The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-01 00:00:00

man an:t,it inn

—the desire to possess Kiel—but, on the whole, his essay is
impartial and satisfactory. It appears but too probable, 'as
he observes, that a question of orthography—Schleswig, or
Sleswig—will plunge Europe into a war of which none can
faretell the issue.
TEMPLE BAIL—The author of "lady Atial4?.3
Secret," &c., is determined not to rest on laurels
already gained, for before one story is completed
another is commenced. Thus we meet with the
conclusion of "John Marchmont's Legacy" side by
side with the opening chapters of " The Doctor's'
Wife." As might have been expected, the gentle
Mary had passed through too much suffering to be
able to recover her strength, and scarcely was she
re-united to her husband before a still more insurmountable
but less terrible separation divided them. It was a message
of mercy that removed the stricken heart and gave the
wearied spirit rest. There is more pathos in this story than
in some of the writer's earlier productions, and after the sad
fate of the fearful Paul, it is soothing to turn to the descrip-
tion of the latter end of his victim. The closing Scene of.
this eventful story is very effectively related. There seems
a calm sunset evening to a day of storms and tempests, and
if the brightness of life is for ever dimmed to the hero, the
picture is the more true to nature, for the mind never really
recovers its tone after such fitful struggles as those whielk
Edward Arundel nad gone through. After tbe description
of his second marriage and the renewed measures which
spring up around him, the never-dying link which bound..
him to the past is thus touchingly referred to :—" I leave
him, above all, with the serene lamp of faith for ever burn.:
jug in his soul, lighting the imageLf that other world in
which there is neither marriage nor wing in marriage, and
where his dead with will smile repos( him from amidst the
vast throng of angel-faces, a child ever, and ever befard the
throne of God." " The Doctor's Wife" begins in a very
spirited manner, and his already introduced the reader to
some very mysterious movements On the part of its heroes
and heroines. " The Trials of the Tredgolds" still continues
its dismal record, and in this nuLber the blow seems to
strike home to the guilty man. Doubtless there are many
Mr. Giffods in the world of livine men, and it would bd
well if retributiOn thus overtook them in the eleventh lieu;
of their iniquity. "The Streets of the World," by Augustus
Sala, has for subject "Pall Mall." This aristocratic localitY
is aptly sketched by this ingenious delineator, and many
will be interested to notice their familiar haunts in print.
" The Millers and their Men " refers to the fight for the
Championship. What Ralph Hallsett Did" is a very
entertaining sketch of a supposed mystery. "The Lady of
Belmont" gives a description of the strange story of .the
origin of "The Merchant of Venice." Various short
poems diversify the contents, and there are altogether seve-
ral subjects to attract the notice of the reader.

ST. Nw.sis.7,The author of Sackville Chasz,,
cominefti4,44i* story in this part, under thu

title .of " The Man in Chains," which promises to
rthrfr us some of tlitintrfoltas- onr London
society, and to exhibit the skeletons that somet:aics
hide in a rich min's cupboard. The Rev. T. G.
Wood, whose name is pleasantly known through the medium
of some works of popular instruction, draws us a sketch of
"Fairy Land"—not the dominions of Oberon and Titania,
but a veritable fairy land, within easy access of mortals. A
pi3ture of German home life and social manners is given in
an account of "Society in the Schwarzwald," from which
it appears that our estimate of domestic life in the Father-
land is somewhat too high. The third part of " The
Science of Good Cheer" discourses on some of the atveni-
ties of the table, and a pleasantly written paper on "Penny
Readings" sets forth the merits ofa scheme which we wish
could be more extensively carried out. "Miss Pritawortle
Butler" is a story for dark nights and lonely houses, but
it has a moral, nevertheless. We have also a narrative of
" A Trip to Athens," an account of "A Tour Round the
Sun," and a further instalment of the story of "Madeleine
Graham,"
GOOD WORDS.—This excellent serial begins a
new year with fresh spirit, and if any doubts of
its varied merits and popular attractions, they had
better procure this January number as a sample.
It opens with an essay from the pen of A. K. H. 8.,
on " The Sweetening of Sour Grapes," followed by
" Personal Recollections," by Isaac Taylor, and a paper
entitled " Meadowside House," by the author of "John
Halifax," which describes an admirable institution lately
founded in Edinburgh for poor, sick, and desolate children.
Mrs. Henry Ward, authoress of " East Ly nne," begins
with a new domestic story. Sir John Herschel commences
a series of articles on weather prophecies. Principal Forbes
has a sketch of the Admirable Crichton. Mr, Gosse begins
the records of " A Year at the Shore." Alexander Smith
discourses on the attributes of " Winter," and Jean
Ingelow tells us the story of the first Eddystone Light-
houce. More serious topics aro touched upon in other
papers, and the amount of really good reading in this un-
pretending serial is remarkable at the price, and sufficiently
accounts for the immense circulation it has attained.
CORNITILL.—" The Small House at Allington" is
continued, but without much incident. The Earl
and the Squire prove themselves but clumsy
match makers, and Lily is determined to have
nothing to do with the affair. This is unsatisfac-

,ory, for Bernard Crosbie is not at all deserving of

being the ideal of any heart through life, and the
sooner such an image is displaced the better.

The poor Squire is very melancholy in his well meant en-
deavours to serve his nieces, for Bell engages herself to
Dr. Crofts, and thus loses the chance of an excellent match
with her cousin, who will inhereit the Squire's property. The
very unattractive mansion in Bruton-crescent becomes the
arena of a tragedy, after so long being the centre of comics
enactments. One almost feels pity for Mrs. Roper; with all
her objectionable qualities, as she mourns over sad fortunes,
and depicts her sombre picture. " Publishers, before the
age of Printing," brings some curious things to our notice,
and it is truly remarked that the chief cause of the defec-
tiveness of old tests proceeds from the works being pre-
pared :from dictation, and copied by those who joined
errors of the eye to those of the ear. " Sermons" is a

paper that deserves attention, alike from the tone which.
pervades it, as from the tenour of its remarks. The con-

eluding passage is an exemplification of the style :
" The highest form of a sermon is not oratory. If the
message be anything, it is a Divine message. No flowers
of rhetoric can exalt, and may ignominiously degrade it.
Intellectual dignity of style it should have—neither common
colloquialisms, nor slipshod expressions; but a certain
solemn musical flow, which springs naturally out of tho
high beauty of the subject. That, and no more. The
simplest sentences, terse and succinct—the fewest illustra-
tions—the most careful avoidance of all claptrap appeals to
the sentiment, fancy, or emotion of the audience : in fact,
a style pure, noble, and severe as those discourses which
are chronicled in Holy Writ—this is the perfection of a
sermon."

" Cousin Phillis" is proceeded with, and there is some.

thing very pleasing in these simple details of :an unevent-
ful career. Phillis herself is a simple girl, who is yet as

good a heroine as any stately game or love-sick damsel,
wika substitute sentimentality fur feeling. " Respecting

Asle," is a: paper on that much despised gusthived,

which goes far to remove the atigtua that has beeu attached

to thu sonies. 1u sumo parts it may provoke a sonic trout
its extrunnynutions, but the general purport is a good tlifft
and has for its olfootf4very important thing to establidt,
the claims of a useful animaitto protection, iuitead 01.iTs

being a drudge and a victim to tyranny and caprice.
" Shylock in London," may prove of service to some as a
warning from the facile approach, but difficult extrica-
tion from debt. " Yorkshire" relates the pecaliariti-, of
that part of the world with a genial spirit that t:ive,,ts
satire of its sting, and imparts a roeLne to desetiption.
" Money and Money's Worth" is an analysis of en im-
portant question, which it is requisite to call attention to
occasionally, or in the hurry of press:4:g :Itnirs it is apt to
be put aside end neglected. " Margc.ictDeitzd's
is ccntinued. This is a very strange story that cannot be

calk(' pleasing., nor is tke heroine attractive with her ex.
traordinary peculiarities raid Strant,?,. :Adventures.

RINGING THE OLD YEAR. GUT —Last night, ::.C•
cording to ancient custom, the depariing knell of the year
18(13 was tolled on the bells of the several churches hrough-

Qil~:,,Ao nactropoli, tuld nt, miduight rner

and welcomed the commencement the Ineitzt 3ear.