CURRENT LITERATURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 445, 17 April 1865, Page 5

CURRENT LITERATURE.

(TVrUtuifor the New .Zeaxaud Hebaid.) . Coi-nhill has papers entitled 'Armadale,* i P eal l e * n France, ' Oyster Farming,* \> lves and Daughters,' ' The Story of my from Futtehghur,' by Gavin 8. Jones, iolities in the Sandwich Islands,' and 'A Memorial of Thackeray's School Days." In '.Armadale, the mystery of Osias Midwinter is cleared up, and some very singular coincidences and links of eouuection reveal themselves. Ia Wives and Daughters,' the bride increasingly shows herself to be contemptibly selfish, while Molly bravely tries to behave well. Gavia .Tones relates an oft-repeated tale—but relntes it well. Shakespeare has not become popular, because he has not been well translated, and not understood. He is not elegant enough for i rench taste, and he is too energetic in his use of terms and similes. Of Victor on Shakespeare, the writer of the article says, 'It is an immense rhapsody of which the Jinglish ■ poet is merely a pretext. As a display ot intellectual fireworks, it is prodigious. I nought!ul readers will turn "impatiently away trom its emptiness and bombast; critical students of Shakespeare will be amazed'at its carelessness and ignorance."

In Si'ackwood, ' Tony Butler' is brought to a conclusion. In the narrative of ' A Visit to the Con federate States,' the following passage oc-cm"-—"liichmond was never intended to hold so many inhabitants as it does novr. Its population before the war was, I believe, about 30,000; now they say it is 100,000; so that many of the Government employes are hard up for lodging. Our gold dollar is now worth about 10 paper ones of Confederate currency, fundable in stocks or bonds of the Confederate States six months after the ratification of a. treaty of peace between the Confederate and the United States, and not ' a legal tender for all debts, public and private, except duties on imports and interest on the public debt,' as the greenbacks in the Forth are. And as Government officials and the arm)' are paid in this currency, at the same rate as if it was worth its nominal weight in gold, of course thoso wllO have no private meaus are obliged to bo very economical. Planters, and those who have anything to sell, are nearly as well oil' as before, as they get proportionately high prices for their goods. For those who can command gold or exchange upon English hiring is exceedingly cheap. Board and lodging at a first-rate hotel, for instance, :s six paper dollars a day, or about 2s. Cd. in English money. But as liichmond is crowded with Government officials, most of whom have only their salaries, and with refuses from parts of the country occupied by the Yankees, who have little or nothing at all, the war is much more severely felt here than anywhere else in the Confederacy. Still it is a pleasant place and pleasant people live here. The houses are very easy and comfortable, especially in the better streets, which are lined with 'shade' trees, a great feature of Southern cities * * * Petersburg is said to be a delightful residence. -* * * During our stay at (Charleston, as the planters take great pleasure in showing and telling us all about their plantations, I had a pretty good opportunity of seeing the wort ol' their system. The ' bands,' who have each and all a cottage allotted to them, with a ' patch' to raise corn, and vegetables, and poultry, show every external sign of material happiness. They are well fed and well clothcd, and sport as much finery on Sundays, and are as fond of doing so, as a millowner's ' hands' in England. When the market is dull they are not put on half food or none at all: nor do their masters, who enjoy the fruits of their industry, expect other people to support (hem in bad times. They are singularly attached to their masters, who invariably treat them with the greatest kindness. That there is no disposition the part of the negroes to rebel against the present system has been clearly shown in the course of the war. At the commencement many did certainly run away and take refuge with the 1 ankees ; but they have most of them bitterly repented of their mistake, and many have returned whenever they could find afl/opportunity. The Yankees liberate a greaj, niavy sorely against their will, wherever they penetrate, but that is to make soldiers of them- The writer describes a visit to the battle field of Chieamanga,—the ordnance and small arms in use in the army,—and a visit to Augusta. Cornelius O'Dowd discourses about the fight over the way — Travesties — Doctors — Droll People—Postage Stamp Collectors — and the People who came late. He thinks stamp collecting a harmless pursuit, and that those peoplo who do not punctually keep their appointments, should not be waited for. " Life in an Island," " Day awl Zvight," '! Man and the Monkey," "2s*ile Basins, and Kile Explorers," and the European situation are the titles of other papers. Punch :— A legal query and it answer—" Where are petitions filed ? At Sheffield." Revival Translation —Derby (to Palmerston and Shaftesbury), " Seeiug itomer? Are either of you translating?' Shaftesbury, ' What? ' Palmerston, Jl'c translate nothing but Bishops." Epitaph on an Angler.—" Hooked it." Epitaph on a Cricketer.—" Over."

Unpublished Anecdote.—Foote fell asleep while Opie was talcing liis portrait. On leaving, the painter pressed the wit to give him another sitting. "On one condition," said Foote, •' that you clo not give me another opiate." New Fashion. —It is proposed to make the Opera crush hats of a more durable stud' called Bop. If this idea is carried out, the fashionable gentrv will be walking about the streets, like snake-charmers with rep-tiles on their heads. City Article. —The reduction in the rate of discount gave great relief, for the money market was in such a feverish state that there were fears lest the Banks' rest should ho broken. Great shock.—A lady we know, was startled the other da)-, b} T being told that some one below was waiting for her ' body.' Dressmakers should be careful, Question in ancient Zoology. (From a University examination), Who was the biggest don that ever lived ? The Masto-doil. Aristocratic looker on.—!lhc Jiarl of Stair. Physical Phenomenon. —An eminent oculist lately informed us that an intimate friend finds great relief in casting his eyes, when they are tired, upon a great covered sofa, and allowing them to rest fur some time upon it. _ Horrible ! Cannibalism ! £200 reward. Missing an elderly gentleman with green spectacles. The last time he was seen, we are informed, he was s-eating himself let surely in the Park ! One way of rising in the navy —being mastheaded. Beaction. —Swell No. 1. —" lou don't look up to the mark this morn. " " Swell No 2.—"No, I'm not; I proposed yesterday,"— Swell No. I.—" Bejeeled?" Swell No. 2.—"No, by Jove —accejjted The practice of a quack doctor is the most objectionable of all sinecures. Queries tor the naval schools. When a boat puts off for fresh meat, does it go on ' a leg of mutton sail ?' Howshould you proceed if you were ordered to rig the market ? Has the ' christening' of a ship anything to do with its ' conversion " A vcved and very vexatious question. —there is a qiu.-!ioii of another Italian loan of three millions. This seems destined to be the perpetual great difficulty that Italy, as a United Kingdom, will have to contend with, viz., tho settlement of its capital. From Birchin Lane.—Strange that schoolboys should like scenes, seeing that it comes at tho 1 fag end of the year. . A Christmas present.—The tip of the year.