee, ail at once, and neither of those which are Known to be hers, viz. :—“Valentine and His Brother,’ in Blackwood, and a@ serial in Good Words, 1s worth reading, Miss Thackeray has commenced a serial called “Miss Angel”? (meaning Angelica Kauffmann, the last century lady painter), in Cornhiu. It is rather affected, and affords evidence which, in- deed, has been rather plentiful lately, that Miss Thackeray 1s spoiled by exaggerated and fulsome praise. The critics have taiked and written about her ‘‘softness” and “sweetness,” her “womanll- ness” and her “word pictiires” until she nas ve- come as soft as pap, as sweet as molasses, so womanly that sue eliminates maniiness from life altogether, and dealsin word painting to the ex- Clusion of meaning in many instances and of na- ture in almost all. Since her “Catherine” she has been steadily detertorating. A POEM. Mr. Alfred Austin’s new poem, “The Tower of Babel,” 1s a fine work, if a trifle over fanciful. We think his happlest style 1s the soctal satire style, but he has many strings to bis lyre and touches them aii deitiy. CHATS ABOUT BOOKS. MISTRESS JUDITH. “I think It would puzzie the oldest inhabitant to find a day to equaljtne one that has just passed. I can recall none such: in my experience here- abouts,” said the Doctor, drawing dis armchair up in front of the crackling firé. FreD—It 1s a nlpping and an eager air, but not- withstanding I am going around to the academy or Music this evening to see the first full rehearsal of the ‘Talisman,” 1 was very much amused at the crowd of people surrounding Hudnut’s ther- mometer ali day long. They thought it was pretty cold, but to flud the mercury at zero was more than they bad calculated upon. FreLicia—I pity you men who had to be ont of doors. I ran around to Daisy Dean's to get that copy of “Mistress Judith” (Henry Holt & Co.), tliat we were reading the other night, and that was enough for me. Tas MorHbR—‘Mistress Judith” is in the “Leisure Hour” series, is 1} not? That is sufficient |+ recommendation for 1t; all the books tn that series are charming, and do infinite credit to Mr. Holts good taste. Fevicta—Daisy likes ‘Mistress Judith’ more than “Var from tne Maading Crowd,” which it | siightly resembies, 1 cannot say that 1 agree with her, although this is & wonderfully ciever book. Tus DocTon—Both stories are drawn from the life, and a somewhat similar life. It takes aclever simple mate . Two young farmers and a par- ters in some hands; as itis, the interest never flags, although the scene does not once shift from @ quiet country Village in Cambridgeshire, FeLicia—Judith as the precocious infant of the | first chapters did not attract me. I thougat her more solemn than wise. But, poor child, what could be expected with no other playmates than @ parson aod an old gardeuer. Her childlike reta- tious with old Hurst were beautiful to the last. I think this @ very pretty description of the chiid:— “And Mistress Judith, dressed and washed ana | turned into the garden after breakiast, was left | wo inglorious tndependence tll midday, when she was catied in to bave her dinner, The gloves were sewn ssoutly to her slieeves—she could not part with them; bat the little round dngers had no sooner been imprisoned than they extricated | themselves, the sun bonnet went back on her neck, the silk handkerchief that made her, ol! so hot, floated in Master Hursv’s best gooseberry bush. It was a golden time, if she could but have known it. She wouid never have such freedom, mind or body, again.’’ | Miss Racugsi—The village was like a big family; | every man’s business was his neighbor's as well a8 bis own, and was gossiped about at every fireside and in every gleaning fleld. How prettily the gleaning fields are described; I had the pic- ture before me ali the time—the men and women stooping along over the yellow stubbie, the litie colldren kicking the air with their fat tegs as they Britusn government to destroy the former lords of inwo notice on several recent occasions, This rituaiism and the Treaty of Washington, more on | work may perhaps quicken the perceptions of those the frst than the last. Now that a rivaulist, or one who favors rituadsm, should get crying when the subject is discassed We can periectiy under- stand, bat that @ steady, historical, matter-of- fact Church of Bogiand jayman like Lord Kassel: should get into & rage about albs and chasuvies | lgopards and otuer bensts of prey.” Tne old story | wormwood and gull for Amos to lights,” which tells how Abou | Jesse was glways placed before him in everything, | ouly went to small parties. and lighted candies we confess pi comprehension. The chapter on Washington 1s chiefy interesting in ti Russell has the manliness to © be takes it 00 himself) mete o Whose “business tt 1s Ww deal with an evil of suct: Magni\uds by its revelation of facts, among which the Most startling is the following:—"During the last Ufteem years, in Bengai alone, 13,400 men, women and calldren fave fallen victims to tigers, Caltph for @ aay, finds, like ry, ‘aifliment in reality, a6 1a she followt the jungle have been brought ratver prominently | waited under the trees for their ured motners; there it 1s, all as vivid as paint could make It: FELICIA—Mistress Judith developed into a beau. tiful womanhood, She is very true to life, though Ido not think that she was altogether fair with Amos. up under the shock, but being a country-bred girl, one who had never heard of the cruelties of men and who believed deception impossible in a gen- tleman, the blow kilied her, The Docror—There is a great deal of power in this story, simple though it appears, Asa picture it ts drawn with spirit and force. The carefully finished characters in the foreground, the bright coloring of peasant life and the picturesque back- ground of wheat flelas and meadows ts altogether charming and makes us anxious (or More from the same artist. ROMANCE OF THE STAGE. FRED—It would take a much bigger volume than this by Percy Fitzgerald (J. B. Lippincott & Co.) to nold all the romance of the stage. Mr, Fitz- gerald has made a nappy selection, however, and it would be hard to find @ more interesting book than this, As the author saysin his preface, the cntef attraction of this volume “1s found to be the air of personal confession and simplicity of the revelations furnished; the natveté, the humor and almost garrulous confidence, above all, the quaint turn of expression in which everytuing 1s uniolded.”” e Miss RAcHEI—I am happy to say that the tnter- est in the stage is reviving, notwithstanding the blows dealt against tt by Mr. Talmage. Playera gre no longer a poor, persecuted set, Starring has taken the place of strolling. Every town nas its theatre, and a manager is as good a gentleman as any who ogle the ballet girla from the prosce- nium boxes, The system of patronage bas died out with other evils, and a play sinks or swims according to ts merits or the energy of the man- agement. FrED—I fear that the stage is rapidly drifting into respectability. Bohemians are going the way of all fesh and a greenroom supper is as rare now- adays as are angel’s visits. The stage is a world of itself, Actors and actresses do not look upon matters and things in the same way as do we of the pits and boxes. They are free, easy and un- conventional, but it does not follow that they are fast and bad. Some of the best women I kuow are actresses. FrLicia—Mr. Fitzgerald tells a great Many funny stories in bis book and a great many that aré very sad. Tne story of the proud and luckless Mossop, the gay and festive Mrs. Bellamy, the notoriows Mrs, Ray, who was mistress of an earl and was murdered by a clergyman; the vagabond Tate Wilkinson and many others are told, to give the Treader an insight into stage life as tt was. FRED—Times have changed since the days when an actor was.compelied to act in a play, sing two comic songs, play. in an interlude, dance a horn- Pipe, speak a prologue, playa harlequin’s part, and recejve as pay for all this three pence and two Pieces of candle. I think itis not unusual nowa- days for stage wararobes to be seized ior debt, but I doubt if many of our actors were ever obliged to eat turnips out ofa fleld to stay their hunger as some of the greatest lights of the past generation bave done. FELICIA—And times have changed since poor Mrg. Bedamy was forcibly carried of by Lord Byron and Sir George Metham. Mrs. Bellamy teils ber story in astraighticrward, unblusbing sort of away. I should like te have seen her friends, the Gunoing girls, who were so handsome that the King sent @ sergeant’s guard to walk with them on the mall tokeep back the crowd that pressed around to stare at their beautiful Yaces. Frep—Garrick’s début i* spoken of as being the single instance of immediate success. The play. was “Richard IIL.” ‘On that Monday night the peformance began at six o’ciock, with a few Pleces of music, Then the “curtain rose on ‘The Life and Death of King Richard Iil.,’ and after the first scene, at that nervous moment, the new actor came from the wing. Macklin always talked fondly of this glorious night. * * * It was recollected, however, that when the new player came upon the scene and saw the crowded house, he was disconcerted, and remained a iew seconds without being able to go on. But he re- covered himself. No wonder tt surprised that au- dience—it was so new, and was allnew. The sur- prising noveity was remarked ‘that ne seemed to identify himself with the part.’ They were amazed at his wonderful power of feature. The stapen- dous passions of Richard were seen In dis face be- fore he spoke and outstripped nis words. There ‘was a perpetual change and vivacity,” and so on for half a page more. -And for weeks afterward the narrow streets of the obscure quarter were blockea up with the carriages of the nobility crowding to see him, and a dozen dukes were seenio the boxes of a night.” FELICIA—Mrs, Siddons was not so fortunate. She bogan as @ stroller, was allowed to appear at Drury Lane, made a failure, owing to cruel vir- camstances, and went back to strolling. Her second appearance fas a success, and her after life was brilliant enough. | think if people woula read this book and see through what ago- nies actors pass on the night of adébut they would not be so hard on their shortcomings. Mrs. diddons aumost made herself ill with worriment before the terrible night. The joy she felt at ber triumph was too great for words or tears. Frep—Manager Ryley’s accountof the property wagon coming into town Is very fanny. “Some scenes and figures velonging toa pantomime luy on the top of the boxes, which were numerous ana piled very higa, To keep them steady he (the carter) had placed a door, on which was painted, tn large characters, ‘Tum Punch’s House,’ in front of the wagon. This soon gave atitie to the whole, Upon the uppermost box, and right over the door, was a giant’s head o1 huge dimensions, whose lower writer to weave an interesting story out of such -jaw, being elastic hung, opened with every jolt of the carriage.” A barking mastiff ran in tront of the van. in the rear of wich sat one of tho actors, his wife and nine children, the wife in a* Scotch plaid suit and the children in gcarlet jackets, ‘They were a merry, though half-starved lot, these poor actors, and the poorer they were the bigger their families. ‘ Miss RaCHEL—I shall never go to the theatre since reading this book without feeling @ new interest in the actors and longing to know what is going on in the world behind the scenes. “SYLVIA'S CHOICB.!” Miss RacHEL—Felicia, bere ts @ book that haa been lying on your table for @ long time—iave you read it? PELIcCIA—What is the name ? Miss Kacuer—“Syivia’s Choice,” one of Har- | per’s “select novels,” FeLIctA—Oh, yes; 1 read tt some time ago. Itis @ pretty ttle story of misplaced afections and heart at last triumphing over Worldly considera tions. Miss Racte1—Snppose you tell it to me while 1 go on with my knitting. FeLicta—Richarad Duncombe, a rich, easy-going, fascinating young fellow, married Agnes Falkland, @ heartiess belie, Richard loved her, shame to Say, and would not believe that she was cold and mercenary, Ho was mot long in fading tt out, however, One unbappy day be came home and wld his wife that be had lost ail their money. | “Mine. said she, with ® scream. ‘No, nob | your private property. 1 said our money, for 1 thought that we were one.” He soon found his mistake, for Agnes took her own as well as their child Sylvia, and went home to her par- ents, Mer ruined husband went to Australia, to try and earn 4 itvelihood, and sncceeded in laying Miss RacueL—Poor, dear Amos, how [ pitica him and how I despised Jesse. It must nave been have seen how when be waa gold and Jesse was dross. Amos was fooltah to have trusted the girl of his heart witha 1 anec- | brother like Jesse, particularly before he had | ter to marry a rich #2 @onDection with some | spoken to her of his love, Aive fair im love or } iellow dia ays care by a pittance for his old age. His wife imagined that he was dead, and concluded to go into slight mourning—gray was #0 becoming—and for a time But Richard was not dead, and he came home one fine day to see bis daughter—not his wife, The wife meant her daugh- young feltow,.bat the young for Sylvia ty Area 10 hes —)| father, so she saw that he was not the sort of matt to make a good husband and dropped him, Her father was her choice, and she went to live witht him, Then she mets dashing young newspaper, man who took tea at her father’s house every night. Of course they gell in love simultaneously, and, there being no obstacle tn the way, they got Married, ag all good heroines should, and thug endeth the story of “Sylvia’s Choice,” which Georgiana M. Craik has made more imteresting than have L. , “WILDMOOR.” “How do you like this way of writing a novel?!” queried Felicia of her cousin Rachel, Miss RacuEL—I rather like it for a change, although it does not give much variety to tha table of contents, Here are thirty-eight chapters,, with no more descriptive titles than “Miss Bren! writes,” “Hope writes,” “Geoffrey writes.” # tink the “contents” might have been spared without being missed, The idea of having the princtpal characters tell thetr own stories in their! own language 1s quive attractive. FsLicia—Hope's childiike way of making a con- Jdante of her journal is very pretty. Altogether’ Ttnink “Wildmoor” (J, B, Lippincott & Co.) is an! agreeable story. Miss RACHEL—Not one of very much force, but: natural and pleasing. The characters are all more! oF less interesting. Miss Brent ts a dear old maid, and Geoffrey sa duck .ofabear. I like such fel-! lows, although I should have been more apt to Dave fallen in iove with Captain Mildmay. PELICIA—Of course Geoffrey loved Hope f¥om the moment he first laid his eyes upon ner. Great, | big, rongh men always love little, fragile girls. Ti suppose they think that such smal! creatures are! in need of protection, that they ate too delicate to! fight the battle of life alone. Miss Racngr—Then you mean to say that there! is & dash of compassion in their affection? i. FELICLA—Yes; 1 think there ig some such mixe! ture. Miss RACHEL—It does not seem natural to me: that @ man should have believed his son guilty of! murder on circumstanctal evidence alone, FELICcIA—Yet I think ola Mr. Vairin was like some men one meets occasionally. A man always | ready to believe anytaing bad about a person, evena son, whom he professed to have loved. | Herbert might have been a little wild, but he j never dida thing in thia life that would lead a person to suspect him of carrying a murderer's heart in his body. . Miss RacHEL—I could sooner have suspected Walter Brent of crime. The story of the reat. murderer was rather pitiful. He migho hava, made a decent citizen if he had not been trans- ported for poaching game to keep bis sick wife altve. And to find. that bis wife and child had! dted during his forced absence was the last straw, to break the back of tle impatient camel, Whats _ horrible agony his faithful sister must have sul- fered! 1¢ was bad enough to have her brother a; murderer, but to have the young gentleman she’ looked upon with such adoring eyes charged with! the crime was dreadful, indeed. FEicta—I think that I should have taken the dilemma by the horns and confessed against my brother, particularly after he had shown himself) brute enough to strike me, rather than have al-/ lowed an innocent man to live under such & terrt-| ble cloud, The worst thing I ever read of was the transporting of the girl for perjury when she con- fessed many years afterward, at the second trial, that she had known who was the real murderer allalong. It wasa crying shame. Miss RacHEL—I don’t believe such a thing cou!a’ have happened oat of @ book. FELIcla—To resume & more pleasant subject. It nearly always follows that when a girl takes such an unreasoning prejudice toa man as Ho; did to Geoffrey she will eventually become recon- ciled and marry him. Miss RacnHEet—That is natural enough; but £; don’t believe, with a great many people, that if girl dtlikes certain qualities ina man hex husband will be sure to possess them all. Now, for instance, I could not marry amean man—on‘ who counted the pennies and tried to beat down: the tradesman ana {fretted over the household ac-! counts. People say that love is blind and does not see such things; but I think Just the other} Way, that love sees through a millstone and would! be the frst to notice any such fatlings. y; FELICIA—I have no sympathy for women likaj ~* Maud Buddington and cannot see what there was about her cold nature to aturact @ warm blooded | feliow like Captain Milamay. How sne could have! loved him and acted as sne did ts a mystery to me. His explanations were enough to have satisfied the most exacting nature. But she preferred to sneer at his words and pretend that she doubted. him, when she must have beieved all be said, It was a gad day when he was drowned, but it would have been a sad life if he had married the; statuesque Maud. She found out that she loved him when it was too late, and 1¢ was @ good lesson! lor her. Miss RacHEI—The story ends well and is inter-! esting to the last. I rather wish that Walter had reformed more thoroughly, and it would have | been cosey if Miss Brent nad gotten married, but} as it was she made a model maiden aunt and played mother to all of her brother’s children ag well as she could have done to her own. “ANNBTTE.”? Ferrora--In direct contrast to tne “old maida” in “Wildmoor” ts Miss Mordaunt, the lady who} occupies a similar position in “Annette” (Clax-, von, Remsen & Haffelfinger). The latter posseses/ all the distinguishing characteristics that make tne usual “old maid” an unpopular person In roe. ) mance and reality. Miss Racnet—Now, Felicia, you are getting per- sonal, for you know that I belong to’ the free and ; independent Order of O. M.'s; but I bope that am, more like Miss Brent than Miss Mordaunt. There are plenty of married women just as cros# and unreasonabie as Miss Merdaunt. She meant weil, bus had a disagreeable way or gotng off ad half cock. PELICIA—AS @ play “Annette” would delight the heart of a manager, the characters are so ew and the situations so dramatic, eMiss RachsL—Melodramatic, I should say, par- ticularly the scene between Annetre, Walter and Miss Morduant toward the end of the work. I think the author works up the climax very well. ‘The plot 1s rather hackneyed, only the setting Is a little diferent; but on the whole it 18 a very read< able story. There 1s 0 one character that if particularly good, excepting, pernaps, the hero ine, who shows some spirit on certain trying occasions. FRLicta—Whon Parson Stone brings his clod- hopper of a son to propose to her, for instance; that ia. very amusing scene, The father’s anxi- ety to have his son speak up like @ man, and tho son's ill-concealed fear of the girl, were very ludicrous. There are some incongrultics in the book; for Instance, the scene ts laid near Philas delphia, and the time 1788, yet the hero and he- roine talk and act ag might @ hero and heroine of the present day. Miss RacnEer—I saw nothing attractive about Walter Westbrook even before 1 suspected his rascality, and wondered that Annette preferred him so Wellesley. FgLicta—-Wollesley was foolish to turn over the girl he loved into another man’s keeping, and he soon found out his mistake, I can hardy imagine! hat he was very fond of her or he would not bavo! given her up without a struggle. Miss RactBi—Do you think that Westbrook was a villain by accident or design ? Priicia—By both. He got imo the scrape bv accident, and pulled Annette Into lt by design. Le might have saved a world of troubie if he had n+ vestigated the case of Amelia Duval, [ cannot fore give such a man; his exouse was none at all. think that Annette was weak to have loved him after she know all, though she ald refuse wo go with aim, which showed that sue haa cousideravia spirit left. j Miss RacH¥L—I do not think the ending is good, ‘The story would have been stronger had it ended with Annette’s death. Tne discovery that aid had gofe right waa only an agony when it was too late to remedy the evil. [imagine the writer is young, for she indulges in high-fown languag® aud ever by any possibility condescends to say’ ownile,” it is “whils?’ in every instance. Suc Ittle faujte are amnoying and are to be avoided, Dat for alt that @ couple of hours might be pleae ABV spent in skimming through the book, | i, Hi