The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-02 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

Blackwood.—The first article in Blackwood is
entitled " How to Dress Him," and was written
some time since by one who, at the commence-
ment of the war, " threw aside the pen for the
sword." Now, however, when the general atten-
tion is so earnestly directed to the consideration of
the military system, and when experience has
proved his melancholy anticipations to be well-
grounded, the writer thought it expedient to set
forth the defects which had come under his notice
in the clothing department. Truly, the list of
articles of clothing, which are little short of instru-
ments of torture, is sufficient to excite astonishment
as well as indignation. The points especially
alluded to are the shako, the stock, and the boot.
The concluding chapter, written after the fulfilment
of the author's prophecies, contains many sensible ob-
servations. "Is disaster," it is asked, "the fault of
men or systems?" The reply given is, "Of both, but
the men were most culpable. The system was bad— 1
had•as could be, but it never could have caused such
disaster had there been able men to wielcl the might
and sustain the honour of England." It is well
said that " in peace there may be safety in a multi-
tude of counsellors, but there must be one head,
one hand to govern a crisis." It is suggested at the
conclusion that the Government, if unable to make
the necessary provisions from the public depart-
ments, might have taken advantage of " a spirit of
enterprise and speculation that knew not check or
limit—a manufacturing ability which laughed at
time or quantity," which had sprung up since the
last campaign.
"Had the Government expressed its want, how long
would it have been ere a body of able men, with a
civil officer at their head, would have been ready for
any service ?—and so on. How long would a demand
for warehousemen and wharfingers, to transship and
house the stores of an army, have been announced
in the City or in Liverpool ere there would
have been volunteers enow How long would
our manufacturing firms have been in supplying any
quantity or quality of clothing, tents, &c., or our
trading men in collecting medicine, wine, &c., necessary
for the sick ? Would there have not been tenders
by the hundred for undertaking the draught and trans.
port work for any time or any distance ? Has not a firm
volunteered now to furnish meals, ready cooked to our
soldiers at any distance from the coast, at the cost of
3s. 3d. a day per man ? Does this firm stand alone in
enterprise and patriotism ? All these things might
have been prepared ere our soldiers were ready.
Thesa resources were at hand, but our rulers were too
blind to see, too indolent to avail themselves of them.
Had they been resorted to, how much of disaster and
disgrace might have been spared. Our generals, without
anxiety for their communications, commissariat, or
transport, might have bestowed all their attention on
the discipline and tactics of the army. The soldiers
would have marched and fought, with the assurance of
finding, when all was over, their camp ready, their sup-
per cooked, their blankets at hand, and of-having a change
of clothing when the season required it. The cavalry
would have found forage for their chargers, and would
not have known the mortification of seeing the noble
animals which had carried them through a charge, dying
from starvation or cold, or degraded to the work of beasts
of burden. This, with the past fresh in our memory, seems
a Utopian view, yet we have a faith that it may be realised.
We speak not more of the past than for the future. We
believe that, in all our military operations, it would he.
better to trust to the general resources of the country,
and the vitality of commercial enterprise, than to depend
on departmetiO, which must become inefficient from
disuse, or the reductions inevitable in time of peace."
A second paper is given on " Psychological Inqui-
ries," which is somewhat complex and abstruse in
its nature. The usual instalment of "Zaidee" fol-
lows. In this part we are introduced to a new
group—the family circle of the Disbrowes—ihe home
where poor Zaidee has taken refuge. We have the
easy,indolentfather,thecleverrnanaging"mamma,"
the real head of the family, the bustling self-pos-
sessed bride, the pert younger sister, and a whole
group of nursery elves, all installed as claimants
for our interest or attention. Zaidee herself ap-
pears to-be in a position of considerable difficulty,
yet while her loneliness and ignorance make her
feel helpless and bewildered, and she even doubts
if what she has done is' not very wrong, she still
clings to her self-sacrificing resolution even in de-
fiance of the loving words that reach her from her
only friends, bidding her "come hpme." A criticism
on the literary character of Charles Dickens
will at once attract the reader's attention. It takes
a =review of most of his works, and renders its tri-
Ie of admiration to
ng"Pickwick," " Nickolas
Nickleby," the " Old Curiosity Shop," and
"David Copperfield" in particular. While con-
curring in some of the criticisms, we must, how-
ever, demur to the allusion to the theories
of Household Words at the conclusion. In
the first place, the meaning of the pas-
sage they object to is not very clearly apparent ;
in the second place, the expression of their own
opinion is still more confused ; and in the third
place, the subject is summarily dismissed as un-
connected with Mr. Dickens' autlorship. If so,
why is it introduced B The general tone of the
article is fair and impartial, however, and many of
its criticisms just. A paper on the death of Nicho-
las is written-with fairness and ability. The con-
tinuation of the story of " The Campaign" con-
cludes the number.

University.—ln this number there are
several sketches and tales of interest. " The
Dramatic Writers of Ireland" is continued. Wo
are only presented with two characters in this divi-
sion, Arthur Murphy and Hugh Kelly. It is ob-
served of Murphy that he has not had justice done
to his merits. Churchill's satire in the Rosciad
may, it is averred, have had much to do with his
depreciation, as " nine out of ten prefer a tirade of
abuse to a chapter of panegyric." It was unfortu-
nate for Murphy that " Know your own Mind,"
the best effort of his pen, should have been post-
, poned publication nine years, and then appeared
simultaneously with the " School for Scandal." It
was cast into the shade by the superior brilliancy.
of Sheridan's composition, although of itself excel-
lent, and of au enduring nature.
The most remarkable feature in the life of Hugh
Kelly was the extraordinary confusion that arose
on the appearance of a play called " A Word to the
Wise." On account of some party feeling against
the author the play was bitterly opposed by one
section and as vehemently supported by the other.
It was impossible at last to have it performed at
all. After the death of Kelly the piece was revived
at Covent Garden, and Dr. Johnson wrote the
following prologue, which was warmly applauded
for its merit and purpose :

" This night presents a play which public rage,
Or right, or wrong, once hooted from the stage.
From zeal or malice now no more we dread,
For English vengeance wars not with the dead.

• • • •
Where aught of bright or fair the piece displays,
Approve it only—'tis too late to praise :
If want of skill, or want of care appear,
Forbear to hiss—the poet cannot hear."
" The Water Cure" is an interesting and well-
written sketch. Its purport and meaning may be
gathered from the words prefixed to it—" Having
our minds sprinkled from an evil conscience, and
our bodies washed with pure water." It is certain
that the two individuals here cited were the very
best qualified to be benefited by the treatment of
the Water Cure. One had exhausted his physical,
and the other his mental, faculties by over-
excitement. To such the invigorating systems for
body and mind were everything. A most pleasing
story is mingled with the reflections in this sketch.
The cousins had a moral trial to go through, after
the mental and physical bracing was over. The
discipline of life was theirs to work out in
many of its ramifications. Hardy, the man
of action, retired to his country estates to
gisncohmis generation, and ameliorate
the committed to his charge. Fyfe,
the
manyeleamuasnefuolf man generation,
returned to London to finish
the work laid down in misanthrophy and ennui.
"It will be a different Work ! wholesome, cheerful,
brave ; such an one as is the Io triumphe of a great
spiritual Marathon ; such an one as I never
should. have written in all my days had I not in
body and soul undergone the Water Cure."
Venetian
a picture, is rather
curious n
possessed of interest. It
is not a probable narrative, but skill and feeling
style
but
are displayed in its descriptions.
" The Barrier States of Europe" is the subject
of a long article, which is devoted to the consider-
ation of Poland ; and it is declared that one of two
courses should be adopted—either the war should
be abandoned, and each nation prepare defences
against any crisis, or " a new barrier state should
be constructed, with its north-eastern frontier line
marked by the avina and the Dnieper, and ex-
tending from the Gulf of Riga to the harbour of
Odessa. Better—said the old Anglo-Irish Chief-
tain—a castle of bones than a castle of stones.
Better either, say We, than a pent house of
protocols."

"Flights to Fairyland," has for its subject this
time " The Stolen Child," which is taken from
one of the ancient traditions of Scotland, and is a
most curious legend, even though the record be-
longs. to fairyland. " Contemporary and Post-
humous Reputation of Authors " contains some
good ideas, and some thoughts which are worthy of
attention. It is said that, " generally speaking,
he will have the best chance with posterity whose
work is most in unison with his age ; he must
neither be before nor behind it." " Let a man ex-
press in art what he sees, and those about him
ought to see—in thought, that which his fellows
stand in need of." Napoleon in his youth exclaimed
to his brother, rambling amid the rooks of Corsica,