The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-03 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

Blackwood. considerable portion of the
" leading article" of Maga for September—a re-
markable paper descriptive of " Life in the Interior
of Russia "—we have already transferred to our
columns, through the medium of extended extracts
which made their appearance in our impressions of
Friday and Saturday evening. The writer of the
paper in question had previously made himself fa-
vourably known to the readers of Blackwood, it
will be remembered, by means of his narrative re-
counting in the August number of that chief of the
Magazines, " The Internal Sufferings of Russia
from the War"—a chapter of contemporary history
which did not fail to arouse very general interest
immediately upon its publication. Another chap-
ter of a similar kind, and one possessing a no less
immediate interest than its notable predecessor,
here mentioned, we have just now particularised as
the chief political attraction in the present number
of Blackwood's Magazine. This we say without
any desire to disparage tho merits of the closing
contribution, the one entitled " Our Beginning of
the Last War," a contribution referring, by a very
appreciable analogy, to the events which have
transpired in our own time sin' e the date of the
present War's Commencement. The superior charm
of the article headed " Life in the Interior of
Russia" is discoverable, of course, among other
sources in its peculiar combination of novelty and
authenticity. It will be found on examination to
be the result of personal observation and individual
experience. As such, it describes the landed pro-
prietors of the Holy Russian Empire—contrasts
the condition of its serfs and its nobles—depicts
the precise nature of the relations between masters
and servants—sketches the salient points in Rus-
sian travelling—delineates the Siberian convicts,
travelling convicts, the merchants, and other
notable persons encountered by strangers in
the throng of the Muscovite population. " Zaidee"
—the serial romance now adorning, during
the last ten months, the pictured pages of
Blackwood—unravels the golden thread of its
story, tangled together in a plot of infinite ela-
boration. The interest of the narrative increases
now with every fresh instalment. In such we look
for the long-expected revelation—when the Vivians
shall at length discover their lost Zaidee, the little
brown Zaidee of seven years ago, in the beautiful,
accomplished, gentle, Elizabeth Cumberland. The
probability of this eclaireissement has become
greater and more imminent now that the last few
chapters, those we have just perused with eager
curiosity in the new number of Ebony for Sep-
tember, has introduced the heroine of the tale not
only to Percy Vivian, the Great Author, but also
to his sister Elizabeth, the wife of Captain Bernard
Morton, member of Parliament. After this fresh
and welcome instalment of " Zaidee " comes a re-
view of " Maud :by Alfred Tennyson." Suffi-
cient for us, if we here observe in reference to this
review of " Maud" by the critic of Blackwood,
that the writer entirely coincides with the opinions
expressed by ourselves in The Sun of Monday, the
27th of August, in regard to the extravagant de-
merits of the nuw poem as a work altogether un-
worthy of our Poet Laureate, and (as such) as one
calculated to prove wonderfully injurious to his
cherished and honoured reputation. An indiffe-
rent fragment of blank verse by R. H. P., entitled
" Wagram : or, Victory in Death," together with
two continuations, one (part vi.) of the " Notes on
Canada," and the other (part iii.) of " The Impe-
rial Policy of Russia," complete, with another
paper not mentioned, the current number of
Blackwood for September. That contribution is
itself the commencement of a new serial entitled
" Light Literature for the Holidays"—part one
having especial reference to " Beli's Life in Lon-
don." It, gives some promise of fuo—its writer
possessing; evidently enough, a genuine apprecia-
tion of harum-scarum, helter-skelter, rollicking,
roystering amusement. Recognising which, and
leaving,' him fairly mounted on a good sound
hobby, and off at `a canter, we give him the view-
hallo ! or, if he likes it better, the review-hallo ! as
our farewell greeting.

Dublin University.—" The Fortunes of Glen-
core" is continued ; it is a strange story, but be-
comes more developed in this portion of it. Some
new characters appear upon the scene, and the re-
cluse himself is more intimately met with. He was
labouring under some extraordinary calamity which
he would not, or could not, make known. Har-
court, a friend whom he summoned, was not much
comfort to him, owing to his abruptness. At the
conclusion a promise is made by a mutual acquain-
tance to visit the retreat at Gleucore. This was
Horace Upton, who was a diplomatist abroad, and
appeared to be a more congenial nature to the un-
happy outcast than off-hand Harcourt. Willy
Traynor is the most interesting character to be
found in the narrative, he is described as " poet,
physician, and pedlar," and his straightforwardness
and sincerity appear to striking advantage be-
side the cunning diplomacy, the covert sneers,
and the sickly sentimentality of the others.
" Alberico Porro" is proceeded with, and becomes
more exciting, as we are at last introduced to the
terrible end of all the midnight meetings and the
concealed consultations. Young Porro comes for-
ward as the acknowledged leader, but the first suc-
cess is soon counterbalanced, and after all their
efforts the Milanese have to surrender. At this
critical juncture the unfortunate combatants are
left to await the awful end that is prepared for them
by covert treachery or open violence. " Brictic of
Bristol" is an amusing chronicle in rhyme. It cites
the adventures and misfortunes of a hero of long
ago, for he lived in the days of William the Con-
queror. His life of levity and fun was prematurely
concluded by being imprisoned perpetually in con-
sequence of having offended Mathilde the queen.
In "Russian Literature" a sketch is given from the
writings of Nicholas Gogon, which is a quaint and
simple definition of the life of Russian peasants.
It is said that Nicholas Gogan perished in a myste-
rious manner in the prime of life, but not before
he had established a reputation which it was beyond
the reach of tyranny to destroy. The cruel warfare
that is waged against genius in Russia is thus com-
mented on :

" There is no country in the world where the action
of despotism upon national literature is more remarkable
than in Russia. The pursuit of authorship is at all
times proverbially a precarious one ; but in that country
be path to literary fame leads only too surely to the
grave. For the purposes of state policy, the vigorous
censorship which exists over all the products of intelli-
gence is not considered sufficient ; no sooner has a writer
displayed any boldness or freedom of thought than he
is panned by a destiny which follows him in every phase
of his career, and strikes him down generally before he
has reached his prime. The history of Russian literature
adds a new and an instructive chapter to the calamities
of authors, and at this time it affords a subject which
cannot fail to prove interesting. When we come to
examine it, we can scarcely help feeling surprised that
such a thing as literature exists there at all. A brief
glance at the list of its victims is almost enough—one of
the most remarkable men of his day, Koltzoff, was con-
demned at the age of twenty-two to perpetual exile in
Sibei is ; Belowky, the poet, perished miser Ably of
famine ; Poutchin was killed in a duel ; Venitztinoff
died at Teheran by poison. In short no sooner does a
man of letters attain any eminence than he is struck
down by a fate as mysterious as it is inevitable."
Some remarks are made on the session, in which
the writer finds fault with all that has been done
on both sides of the house, but does not suggest
what they ought to have accomplished. In the
lines entitled "Antique Glimpses" there are some
pleasing verses, but the poetry is not so good as is
ordinarily met with in this magazine. Those who
wish for studious subjects will meet with them in
some carefully-written articles—" Bunsen's Egypt"
" Sirlsaac Newton," and " A Glimpse of Old Eng-
lish Diplomacy." " Italian Literature during the
Tercento" is an interesting subject. It is said that
to the Triumvirate of the Tercento—Daute, Pe-
trarch, and Boccaccio—" Italy owes the formation
of her language, the glory of her literature, and
the celebrity of her name. A curious fact is seen
in the different judgments of them, and now, as
regards the appreciation of the works of the poets.
Dante's fame is founded on the same fabric ; but
Petrarch's epic, which then crowned him with glory,
is comparatively unregarded : while the odes and
sonnets of his lighter hours " still flourish fresh
And charming, transmitting the name and fame of
the poet from age to age.

—The first article in this
magazine Bentley's
cording the Bombardment of Sweaborg and the
is stated that the opinions minor details of the pro-
Battle of the Tchernaya as the great events of the
month, and
the giving manysiege.lt
in the military circles of Vienna, where ample in-
formation o f n g Russiane
Fnintelligence,
are decidedly
favourable to the prospects of the Allies. A. review
,f the memoirs of the late Lieutenant Bellot gives
an interesting outline of his life and adventures.
Mr. Jolly Green's " Account of the Queen's Visit
to Paris" is not very entertaining. A criticism on
Tennyson's " Maud " does not say much for the
critic's judgment, inasmuch as he styles it a " finer
poem than the Princess," and asserts that the
work will win now admirers by the energy with
which " a new song, set with melodious meaning,"
is sung to a well-stringed lute. The criticism itself
is curious enough, being little more than extracts
from the book itself turned into prose. A painful
end striking story follows it, which is asserted to
be founded on fact ; it is entitled " A Draught of
Poison," and the tragical event which it narrates is
said to have taken place some years ago in a town
in the went of Ealgtgliik An elaborate description

is given of the " Position of the Russians in the
Field," and a list is added of the various points
of attack which present themselves for the consi-
deration of the Allies. A sketch of the " History
of the Drama in the Middle Ages " gives an account
of the singular miracle plays of the early ages of the
Church. The list of expenses gives some curious
items, such as "payd for starch() to make the
storme in the pagente," and, on another occasion,
" Item, payd for settying the world of fyer." We
cannot help agreeing, however, with the old Wy-
cliffite preachers, who contended that the tendency
of such performances was to cause irreverence for
sacred things, and not to promote religious feeling,
as was at first their object. When we see the most
sacred names recorded in this old entry as receiv-
ing a few pence for acting and for the decorations
of their clothes we are certainly disposed to ques-
tion the impressive and solemn character which
some have claimed for these old miracle plays. It
must be explained that in those days it was cus-
tomary to give the names of the characters per-
formed and not those of the actors. The writer
of this article regards these old mysteries, as they
were called, as the foundation of the English
drama. " Even in Shakspere himself we see the
influence of the old mediaeval forms, the boldness
of the personification, the carelessness of the dra-
matic unities, the reckless anachronisms, and espe-
cially the interweaving of the favourite comic
scenes with the most serious, and even tragical
plots—those characteristics indeed which the
foreign critics of Shakspere have so often misun-
derstood. It may be added that the old mysteries
were still performed to the lower classes, in a de-
based form, by the mountebanks in booths at fairs,
though they had lost all their former importance,
the memory of which, however, was still preserved
in the use of the term a play, a farce, &c., and in
such phrases as to play, to bring on the stage, and
the like, which we still preserve." " The Adven-
tures of Benjamin Bobbin " are continued for the
benefit of the lovers of the ludicrous.

The New Monthly.—The writer who has during
the last few months been giving an analysis of the
military resources of the different European
powers has contributed to this number a paper on
" The Fortresses of Germany." The writer consi-
ders that there exists in the centre of Europe an
amount of strength which, were it energetically
directed, might put an end to the present war.
The internal defences of Germany are incomplete,
and the result of the view which is taken of them

is, that notwithstanding the efforts made to render
her frontier impregnable, some vital points are left
undefended. The travels of Dr. Felix Magnard
" From Paris to Sebastopol," though published
under the auspices of M. Alexander Dumas, do
not offer any striking novelty. A paper on " Life
Assurance Offices " strongly advises the public not
to abandon the old for the new without caution.
" Ensign Pepper's Letters from the Crimea ' are
continued, and describe the attack on the Redan
among the experiences of that hero. An article
on the " Natural History of Labuan" gives us
some interesting particulars of that island, which
is a fragment of the mountain land of Borneo. Na-
turalists will be interested in the perusal of the
work which Mr. Motley and Mr. Dilwyn have
written on this subject, as the island possesses many
curious and uncommon species. A paper on "Let-
ter Carrying in the Olden Time" has some amus-
ing notes of the postal system in those days. The
practice of sending goods by the postmen or car-
riers was at one time very common. Some of
these must have been rather formidable charges
to judge from the following items in the postmas-
ter's letter-book. Itnprirnus—" Fifteen couple of
houndes. Item—Two servant maids, going as
laundresses to my Lord Ambassador Methuen.
Item—Doctor Crichton, carying with him a cow
and other necessaries. Item—Three suits of
cloathes, for some nobleman's lady at the Court of
Portugal." The "Haste ! post haste ! " which is
written on the back of many private letters at the
close of the fifteenth century, would now provoke
a smile. The history of " Stoke Dotterell" is con-
tinued, and relates the novel adventure of a heroine
being rescued from a falling house. Another pa-
per on the customs of the olden time is on the
robberies of the eighteenth century, when the
highwaymen and assassins had attained a degree
of boldness and ferocity we now regard as almost
incredible. The narratives quoted here from the
news of the day are written without any exaggera-
tion, and evidently treat as commonplace occur-
rences what would now be regarded as extraordi-
nary and appalling crimes. A new story is com-
menced by the author of "The Unholy Wish,"
under the title of " The Lunatic Asylum." It is
written with his usual skill in exciting the reader's
interest, though that interest promises to be a
painful one. " The Dance Round the Plagae-
Pit " is a poem descriptive of the fate of some
wretches who, at the time of the plague, spent a
night in dancing round the fearful grave prepared
for the victims of the plague. In the morning
they were found dead. One of the most attractive
subjects is " Literature in France," by Sir Na-
thaniel. It is not, however, equal to the paper in
the last number. The " Diary of a Winter in
Rome" is continued with interest.

Colboine's United Service.—The war in the East
and the bombardment of Sweaborg are, as a matter
of course, the principal subject of comment. With
respect to the siege of Sebastopol, the policy of the
Allies taking the field, fighting a pitched battle,
and sweeping the Crimea clear of the Russians, is
again urged, the writer, however, admitting that,
under the circumstances, the impending assault
should first take place. The despatch of Omer
Paella to the Asiatic field of operations is forcibly
condemned, and it is asserted that the relief of
Kars might be more advantageously effected by
an expedition from India directed against Tiflis.
The prospect of raising the required Itaiian legion,
and of its proving both physically and politically
serviceable, is described as good. A triumphant
flourish respecting the bombardment of Sweaborg,
hardly warranted by the result, heralds a brief
historical and descriptive account of Trobizond and
Erzeroum. Subsequently the editor intimates
that t''e season will admit of more being done in
the Baltic, which we believe ; but he actually
praises Sir Charles Wood in connection with the
late bombardment. Under the head of " Military
Operations in Turkey," we have some common-
sense reflections on the real magnitude of the war,
and the haphazard way in whic'.l it has been di-
rected, followed by a judicious attembt to throw
light on Eastern affairs and people. Besides the
above there are other papers more or less profes-
sional, and a cordial and worthily-earned tribute
to the memory of that noble Frenchman Lieu-
tenant Bellot.