The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-02 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

Blackwood.—The first article is on "The Baltic
in 1855," and is from the pen of the same writer
who lately described to us the position of Aland
and its inhabitants, and the general aspect of the
Baltic in 1854. The picture he draws of the natu-
ral aspect of the country is not very encouragingt
If there was exaggeration in the clangers, he tells
us there was none in the unpicturesque and unro-
mantic character of the Baltic cruises. If it be
true, as some have asserted, that the national cha-
racter is affected by its scenery, the traveller can
easily understand how the love of enterprise and
daring of the bold Norwegian rocks dies away along
the dreary Baltic shores. The writer takes a
minute and interesting survey of Cronstadt, which
he justly terms a grand and interesting study.
"As a military system of defence," he says, " it
must command our unbounded admiration. As
we trace the wonderful and skilful appliances of
science therein ; as we see how every means have
been enlisted, every resource employed, every sacri-
fice made, every power and invention brou4it into
action in its construction—we are compelled to
recognise and appreciate the skill, the foresight and
forethought, the patience, the resolution, the per-
severance and labour, which have effected such re-
sults. Baffled as we must feel ourselves to be,
when to our longing and searching scrutiny it
presents no opening, no weakness, no opportunity—
when everywhere we detect the prevailing prin-
ciple that no point should be left to a single de-
fence, but that each should be covered, backed, or
flanked by some otherstill we must feel, also,
mingled with our bitterness, a sort of triumph in
such perfection of professional art. As a military
defence it is indeed a grand effort." " Zaidee" is
continued, and this number brings us to a more
living interest and a fairer promise of one of our
authoress's charming heart-romances than any we
have yet seen. There has hitherto been something
dreamy and unreal about Zaidee and her sur-
roundings; but now both she and Mary step forth,
and assume their proper places as recognised hero-
ines, by the river Thames, and the reader awakes
to the charm of a story of domestic life. The
" Notes on Canada and the North-west States of
America" are continued with interest. The details
of canoe travelling are curious. When the Missis-
sippi is high, the rapidity with which they descend
from Crow Wing to St. Paul's is surprising. A
hundred miles in eight hours is said to have been
accomplished in these waters ; and though the
water was unusually low, the traveller's perform-
ance in one day was eighty miles. The second
part of the essay on " The Imperial Policy of
Russia " continues the review of the Sovereigns of
Russia, and traces the development of their un-
principled and aggressive policy to the latter
part of the reign of Catherine the Second,
an epoch when the intentions of Peter's
successors of "sapping the foundations of the civi-
lised world" were first discovered. The writer
promises us another paper on the same subject to
bring it to the present era. Mr. Warren's edition
of " Blackston9's Commentaries" affords a subject
for some observations on legal reform and recent
alterations. The following paper bears the some-
what contradictory title of " Modern Light Litera-
ture—Science." We are in an age of learning, in-
deed, when science is called light literature. some
very sensible remarks are made in this article,
which also criticises some recent works, among
others, Mr. Kingsley's new work of " Glaucus,"
Mr. Gosso's " Aquarium," Acheta's " Episodes of
Insect Life," and other similar works. Au article
entitled " The War, the Cabinet, and the Confe-
rences," cannot of course be anything but a vigorous
denunciation of the conduct of the Government,
and an expression of astonishment and indignation
at Lord John Russell's ambassadorial perform-
ances. " The Story of the Campaign," by the
faithful correspondent "in a tent in the Crimea,"
gives us a graphic description of the conferences
and debates, and the unsuccessful attacks on the
Malakhoff and Redan.

Dublin University.—A great variety is to met
with in this number. " Alberico Porro" is con-
tinued, the events become more striking as the
enthusiastic young hero is presented to the " Yen-
gatori," as the conspirators called themselves, as
their future leader. Many dangers are in store
for the daring and impetuous chief. The police and
government spies found out his having formed an
alliance with the disaffected, and a pretended friend
was employed to discover his secrets, and thence to
lead on to his ultimate betrayal and ruin. A
vivid description is given of the scene in which the
Archbishop Romiili entered Milan. Too soon,
however, were the rejoicings reversed, and the
place of mirth was turned to a scene of carnage.
The fierce Austrian soldiers charged upon the peo-
ple, and the sight of their brutality and injustice
rendered still more indignant the already excited
Porro. " The Fortunes of Glencore "is a strange
story, in which a nobleman, owing to some caprice,
retired to a lonely ruin, which was all that re-
mained of the castle of Oloncoro. Here he fell ill,
and an old servant could get no one to send for a
doctor or assist him in procuring a conveyance to
go himself ; accordingly, ho was induced to accept
the services of an old hunchback whom he met
with. The lordly recluse did not approve of this
arrangement, but, being faint, the improviso doc-
tor had his own way. He succeeded, however, in
restoring the patient, and there seemed some truth
is his assertion that "he had a knowledge of disease,
as of nature, by observation." " Our Sea Songs"
contain some interesting remarks on the subject of
naval poetry. It is observed that the king of the
sea poets is Dibdin. Herman Melville said that his
songs " breathe the very poetry of ocean." Ex-
tracts are given of some of his pieces—" The sweet
little cherub that sits up aloft," arc. "The Ship-
wreck" is presented in an entire form, and it is truly
prefaced of it that it is a fine production. A very
meritorious composition is brought before the
reader's notice at the conclusion of the article, en-
titled " The Sailor Boy's Grave." It is written in
a free and unaffected style, and it displays genuine
feeling, expressed in appropriate language :

" THE S.ULOR-BOA GRATE.

" Bright, bright were the sailor-boy's dreams in life's
morning,
When hope with its fairy-forms gilded the way,
And a thousand sweet visions of happiness dawning.
Were spreading their shadows throughout the' long
day.
Quick, quick beat his heart at the buoyant bark's motion,
For his childhood's first dream—his first love—
Were the foam-crested waves of the wide-spreading
ocean,
With the sun and the sea-bird above.
" Soon, soon were his hopes and his fairy-dreams banish'd ;
Not long did they gladden his sight;
For he sickened, and quickly the light of life vanish'd,
Till it wan'd into death's gloomy !light.
They buried him then in the shroud they had made him,
'heath his childhood's first dream—his first love—
And sea- shells are scattered around where they laid him,
With the sun and the sea-bird above.

" No flowers bloom in beauty; no stone tells his story;
No dirge, save the wind and the wave ;
No tablet of fame, and no emblem of glory,
Are found near the sailor-boy's grave.
Yet his head rests in peace on his coral-rock pillow,
'Neath his childhood's first dream—his first love—
And the sun, and the sea-bird, and foam-crested billow,
All sparkle in splendour above."
" The Dramatic Writers of Ireland" form the sul-
ject of a seventh sketch, but no notabilities are
made mention of in this portion. "Papers on
Poetry," of Spanish, romantic, and chivalrous
ballads is continued, and a long account is given of
the " celebrated ballad of Count Alarcos, which
the critics of all countries have agreed in pronounc-
ing one of the most beautiful and affecting that can
be found in any language." " The Bath of the
Streams" is a pleasing poem, by Denis Florence
M'Carthy. " Mid-day with the Muses" enters
in detail on the subject of several new poems
that have lately appeared, and there appears great
truth in the remark that, among these songs, there
have not been auy lyrics that aro likely to be im-
mortal in our literature, and to be handed down
to our children's children, like " Hohenlinden,"
" The Battle of the Baltic," and the old sea songs.
"Forest Trees" is an article that imparts useful and
interesting information on its peculiar subject, and
it is made pleasing by illustrations in verse.

Bentley's Miscellany.—The first
o
article relates
f
the progress of the war, and the siege
the last month. A similar paper, entitled
• of
the A
Russian Romance," gives us a Russian account-of
the Battle of Inkerman. It is curious to compare
the narrations. The Russian chronicler's chief ob-
ject, next to exalting the national character, aP
pears to be to excite jealousy between the Allies.
This pamphlet consists of a series of mis.statementse tub-
,
but as the writer justly observed, " facts ars
born things, and the succession of atrociti▪
es of
which the Russians have been guilty, commencing
at Odessa and terminating, at Hango, speak more
to their natural character than all the studied
apologies they put forth to the world." The first
part of a tale by Dudley Costello,
.entitled ce The
Prison Van" is not of. unusual. merit. The in •
Cl.-
dent from which it derives its title, though
some_
what improbable, is sufficiently ludicrous. A.
very pert young foreigner mistakes a •
~des'e s.last
for an omnibus, and insists on his admission.Prisoll van
English
The
readers of Mr. Harrison Ainsworth
description of the
story will be interested in the
revival of the time-honoured
Dun-
mow," the bestowal of the Flit Custom of Dun-
A passage
of late years has fallen into desuetude.eh of Bacon, which
in the life of tho late Czar
describes the narrow
his life in
escape he once had of
journeying from
byai
Rome, attended Polish guard of honour. A
Pole was suddenly left alone in a deserted spot by
the side of the Emperor, who was sleeping in an

I open carriage, and felt strongly tempted to avenge
his country's misfortune by plunging his sword in
his heart. Prosings by Monkshood criticise Samuel
Phillips's " Essays from the Times," and a notice of
Mr. Gilfillan's Portrait Gallery is not very com-
mendatory to the painter. A memoir of Marshal
St. Arnaud will excite interest, though it is not in
all reepects satisfactory. The adventures of Ben-
jamin Bobbin are continued, and a paper on the
Twin Castles of the Crimea," Mangup Kalah and
Fufud Kalah conclude the number.

Colburn's New Monthly.—For some months
past this magazine has been taking a successive
review of the military strength and peculiarities of
all the European states. Those of Austria, Russia,
and Prussia have been respectively considered, and
this month the first paper describes to us the armies
of the smaller German Powers. At the present
moment all such information is of value, and will
interesteven the uninitiated. " A Day inle Desert"
transports us into another hemisphere, and bids ua
forget the turmoils of civilised existence in the soli-
tude of the Egyptian sands. " The Comforters" is
a pleasing and pathetic story. It relates the for-,
tunes of a sculptor, and takes its title from his
chief work, a representation of Sleep, Death, and
Time. " The Last Visit to the Trysting Place" is
the name of some melodious and mournful verses,
by Mary Monck. " The History of Stoke Dotte-
rell" is continued, and leaves the heroine in a very
uncomfortable position. "The Diary of a First
Winter in Rome" has now reached Easter week, and
we should therefore surmise it must soon approach
its conclusion. Some of the incidents of Italian
life are interesting. A paper on " Philarte
Chasles' " a French essayist, gives an entertaining
account of the opinions of our neighbours on our
literature. The present critic's writings display
great judgment and ability. The extraordinary
story of " The Reception of the Dead," is con-
cluded. The idea of the dressed-up corpse is a
painful and revolting one, and quite destroys the
charm lingering around the peaceful deathbed of
youth and beauty. The papers on " The Eighteenth
Century," are continued, and now describe the
state of political feeling which had then attained a
degree of violence and intensity quite unknown in
our calmer days. " Sketches of the Italian Revo-
lution," by an eye-witness, relates the ineffectual
struggle and pourtrays the miserable condition to
which the people are now reduced under Austrian
surveillance. "Lyrics," by T. Westwood, do not
display any unusual merit,.

Colburn's United Service.—Au interesting and
friendly "Memoir of Field-Marshal Lord Raglan,"
accompanied by a well-executed portrait, opens the
number. The memoir would have been none the
worse had the writer been inspired to a greater
extent with the magnanimous spirit of the deceased
veteran. " Adventures at the taking of Kertch"
is a lively paper by an assistant-surgeon present on
the occasion. In conjunction with it should be
read an historical and descriptive sketch of Kertch,
subsequently given. " The War in the East"—
The writer, among other things, suggests the pro-
bability of the selection of Balaklava having been
unfortunate, since its proximity determined the
nature of the attack on Sebastopol, which has
turned out not to have been the best. If a verti-
cal fire can be maintained so as to drive the enemy
from their works, he is of opinion the attack on the
Malakhoff and Redan may be successful ; and
should the present system fail, inquires whether it
would not be advisable to try and starve the place
by interposing an army between it and Perekop.
The number contains its usual variety of profes-
sional articles, news, and remarks.

North British Review.—The claims of Newton
are analysed with some little rigidity in the open-
ing article. Sir Isaac's fame rests, we are told, on
a tripod, the feet of which are fluxions, optics, and
gravitation, and of these the second alone is
damaged. The evidence appears conclusive as to
his religious creed—he was a Unitarian. A care-
ful review of five of Sir E. Bulwer's novels marks
most of the blots as well as beauties of that dis-
tiniruished author. " Tho Political Reformation
of Holland," inaugurated by William of Orange,
and to which, owing to our intercourse with the
Dutch in the 16th and 17th centuries, we are so
much indebted, is the subject of an article deserv-
ing a thoughtful perusal. " The System of Pur-
chase in the Army " is defended, and that of pro-
motion by merit declared impracticable in an in-
conclusive, not to say sophistical paper. Besides
the above, there are several articles of more or less
merit, including one in reference to Mrs. Norton's
remarkable letter.

The British Quarterly.—Jackson and Walford.
—A. slashing article on " Ethnological Researches,"
an American work, contending, among other things,
for several creations, is followed by a somewhat
rabid paper on " The Know Nothings and Ameri-
can Prospects," and an interesting notice of "The
Genius and Writings of Young," not the poet, but
the distinguished savant, who first established the
undulatory theory of light, and penetrated the ob-
scurity which had veiled for ages the hieroglyphics
of Egypt. Among the subjects treated in the re-
mainiuz articles, are "Administrative Reform,"
and "Russian Aggression and British Statesman-
ship," elaborate papers of considerable merit, in
which the urgent necessity of the one is tardily
a.buitted, and execution is cordially done on the
other two.

Irish Quarterly. W. B. Kelly, Dublin.—The
first will be found not the least interesting paper.
It is entitled " The Poets of America," and is a
praiseworthy attempt to supply a desideratum—
viz., a collective review of the American poets, with
illustrations, which will enable the reading public
to form some conception of their positive and rela-
tive merits and demerits. The poets reviewed are
—Longfellow, Bryant, Sigourney, and Holmes, to
whose genius ample and unreluctant tribute is paid.
The continuation of " A Memoir of John
Banim " contains the fifth and best act of his tra-
gedy of Sylla. " The Romance of Life," a true
story on which some of the principal incidents in
"Monk Christi," are said to be based, " The
Militia and the Line," a paper containing useful
suggestions, and a review of " The Life and Sketches
of Sheil," are the best of the remaining contributions.

The Westminster Review.—A. characteristic no-
tice of Spinoza and his Opinions is followed by a
high-toned article on " International Immorality,"
in which a heavy onslaught is made on our foreign
policy of late years, and the immoral exnecliency of
our statesmen. Of secresy it is well said that
" Secret government is certain to be misgovern-
ment, and secret diplomacy to abound with crooked-
ness. " Teetotalism "is subjected to a masterly
analysis, and most of its teachings shown to be er-
roneous and absurd in a lengthy article, well
wortuy, however, of perusal. Abstinence from
intoxicating liquors may, in certain circumstances,
be a duty, but misrepresentation and false teaching
never are. " The Decline of Party Government"
may be read with advantage by Administrative Re-
formers. It will serve to awaken them to the vast-
ness, but not hopelessness, of the task before them,
and the best means of grappling with it. Besides
the above there are other articles worthy of notice,
including one on " The Foreign Policy °.f the
United States," in which that policy is leniently
dealt with.