The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-01 00:00:00

TEE MAGAZINES.

Blackwood.—Blackwood opens with a paper en-
titled " Whence have come our dangers ?" The
answer to this momentous question is suggested to
be the system of retrenchment generally adopted,
and the reduction of the army which has been
effected during the late peace. It is justly ob-
served that the theory that wars are to cease, and
that pacific interests are to govern the world, is
always popular with the unrellecting, but is at
in
teresting
romance utterly impracticable. The
romance of " Zaidee," by the charming authoress
of "Katie Stewart," whose style is easily recog-
nised, continues with unabated attractions. It
would seem to promise to be a longer and more
fully-developed story from the style of its com-
mencement than either of its predecessors. An
important event occurs in the present instalment,
iu the discovery of the will, that hidden treasure
which has rendered poor Zaideo miserable. We
look to its continuation with interest. It is fol-
lowed by a criticism of Professor Ferrier's " Insti-
tutes of Metaphysic," which the writer defines as
"the science that teaches man the length of his
tether," teaching him less what be may know, than
what he may not know. Au account of " Scharnyl
and the War in the Caucasus" gives some interesting
details of the life of that chief. The biographer, how
ever, declines to believe the story of the Tchetchenzes
envoys, which certainly is a very incredible tale,
and very little to the credit of the Warrior Prophet
of the Caucasus, as it attributes his mother's death
to the punishment inflicted by his fanaticism. Au
article entitled " Ilevalations of a Showman" ' con-
tains a notice of Mr. Barnum's autobiography, and
gives an unqualified and well-merited condemna-
tion of that contemptible volume. The life of
Lord Metcalfe affords the subject for an abstract
of his history and a narrative of his public career.
His epitaph, written by Mr. Macaulay, is a.ppended.
It is somewhat curious to see a criticism on Bulwer
in the pages he has so often enriched by his contri-
butions. The critic, in entering on the subject,
proposes to consider him only as the author of
'' Pelham," " The Cantons," and `'My Novel."
While agreeing fully in his admiration for the last
two works, which have already gained for them-
selves an enduring reputation, we cannot coincide
with his hasty dismissal of all the previous
works, except the first. Few of the readers of " The
Last Days of Pompeii," of " Eugene Aram," or
or of "Night and 11.1erning," however they may differ
from the sentiment expressed or moral conveyed,
will admit them to be unworthy of the author's
fame. For the rest the critic renders full justice to
the three works, which alone he admits to consi-
deration. "The Story of the Campaign, written in a
Tent in the Crimea," is continued, and describes the
battle of Inkerman, and winter on the plains.
The narrative concludes at the beginning of De-
cember, and leaves the army under comparatively
cheerful auspices, sustained by the hopes of the
speedy arrival of those huts and supplies which,
alas ! have not yet reached them. It is written in
a clear and vigorous style, and gives a graphic pic-
ture of the camp life. There are two poetical con-
tributions, one from the late Professor Forbes, of
average merit ; the other, " To au Italian Beggar
Boy," is very inferior to the verses generallyfound
in the pages of Blackwood.

The Dublin University.—" The Dramatic Writers
of Ireland" is continued, and is of great interest,
conveying in slight sketches a general idea of the
most distinguished men who appeared before the
public in that department of literature. Richard
Steele claims rather a larger theme of attention
than the others under notice. Some pains are de-
voted to the consideration of his connection with
Addison, and especially of the awkward affair into
which they were led by the repeated practice of
Steele borrowing sums of money from Addison.
Many different versions of the same story are given,
but the fact appears the same in all, of Addison's
having had recourse to law to obtain his rights.
It does not appear that such stringent measures at
all interfered with their friendship, however, as
that continued unbroken till Addison's death in
1719. Coffey was greatly deformed in person, but
ho did not feel any of the awkwardness usually felt
by those similarly afflicted. He even went so far
as to perform the part of 2Esop. Owen Swiney was
not very fortunate in his attempts, for, after under-
' taking the management of the operas and Drury-
lane in 1710, he was obliged to live abroad for
twenty years to recruit his finances. The story of
the " Lichtensteiners" is concluded this month ; it
is very interesting and well told. There aro some
painful scenes in it, especially the one in which the
unfortunate Katharine Fissel falls a victim to the
cruelty of her savage persecutors, in consequence
of not yielding up her sister and denying her faith.
However, the events are more satisfactory at
last, and the wicked Hinka was killed by a
thunderbolt as he was tracking the fugitives.
The accounts of the various escapes of the
hero and heroine aro very exciting to peruse,
and the old Bohemian who led them to a place in
the rocks designated " Husse's Rest," is quite a
character in his quaint and singular style and de-
portment. "Poets and Poetasters " contains
some very apt remarks on the numerous race of
versifiers who have lately appeared before the
world. While to some the reviewer awards ample
justice, of others he Justly makes satirical allusions.
One of those lyrical aspirants pleads that the work
in question was written at a childish age under die-
couragements. It is wisely remarked here that
" youth, inexperience, haste, these are not reasons
to influence the critic in his judgment, though they
are excellent reasons to do what they fail to do—
namely, to deter the author from publishing what
he has so written." Again, in another instance
the author suddenly exclaims, in the ninth canto—
" Why do I thus mine idle notes prolong,
And, vainly musing, think I utter song."

" We most solemnly protest we are unable to an-
swer the question, and were disposed to ask it ere
we had read half-a-dozen pages." " The Redeemed
Vow," a fragment, is a most extraordinary compo-
sition, which has little plot, and that exceedingly
improbable. " Flights to Fairyland " is amusing
enough, and though not more vraisonlable than
the above-named poem, its marvels aro accounted
for by its title. " The Boundary Map of Europa,"
is a long and elaborate disquisition on the subjects
now engrossing public attention. To those who
wish to study in detail the causes and effects of the
war it offers attraction, and will impart iutelligonee
and information.

Colburn's New Monthly.—The first article in
this number contains an account of the Foreign
Legions of France, the most distinguished of whom
were the Scotch and Swiss. The former were at
an early period looked upon as the hereditary
enemies of England and the natural allies of France.
" Gotham and Porkopolis" is the singular title of
a German's narrative of a residence in New York
and in Cincinnati, the two cities which aro known
by the above appellations. " Tom Pepper's Letters
from the Crimea" are this month in accordance with
the melancholy reports which every day gain
ground. " The Young Authoress" is a very unsuc-
cessful attempt at burlesque. " The Diary of a First
Winter fill:Ionia" is continued, aid givesa description
of the Carnival. The desecration of the Eternal City
the authoress bewails pathetically, and truly from
her account the effect produced on the spectator
must be anything but agreeable. The custom of
flinging lime in people's faces is most extraordinary
and reprehensible, as its injurious effects upon the
eyes are well known. But, according to this writer,
the greatest fun is who can hurt his neighbour
most, and a vulgar, violent species of mirth it
seems to be. The only pleasing part is the " Moc-
coli," or torch night, when every one carries a
torch, which he endeavours to preserve alight while
he extinguishes his neighbour's. " Literary
Leaflets by Sir Nathaniel" have reached their
twenty-eighth number, which is devoted, to
,
Mrs. Jameson's " Commonplace Book, of
which it gives a favourable and attractive account.
Some songs of the war, by J. E. Carpenter, aro
scarcely equal to this author's former writings,
with the exception of one of them intended for a
duet,
A. paper
swohmiechoifs
the
er
Inconveniencesbetterthanthe oot
fhers. Paying
One's
Debts" gives an amusing description of the miseries
debts.that
ethnedwhrniteNry
as merelyobig from paying his
to leave the
country, though—as people far more frequently
live abroad on account of not having paid their
debts—the moral is hardly to he received. " The
Reception of the Dead" is the continuation. of
The Elopement," and is not a very probable story.
A paper on " Our Camp in Turkey" concludes the
number.

United Service.—lf you dine with the mess, it is
said, you expect to hear of the army, and with
equal reason the readers of the magazine look to
find its pages mainly occupied with comments on
the war, and on military and naval matters gene-
rally. In this expectation, it is almost superfluous
to say, they will not be disappointed in the
present number. In a resume of the operations
during the past mouth before Sebastopol,
and a spirited narrative by a medical officer,
of " Doings in the Crimea, " we come to
the continuation of an important paper, headed "A
Few Facts relative to the Best System of Breaching,
as exemplified by the Experiments carried on at
Bassaume. The paper is incomplete, but, so far as
we can gather, the experiment of firing half charges
obliquely, under given circumstances, has been at-
tended with success, and other results have been
attained which cannot but have their effect on the
direction of siege gunnery. The witty author of
"Singleton Fontenoy " contributes !! The Middle

consisting of a series o
Watch," an amusing paper,
visions or satiric sketches on board p. In " Re-
marks on the Corap-Aition of the Staff, ".our wretched
military system hi hero designated' as it de-
serves, and A
is urge d that if the great Duke fought
his way triumphamtly . through the Peninsula,
that was the fruit of lets genius, and not of the
system. " Military Promotion and Hierarchy of
France " is continued, and the career of General
Caurobert is narrated. up to the present time. It
is said of him, " Ile is daring and brave, confident,
but cautious; but of such daringness and hardi-
hood that he requires a 11.te utor, such as he is sure to
find in Lord Raglan. Nod !ling can stop Caurobert.
He knows of no impedimeAt; of no impossibility.
War is his element, in which he splashes away like
a fish in a sunny stream ; at id when one victory is
won still he is eager for ..the fray.' " The suc-
ceeding paper, " Hints front the Crimea on the
Organisation of the British Az my," is perhaps the
most important paper of the Ira mber, and contains
suggestions which have now souse chance of being
listened to. The deficiency of borlr our infantry and.
cavalry in everything appertaining to the art and
practice of war save hard fighting, and the cause or
causes are forcibly pointed out; and an additional
and fatal deficiency is shown to exist in the want
of attachment in the trooper to his horse. In the
editor's portfolio a kindly lift is given to Sir Chas.
Napier, who, we cannot but think, has somehow
or other been sacrificed.

Bentley's Miscellany.—Tho first paper in this
month's number is ou that most paisfid subject
that now occupies so muck of public attention
State of the Army before Sebastopol, and
the Mismanagement of the wa.r." It is appro-
priately followed by
a brief expression of indigna-
tion on Lord Aberdeen's reported self-bestowal of
the Blue Ribbon. Mr. Harrison Ainsworth con-
tinues his tale of "The Spendthrift "in 'the familiar
epoch of the last century. It is in his characteris-
tic style. The next paper is on " that singular
good scholar, patriot, and table-talker," John
Selden. A song "To the Battle," byMary Monk, is
full of indignation at the now-abandoned project of a
foreign legion. " The Miranda in the White Sea,"
from the journal of one of the officers, contains an in-
teresting description of the events of that expedi-
tion and of the shores of the White Sea. Arc
account of the " German Almanacs for 1855"
gives some amusing extracts from the yearly ca-
lendars of the Fatherland. The impression of the
author respecting the political feelings entertained
by the German nation is very little to their credit.
He asserts they have an ill-concealed fear of the
strength of the Czar, arid that no persuasion on
earth will induce them to coalesce with the French.
" The Blue Dragoon" is a tale of a robbery and the
discovery of the criminals. Among the most re-
markable of the remaining articles we may men-
tion " The Sanctuary of the Golden Calf," a vivid
description of a gambling house in California.

Trait's Edinburgh. Magazine.—Tait's Magazine
is, it is said, under a new direction, and a visible
improvement may be discerned in its pages. The
contents have generally displayed superior ability,
but they now appear to be of a more literary and
generally interesting character. It opens with the
second number of a series of papers on the " Men
and Movements of our Times." It is followed by-
ar! article on "The Great American Humbug."
e are sure it is unnecessary to inform the reader
who that is. " The Retrospections of a Reverist"
is a pleasing tale, which is concluded from last
number. One of the most attractive articles is on
" The American Poets," the second instalment of
the criticism. Among thosel mentioned are Dr.
Holmes, who has been unjustly called the American
' Hood—the present writer more truly designates
him a convivial Cowper ; and J. Lowell, the writer
of the brilliant " Fabl© for Critics," whose vigorous
and earnest verses aro sometimes as excellent as
his more humorous pieces. Alice Carey is a
pleasing and melodious writer we should imagine
from the specimens extracted ; and while we
own the necessity of the warning which the
critic gives to all American poets that the simile
of Ruth among the sheaves is utterly exhausted,
wo are inclined to consider that our transatlantic
neighbours are better off than we are in poets of
the second class. Perhaps when the fatal mist of
obscurity that now dims our perception of our own
writers' powers is cleared away wo shall be able to
rival them. A paper on the "Coffee-houses of the
Restoration," and historical studies of the eternal
" Eastern Question," conclude this interesting
number.

The Law Magazine.—This valuable law review-
opens with a few observations respecting the Eng-
lish theory of succession ab intcstato, in which the
present imperfect state of the law of succession is
pointed out. In an article headed, " Trial with-
out Jury," great advantages are anticipated to the
judicial and forensic character, from the practice
of dispensing with juries. "Lord Brougham and
Vaux : his Professional and Parliamentary career,"
is continued. This paper, written in a friendly
spirit, and with much vigour and discrimination,
considerably enlivens tho number. In the re-
maining articles, the alleged failure of reforma-
tories, " The Amendment of County Courts,"
the question of ",Unlimited Liability," and other
subjects of importance, are handled with an ability
to which th© contributors of the Law Magazine
are wellcaaczsattomceodm.morins
luasyrualanthdereeqauriteyndouterins ofg
lending
the quArtor.

The London University Calendar for the present
year will not be found inferior to its predecessors.
In addition to the Calendar it contains the classical
subjects for the matriculation and B.A. examina-
tions in 1855 and 1856, regulations, and other
matters of special interest to the student in the
above University.

The Gardener's and Naturalist's Almanac. By
Joseph Harrison. Houlston aitd Stoneman.

An almanac horticulturists, naturalists, and
all, especially cottagers, engaged in the cultiva-
tion of garden produce, will to well to purchase.
It is very cheap, and contains directions for the
operations of every month, together with astro-
meteorological predictions.