Chambers Edinburgh Journal, Volume XVII., No 423, New Series. | Page 6

craft after all, but it did not do to let her
have her own way altogether.
Let it now suffice to say, that the amphibious steam-boat carried us to
Sukkur in rather less than three weeks--our voyage in some respects
resembling the midnight journey of the demon horseman--
'Tramp, tramp across the land we ride; Splash, splash across the sea!'
Glad we were when a bend of the river shewed us the island and
picturesque fort of Bukkur, apparently blocking up all further progress;
the left bank being studded with the white bungalows of Sukkur,
half-hidden in clumps of date-trees; while the right was clothed to the
water's edge with the bright green foliage of the gardens of Roree.

HELPS'S ESSAYS.
In an age of many books, there must needs be some, highly worthy of
attention, with which the general reading-public will be but imperfectly
acquainted. Though probably known to many of our readers, we think
it likely that the writings of Mr Helps are yet unknown to many others,
who might profit by the study of them, and more or less appreciate their
excellence. Under this conviction, it is proposed to notice them in the
present pages; and we have little doubt of being able to substantiate
their claims to consideration. To readers who require of a book
something more than mere amusement, or a passing satisfaction to their
curiosity; who have any regard or relish for independent thinking--for
an enlarged observation of human life--for the results of study and
experience--for practical sense and wisdom, and a general
understanding and appreciation of the varied motives, ways, and
interests of men and of society--these volumes cannot fail to prove
delightful and profitable reading.
All Mr Helps's writings have been published anonymously; and it is
only within the last two years that he has become known, out of his
own circle, to be the author. His earliest publications were, _Essays
written in the Intervals of Business_, and _An Essay on the Duties of
the Employers to the Employed_, otherwise entitled The Claims of
Labour. He has also published a work in two volumes under the title of
_The Conquerors of the New World and their Bondsmen_; a historical
narrative of the principal events which led to negro slavery in the West
Indies and America. But the books from his pen with which we are best
acquainted, and which have obtained the largest measure of public
attention, are a series of essays intermixed with dialogues, called
_Friends in Council_, and a supplementary volume, somewhat different
in plan, which he calls Companions of my Solitude.[1] As the whole of
his characteristics as an essayist are displayed with a more perfect
effect in these two latter works than in the others, and as they will
afford us as much extract as we shall have space for, we propose to
confine our remarks to them exclusively. Matter enough, and even
more than enough, will be found in them for illustrating whatever we
may find to say respecting the author's powers and attainments.
The Friends in Council purports to be edited by a clergyman named

Dunsford, who was so obliging and laborious as to set down the
conversations in which he, Ellesmere (the great lawyer), and Milverton
(the author), had engaged on various occasions, when the last read to
his companions a number of short essays which he was writing. We
have a page or two of introduction, informing us of this circumstance,
and of a few other particulars needful to be mentioned; and then, after a
little talk among the friends, an essay is read, followed by the
interlocutors' comments, and a discussion of its merits. These
conversations form a very agreeable portion of the work, and exhibit a
fine mastery of dialogue. They are exactly like the discourse of
intelligent and accomplished men, and therefore very much unlike the
ordinary run of book-reported talk. A few sentences may be not unfitly
quoted, by way of exhibiting their quality. We take the following, on so
common a matter as friendship; not because it is the best we might
select, but because it seems one of the passages which is most readily
extractable:--
'_Ellesmere._ I suppose all of us have, at one time or other, had a huge
longing after friendship. If one could get it, it would be much safer than
that other thing.
'_Milverton._ Well, I wonder whether love--for I imagine you mean
love--was ever so described before, "that other thing!"
'_Elles._ When the world was younger, perhaps there was more of this
friendship. David and Jonathan!--How does their friendship begin? I
know it is very beautiful; but I have forgotten the words. Dunsford will
tell us.
'_Dunsford._ "And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young
man? And David answered, I am the