LORD LYTTON. E DWARD LYTTON BULWER, afterward Lord Lytton, was born in May, 1805, and he died at Torquay on the 18th of January, 1873. His remains now rest among England's ́honored dead in Westminster Abbey. He was the youngest son of General Bulwer, and his mother was of the ancient family of Lytton of Knebworth, in Hertfordshire. Upon his mother's death in 1843, the novelist succeeded to her valuable estate, and took the name Lytton. While our author was prominent in political matters, yet we shall record only his literary work. His first volume appeared in 1820, the work having been written between the ages of thirteen and fifteen. In his next appearance, he was the successful candidate for a prize poem in Cambridge University; in 1825, he carried off a gold medal for the best English poem. In 1826 appeared a volume of miscellaneous verse, entitled Weeds and Wild Flowers, and in 1827, a poetical narrative, called O'Neill, or, The Rebel. From this time, his pen was never idle. From the appearance of his first volume till his death, "there was no reposing under the shade of his laurels-no living upon the resources of past reputation; his foot was always in the arena, and his shield hung always in the list." His prominent works may be recorded as follows: In 1827 appeared Falkland, his first novel; 1828, Pelham, or, the Adventures of a Gentleman; 1828, The Disowned; 1829, Devereux, A Novel, much more finished than his former works; 1830, Paul Clifford,-below the average of his former works; 1831, The Siamese Twins, a poem satirical of fashion, of travelers, of politicians, London notoriety, etc. His political satire proved almost a failure, though showing some vigorous thought. Returning to fiction, he was more fortunate in 1831 in Eugene Aram, a Story of English Life. In 1833 appeared his England and the English; 1834, The Pilgrims of the Rhine. The Last Days of Pompeii, one of his greatest works, and the one from which we have made our chief selection, appeared in 1835. Then followed in quick succession Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes, The Crisis, Ernest Maltravers, Alice, or The Mysteries, Athens, and numerous others, all worthy of mention. We will only record Night and Morning, followed by Day and Night, Lights and Shadows, Glimmer and Gloom. The limit of our sketch forbids further notice of Lord Lytton's productions. It would require volumes to make proper mention of his writings, with full notes. "He was at the head of the English literature, with the single exception of Mr. Carlyle; his works were popular over all Europe, and his fertility and industry seemed unabated. His son, the present Lord Lytton, has, with a just pride, said of his father: 'Whether as an author, standing apart from all literary cliques and coteries, or as a politician, never wholly subject to the exclusive dictation of any political party, he always thought and acted in sympathy with every popular aspiration for the political, social and intellectual improvement of the whole national life.'" Lord Lytton left an unfinished romance, Pausanias, the Spartan, which was published by his son in 1876. Last Days of Pompeii. Lord Lytton's "Historical Romance," from which this selection is taken, is extremely interesting. The description is the work of Lytton's fancy, but is founded apon the destruction of Herculaneum and Pompeii by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, A. D. 79. In 1750, nearly seventeen centuries after its destruction, the city of Pompeii was disinterred from its silent tomb, all vivid with undimmed hues; its walls fresh as if painted yesterday. The scene is located in the amphitheater, when the cloud of fire and destruction was seen rolling toward the city. Glaucus, an Athenian, had been accused of murdering the priest Apaecides, and was doomed to furnish amusement to the spectators by fighting a hungry lion in the amphitheater. As the Athenian entered the arena, All evidence of fear-all fear itself was gone. A red and haughty flush spread over the paleness of his features-he towered aloft to the full of his glorious stature. In the elastic beauty of his limbs and form, in his intent but unfrowning brow, in the high disdain, and in the indomitable soul, which breathed visibly, which spoke audibly, from his attitude, his lip, his eye, he seemed ine very incarnation, vivid and corporeal, of the valor of his land-of the divinity of its worship-at once a hero and a god! * * Glaucus had bent his limbs so as to give himself the firmest posture at the expected rush of the lion, with his small and shining weapon raised on high, in the faint hope that one well-directed thrust (for he knew that he should have time but for one), might penetrate through the eye to the brain of his grim foe. But, to the unutterable astonishment of all, the beast seemed not even aware of the presence of the criminal. At the first moment of its release it halted abruptly in the arena, raised itself half on end, snuffing the upward air with impatient sighs; then suddenly it sprang forward, but not on the Athenian. At half speed it circled round and round the space, turning its vast head from side to side with an anxious and perturbed gaze, as if seeking only some avenue of escape; once or twice it endeavored to leap up the parapet that divided it from the audience, and, on failing, uttered rather a baffled howl than its deep-toned and |