The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-12 00:00:00

Anti-slavery Recollections. By Sir George Stephen

liatchara.

These recollections are written in a series of
letters addressed to Mrs. Beecher Stowe, at her re-
quest.• The author does not profess to offer a his-
tory. of negro emancipation, but merely to afford a
brief account of the religious principle on which
the agitation was conducted, and the rapid success
of that agitation, with a few sketches of the prin-
cipal agents in the work. It has been the author's
object to avoid an offensive tone, and to render
justice to the memory of many distinguished abo-
litionists, and to some of the survivors whose feel-
ings had been hurt by the misappropriation of
anti-slavery credit. There are seventeen letters,
giving a concise account of the management of the
affairs, and the little volume is dedicated to Lord
Brougham.

Studies from _Nature. By Dr. Hermann Massing.
Translated by C. Boner. Chapman and Hall.
This pleasing and instructive volume will be
sure to charm all lovers of Nature, although the
circle of its descriptions is restricted to Germany.
The forest trees of :Northern Germany are fully
described in the firut part. In the second the
characteristics of birds aro delineated. The frog
and other creatures subsequently appear. The most
curious and interesting details are given of all their
peculiarities. The author is evidently an accom-
plished scholar as well as an experienced na-
turalist. There are numerous quotations from
the classic authors a:ad authorities of various lan-
guages. The notes a t the end of the volume are,
as the translator just)ly observes, not the least in-
teresting part of the book. " They are full of the
quail test information —old customs, long-forgotten
rhymes, droll stories, classical allusions ; but all is
given so pleasantly that erudite learning seems
rather to be a mere wi lo and a pastime than asso-
ciated, as we aro accustomed to fancy, with dry
study and grave pedantic mien. Never did
schoolman, never surely did German professor,
read to us texts from mouldy volumes and ancient
chronicles with so clioery a voice." The volume is
ornamented with woodcuts, and will form a most
elegant and attractive gift-book for the present
season.

Talpa ; or, The Chronicles of a Clay Farm. By
Chandos Wren Hoskyns. Lovell Reeve.
This is a third and cheaper edition of this well-
known and successful little work, whose object is
best explained by its motto " _Modem, dicere
verum.' Written in a lively and interesting-man-
ner, it contains much information on agricultural
points, such as the best methods of draining, fenc-
ing, the application of lime to the soil, &c. It is
dedicated to the readers and. contributors of the
Gardener's Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette,
" in the hope and belief that agricultural thought
may be candid, and even speculative, yet hus-
bandry not the less practical." The different ex-
periments and improvements tried by the author
will prove both useful and interesting to those
similarly occupied.

FREEMASONS' GIRLS SeHooL.---The quarterly meet-
ing of the governors of this school was held at the
school-house, Wandsworth•conunov, yesterday ; Mr.
Barnes in the chair. The minutes of the various sub-
committees having been submitted to the meeting mid
received, a proposition was brought forward for putting
the school under the supervision of the Government in-
spectors ; but the motion was rejected, upon the ground
that the Freemasons had always, and ought always to
keep their charities distinct from all extraneous inter-
ference. Eight vacancies will occur in the school in
April, to fill which there are eight candidates ; but it is
to be feared -that one cannot be admitted on account of
her health. The court stands adjourned until the 15th
March, to consider certain alterations in the bye-laws.
The Government notification that the Russian ports
in the Black Sea and the Seitof Azoff are intended to be
blockaded on the Ist of February next has a singular ap-
pearance, after the announcement made in the House of
Lords on the 22d December that the strictest orders for
a blockade had been sent out two months previously, and
that no doubt was entertained of its having been effi-
ciently carried out. Notwithstanding all the variable
statements hitherto made, some reliance is entertained
that this new order is really to be enforced ; and the
markets for Russian produce yesterday were rather
firmer, although they are etill affected by the possi-
bility of peace.