The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-02 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

l3laokwood.—The first 'article is on " The
Length of Human Life," from which it appears
Buffon arrives at the satisfactory conclusion that
man ought Olive 90 or 100 years. This idea is
founded on the proportion the lives of animals bear
to the length of time they take in growing. The
duration of life is generally five times longer than
the growth, according to which ratio the natural
life of a man is fixed at about a hundred years. To
attain this result, however, it isuecessary to follow
the laws of nature, and to adhere to some of the
great principles of health. The ,continuation of
Zaidee " relates the failure of the unfortunate
little heroine in her part of nursery governess to
the unruly tribe of juvenile Disbrowes. If the
younger members of the family resemble their
elder sisters, it is not to be wondered that they are
disagreeable and unmanageable and we cannot
admire the taste of Mr. Edward Lancaster iu
selecting the bustling Charlotte for his wife.. Mrs.
Disbrowe herself, with her really kind heart under
all her model management, is the most attrac-

nye of the family. v At the conclusion of tlis
instalment, a new home and new friends are
offered to Zaidee, whom we shall no doubt meet
again in another country with other companions.
A criticism on the "Poi-try of the War, reviewed
before Seoastopol," contains notices of Alma, and
other poems by R. C. Trench, and Sonnets on the
War. The critic asserts he has read the poems
" with the accompaniment of the frequent guns,"
and therefore cannot review them in other than a
kindly spirit. He renders full justice to the merits
of all the authors, though some isolated expressions
naturally excite his ridicule, especially the epithet
of " cold demons," which he declares to upset all
one's roost cherished ideas on the subject. We
think the suspicions he expresses as to the public
estimation of military merit to be unfounded, and
scarcely fair, as, although we have a Peace Society,
we have never withheld oar tribute of admiration
from the distinguished soldiers of ancient or modern
"The Campaigns of a French Hussar" is
founded on the, memoirs of Colonel Combe, who
was engaged in the campaigns 1:f 1812, 1813, and
181445, aFrench work lately published. At the pre-
sent time it is curious to read such narratives and
compare them with recent events. A criticism on
" M:dern NovAists, Great and Sinai)," ridi
and deprecates the system of quarrelling which has
recently crept into works of fiction. Certainly the
'instances given are numerous—" Jane Eyre,"
" North and South," "Grace Lee," "Agatha's.
Husband,'' &c. The critic asks, "Do you think
dia.:. young lady is an angelic being, young wide-
man ? Do you compare her to roses and lilies, and
stars and sunbeams in your deluded imagination ?
Unhappy youth ! She is not an angel. She
is a fair Waliator." In despair he exclaims—
" Shall all our love stories be squabbles after
this? Shall we have nothing but encoun-
ters of arms between the knight and the
lady—bitter personal altercations and mutual dell-.
ante ?Itis a doleful prospect." Notes on Canada
and the North-West States of America contains
some interesting details of transatlantic life. A
criticism on the' Royal Scottish Academy takes a
brief review of the progress of Northern Art. It
is remarked that to those who remember what it
was thirty years ago, the present exhibition of the
Academy must seem especially wonderful. A con-
versation on "The Cold Shade," and the continu-
ation of " The Story of the Campaign," conclude
the number.

Dublin University.—‘' The Dramatic Writers of
Ireland" has several names in its list this month
the first mentioned is that of William O'Brien,
who, it is remarked, is a solitary instance of an
actor who made his fortune by marriage. His
social elevation was, however, the ruin of his
histi ionic prospects, for the noble family to which
he allied himself procured hitu a foreign appoint-
ment in lieu of his profession at home. Sunous
does not rank very high as a dramatist, having
only written a short comedy and a farce, but he is
mentioned here on account of his peculiarities.
"In imitation he was strong as a Hercules, a per.
feet giant, superior to Caulfield, Foote, Wilkin-
son, or even the late Ctiarlest Matthews." Ho
played Jane Shore as Mrs. Siddons, and Alicia
as MN. Crawford, and a person whose 'eyes
were shut might have thenght that the two
great actresses were in the pace. O'Ke(le
was unfortunately blind nearly al his life, but thtt
did not prevent Iris being one of the most pn)11,1,;
writers ; he gave a list of sixty-. ight all. his own.
.and was not sure that this numOor comprised all.
"Sottish .oavaiers and Jacobite- Chieftains"
very interesting. " We will leave," it is exclaimed
at the
.commeneement, " the Old patriotism of the
Dalymples, and the calm wisdom of President
Forbes to cast l':auk a glance On S worthies
of le-:s prudence and more spirit, Montrose, Don -
dee, and Lochiel. Wool I we had such men by
Sir Colin -Cimphell's site wherever he may be
above gs ound this day witin his bonnetted
Some v Nes of the admirable poem in whi&l
Aytorin (I.,crilles the last moineus of M
on _rose
are quott:d here, including that g!orious verse—.

" He is coming, he is cominz.
Like a bridegroom from his room,
Came the hero- trAn his pris,,n,
To the scaffold and the it -wit.
There Nva, giory in his f••rehead, •
There waslustrein his eye,
And he never walked to lArtte
More proudly than to die,"
It is a curious fact that is related of the c 1( voted
Flora Macdonald, that the shroud which she was
buried in was made of the sheets which Lnly Kings- '
burgh had lent the Prince when he took refuge
in her house. This shroud Flora Macdonald kept
by her from the days of. her heroic youth till she
died, at the age of seventy. . She sleeps in the
churchyard of Kilmure, her grave unmarked, but,
as it is truly said here, her memory lives in 'the
traditions of her country, and her name is hallowed
by all who reverentie heroism. - " Hans Christian
Andersen ; his Life and Writings," forms the sub-
ject of a very interesting article. The Danish
poet; novelist, and traveller, is well worthy cf at.
tention, as being one of those who has not attained
his eminence by midden flights of fortuitous circum-
sLnce, or friendly assistance. He had to toil Upwards
alone and unaided.' His most striking comrsi-
thin, the " linprovisaore," was composed in Italy.
" I am a poet" was his exulting exclamation, as he
stood on the brink of VeStivius, • and well does he
prove the truth of his boast. It is said that his
life is a " romance of reality." " Onward up the
. bill" was the secret cry of his heart, and now great
men and princes, yea, kings.and queens, greet him
kindly and take him by the hand, and tell him
how they admire his works and his heroic victory
in the great-battle of life—and so the crosses -and
stars of four orders of knighthood glitter pn
his, breast, and lie is the friend and companion
of the great and noble, and the cherished author of
innumerable works in both hemispheres—he, the
sort of the poor Odeushee shoemaker." " The
War Budget" suggests some remarks of a dis-
paraging nature, which is only what might be ex-
pected from such a failure. " Recollecting," it is
said, " the- able and brilliant men who have held
the office, it is painful to consider how
mincompetent,
the psent Chancellor ..is. The only consolation'
(the writer goes on to say) is in the fact of the
people of England being dissatisfied with the affair,
and, consequently, it is in the highest degree im-
probable that we shall ever again be called upon to
review another budget of Sir Cornewall Lewis."
"Ninette Pompon" is the name of a tale which is
given in this nuint;er ; it describes French peasant
• life in the era of the Revolutioo,• and is
well told. The plot of the story turns
on the old idea which is immortalised. •in
the legend of Rola-nd„ wild). WI at Roncesvalles,
and which is ever and anon reappearing in fiction
in all ages and countries. The lover is supposed.
to die in battle, the object of his affections is
informed, and hence mistakes and miseries arise.
In the instance before us Ninette was to blame
for the, imprudent step she took ; she affords an-
other-proof of the folly of concealment and subter-
fuge. On the other hand, Hubert Dessert is an
example to hasty persons, who will prejudge and
presuppose, and rush madly on, following the bent
of their own fancies, instead of seeking information
calmly and deliberately. "De Re Yoetica" con=
talus some well-expressed thoughts, and some good
ideas on the subject of which it treats-; but one
point is strange in the remarks made, where Words-.
worth is placed above Shelley, and the latter's
beautiful Ode to the Skylark declared inferior to
the former's lines on the same subject, which,
though certainly good, and possessed of merit,
are immeasurably surpassed, both in fire
(if genius and beauty of language, by
Shelley's composition. Some valuable advice it
given to the Writers after the remarks have been
made to the readers :—" Poetry is the expression
of the want of something better than this world
can give. God has given us no want which has not
its proper end; therefore poetry is a proof of mail's
immortality. Poetry, then, is an historian and a
prophet—the historian of a glorythat is passed, the
prophet of a glory that shall be revealed. We may
not have poetic power, we may not even have
poetic taste, but we have the root of poetry in our
souls." With tiie noble language, lofty as its ex-
alted subject, and in a spirit kindred to the great-
ness of the cause it advocates,' and appreciating the
excellence of the art it upholds, the writer wisely
concludes for the present his reflections, which are •
inspired by ion and adobes ii- ff 4 tit*. gliaious

.w...-''''

.......- -.......--------"'".....--
vocation which has kept aliv
tare the worship of the beautiful and the revere 1 e
of the subliinc.
--. ge One (1
Colburn's New Monthly Magazine.--
ioteht
e in man's fallen
iti,t
Two Habits of Young France" is a smart
,s._titieit
which sums .up the roost remarkable peellll.lloo „c-
-of •a certain class of the French. An 31'11151;0es
ckoerttuips given at the end of the false gPPea,r.--d bf
the
werldiy
~,i variousjlaguep.to, pl,e,,Twhheichwiseradeensigalli3llld:iitilchie
Salons of France" is an interesting article,
the subject is viewed in three liglits---linindiejtitih;
Empire, the Restoration, and the thativt,na"ll3T° pre'
After descriptions of the various styles _ ~,,,iii
dominated and fashions that flourished, it is_fol
that the nineteenth century is very far renl,utos
from the time when a La Rochefoucauld said
Duchess of Loegueville- x Ye";
o Pour rodriter son coin., pour p'aire a sea beau
trl!,.
. Jai fait-la gueire aux roil; je Yarn ai (site 3ux io 6
Some account is given of " The Zenav`.s, it to
paper at the end of the magazine, wililico„tra•
likely will be welcome, considering the ereig
dictory statements that have their
them. In completing the brief , notice o,_;ts_ it
origin, and summary of their chief eslir'oul'is'te,
been made eel!fe
is observed that "Amma, Inkerrean ntlree.,,erles
pulses of sorties, and other gallant '" lea
before the walls of Sebastopol have s 0 iii
tied that they are still the same g' to
corps'"
Africa, and their countrymen look to theirl.ii
ibei
ing on the day of assault the same pittee„wilt 504
„lid at Constantine and at 4tateha. ..,j cole"
B.eauclerc," the continuation Of the leng,euiwoules
pdcated story called the " Elopeinent' oily 11$3
very critical in this number' It is evitie
_eo:
systensi 09
intention of the author to decry the
Wished in Fiance of "Marriages de Coliv.ePri 01411
a iilan which is productive of so much 1111serrOl;
crime. The tale is, however, too tardily "arts bat
there is great feeling displayed. in sane Peco;cen•
the interest would be greater if it was in(),r .i, 101'
trated in detail. "The Parapluie Veit' ids or,'
crous anecdote. of a man who, mall Y,`",, so'''
paid a visit to the Gallic capital, carr),?e,cie !lig
him many articles of vertu, its
wardrobe ; but before all things he %.',LI ,ei,s 11,,i5
he thoul,ei'lled liii
green umbrella. Wherever lie went i'd be 3'
prithaty object to look after its safety,
everyand
for
continually losing it and distracting tit ,L)r
around in seeking it out. At last 110 lost it
ever, and the oonfusion may be imagni",,,ier3l'
articles of merit are to be met with, el iiio eu'
among which, in
tinned "M_ or Park, as it was and is.
-- -
point of interest, 111,1
withA
.Bentley's Miscellany. --43,3utley °Pell% 01111
retrospect of the Imperial visit, and 1t1it,,iii43.1,,
welcome [riven by the people to their di,l„, sTplilel:/
guests. A paper en "French War •r 9 poliiic„
takes a review of some of the niodell'ortli 0',,;
writers of Paris. Mr. Harrison Ainslt 0 in;
tinues his romance of "The Spendlbrii'tti'lGt:Oil
characteristic style. The clever an"goelisly I
author who writes under the title of P. the --911t-',i
gives us this month an article 46 AbOO has
pOe 0
ists and Reviewers," first of wh°l3l he 01011 IT
William Hazlitt. A very interestitigh it 0 0,4
given of his life and writings, ill Wilit' ivterferliio
served that his character as a ?lan 10,11,0 ,
with his reputation as a writer. To streldseho ;trot
Manners were repelling, and to his and falleie f
pears to have manifested suspicion itgllbla
confidence. "Morbidly siispicion °iris, eligier
.sitive, he staggered those who knew Ile 041011./),!1
by a- seemingly cynical reserve, and thosa
seeeloi
him well, and prized him sincerely, blhotiglie,lloo
capricious distrust." Charles L'unh, t"ii seeree,ie
his greatest admirers, says, " What bat
_, ioti"e, I
and made him to suspect his friends
eel', evitte;,,
towards him, when there was n° sutifien le, iiii'
know not. I stood well with him for , it, my idii
I never betrayed him, I never slackenerite tlielt
miration of him ; I was the our .to
De ii riil
to I, 00144
he could not see it in the days wr-i.,„ woe.' bo
fit to trust me .as
• • I wish 7° do $U
$ll3
quarrel with the world at the rate
jiroselfrotio
the reconciliation must be effected l?r, 1 Toelo!'
I despair of living to see that ds,T., of ti, tlig
which Hazlitt adopted shOweel ifoe'l mil 0,, ,to;
ifties he esteemed most highly', "F°l.l fief esiele°
not critical." The writer takes 3 I_,tere 311:,
his lectures on the Elizabethan,l!!eurithe Ml'd
the English Poets. Of the " Sinr"" tio
t I°)° II
writes as follows :- , ~; the b" flteo
Th ' SPirit of the Age' i,4 Per' tt,:,., „ °do. _ei I)
acid most generally reli,hed of flail"' can°s'r o°4'
and without respect. ef pet son,. Meatt"ersei;:e °eliige;
contemporarie-, littrary and polit lot . to) 110,1 01
tea ice
I,lfr)eti,. an•l reports it without fear or fa, ;11,ro'et'r sot V:,
t(low aces, when- they have tiit•l or ole"t`i:ey 0,0 tojtir
di ialipigtk":tiliadiee4ssi joi fi
(tw:,fpen looks F.l * like':ethruattit:::e
di,rgitotteneci
elfrler:
"'bis tAlentb, the ell,lOOO
~,n.,,t,t,',".freq,lent distottioo, the 11`;1111,i og rid (10,0,41"
•liei her I, mi. pig ~err
ieil7.,,an.sai in compa,rative anatOwy• 1.°4,„ the l'et:!),/,Yri
of ti:is :tausitn, of aotuiirati,rt a.tai , f h.:;11 itelllo4
t.,,
J sit , ply :.,,,,,t,„,,, ~4 ea,l, ' ;,,, 0.4 ,011,,,
seen to the lie t advkinta., ''' . roe"' : ,is ; ' dir
as of peers and poets, p
e':c.e.i,, A I, I roliti,4, oy, '''' t1),1
cicerone calls t ierti al: by ' '''
a '‘,:i Pli'ille3iO4,,ter
-,,ctibes their natiire and t-lina- 'aier;:st' 'l":3'sl', 'ltifldle 0
,;e, ,atioot choose but see them cut. "1 9 "it'lei`hr PI iIl/
i :
,io y tiiii:k of his wanner of ppyr:ti,4 et,,niev,t9
Is t o, detested if not dreaded C 4,11 •td, ,:':. i tan „ill1,1:4
!r, s, a d•e,rke pi' to 0 arMng. a I '"'sei; hie' e,3ilealo ,
Viii,(l.letee, 'anxious to do a.i the go('`' IP-ot,„'..r i
hurtleg liiiii,elf or hi. bur lam e'---134 51"ile'sIrijlet
tc•e c"ining age.' awl Lamb, 'ever turl'l" 0.0 pioflo
Pa"'-‘ Etd"" plods on through the stre,el'„,,,nriprli,
natured face in the worl I, and ad u'''' 1.1:1'4,;-Ner. lvr l'''
his only taut the iwabihty t,, 7,0 .I•Li•Y t 1 1i5',004311 i4iti'r
seen, mak nig reao atter his °WU iroage,- „x 0 440
own heart, -Wordsworth, readito, his 4 ,cltllot Po
while at fa,vourit, pa,s3:wies his ry:Thrit ':,i iiorPf;i'V
natural lu,,tre,-Moore 'converts Cie wi', hilt P)
into a nim:ieal So Ilff•bOX, -Go,dwin 6triV e 3"1 it,/
pass the Ar tic Circle of moral scienee,lo,4,rl,oep
IC"gioli-, 'A here the uTtilerstanding H 1:1`) 4, t'f,ol 00
by tie aff ctions, ri r faille.' by to Ed'. g 0,-,,,t4 le'
C.,leridge's faculties are watched givsiPl: e,,,P'y" ol'
time, and gadding about froinhousetr, h''',l...,r Jeffil'ebei:bi/
screams with ' high unmitigated vice',,S.'.tiabi 'riot
hobs one at to pun,ic tpekiLg' ,tiiirlr' .'"
siO s litiilt,d
' peaked austerity of counte,iatic•!;
chair,' turning from reading to writing, ble-vi ell )
-Scott i,sues,what is ' almost litre ,jj of t!,,(1,00
human nature,' as the ' only antailuell'i:iol,ol;ir,,,i);
hi tore and Chambers if, seer,, in :,_],,' .8, g4,-er fl',
the pulpit,' like Balfour of Burley il P'',)Lil lc,,edef'
contended with the iniaoinary Soon, ;..a-jiis Lol6t,
and the cold moisture-rUllhilli,Z' 41°°,711. for 0 if',4
`Spirit of the AV' il4 the best voiltllve 1 °,. 110. t
description of its writt:r,• long years be'le".- olf :.'d to laf;
as a ' thinking, 01,F rvai;t, orijilat n'sld'. Idle IV(
as a painter of chaiacter polti•P W,' 0, a OP oil'
well-feathered' thoughts straightforw:ll,,,,llol,,eo,
with a twang of the !xi wstrit g. it ''',l3 tC..: It'
of these st iaightforward ints,,iveP, wi'oliipo icit
by. f
twang, and sometimes with eastern]," 0 ill
the bowstring." 4 ifir 01
"niere' ;0113 id I
Two papers which follow this 1 ierin'h e' il?,
are both descriptive of foreign wan`, tijo Pis tio)
and Italy. A criticism ou some 000 el'iiti iv
the forthcoming Academic Exliibitog, Bliss I°,
Mr. Maclise Mr. Millais,Mr' „,,115 ecer,
I
other well-known names are I';irero, o il',,
tributote. Mr. ' Stanfield 's nelll,lloe,e,oTbe 1 Y
glad to learn that lie PastorePP of • o'4 'cl.
panion to the beautiful i ,frip to%
_je Ol ~,of,
tory towed into Gi I wal tar.' so's,tV)
the siege of San Sebastian, when I.t. iiie•it:lw
1813. Mr. Maclige's pict ore ie• fl'l. jikei, to tirli ill
the assembled court, in "As 3',(11,2.1ive i° 111
Millais's subject is one that Inns', ; iiig'1011'01;
to his peculiar powers---a fire '''otlierrillity'? i
rescue of some chi .dren, wboso °I ~c 1,11,1" ‘‘ Oil
agony their danger. Mr. 1f,gg,,,.111,,,,e 03,,s 31,t
pictures illustrative a the -.ilia, lii- C'' tify"
of Villiers, Duke of Buokilig,:tri-1.; f'fil/11),,c,i‘
picture representing the Inew_i or i,ery to- Jr:
daughter with the unfortnnate -1- will ill'„,:fide,
prison; All admirers of Alto 00`1 ilr -0
this to l'.
to , be il if
member the bkllad referring otleg de Or of
" She is far from the land where which. ere rr,lo,
,be „vie
From these, and many others rin rot) viler
we should feel inclined to coriii, jot'
ltd'l,, ,
lhia9vPeeintitierfered with thaercw.Pects - g 11°11°I;
5 A the comite, Par i 3 ,iii
e 1,.,F
""-------- T, COliii-A'Cto,o'
1 Colburn's Unites Service•----s tbe ;,,,i- eft" ,
t le war we have the litternarrative
(biA.aia ;ai tyo id) oe ls t
ribroughtptive dox77 't
per
f;l!
to
.t
cl: :
vA reitifl,
to :1);1 t' ;
,:e,;
nth with the E peditionary .:' 50 '0 10(10
paper, a" .. ,s 0 tell , j All,
loyalts of Inkerman",........stolit
root
eilior ve
f and heroic foes, who are rePcieg: Dtieriel,,il'il,
alien by each other's bawl, le,e'eir tie Plooliol
youth and beauty to deplore 1-'I,C Cor:ttr. filiiii,?,
Among the remaining paPers,,,iders'L P of ,
Present," and " The Call) at P'reseti"tieiltd,
most noticeable. The first Pt coorlatecric,
' picture of the past and preset tter ill r
unfortulate island, and the J 3 sever I,er
objects of t' _le camp, and oa' /,‘
01
0 ‘
suggestions. _deg toVli '
, ------- ail P" egn ri,
The Law Magazine containg 1 joter ~ A 11, 00
of papers,of purely foofessiouisato_.,eo ;,
,Itt
00;4,
1.1 01•,.00
with an article on " ftef°ll,l:sati,lo."4
showing the desira,bility of 3 A a tb'f, , l'"
strutted on a giWn scale • 3111 Vali' . ;
,41
tion) on "Loa,? Broughain anti ~
,tl'ff'
ei eel'. it" )
sional and Parliamentary LAI.- 1110 pe,o
------ • AP ce ;
.neW rev of .0 ('
- The Art-Journal.-The l'l.ld oa„..010,1,1,
the May number are " Col,, via 7" blYiell'6
the picture by Uwitis, and -A
rioitSeoBllolted
nee," from the picture- 11 '''' tot e4oll)ittiP"
Royal collection. The first
angstis bns- 0)0
ing of a beautiful subject, fret-PIO
ring one... " The Teurptati°n, yea/ ge
M. Vande Vanne, is well engtheOli
1.0-oim..
• We 0941110 Vint itiveUPW
. . - - -

...•,-*''..

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cart 4etebts
,
lian"e
Peen ;no tw
a Ces
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81° d til°
,nlr:, , inn whitche
:under ,h,
01101 J "'Y'
3 that Pr
it t
ar re— oto
la said