The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-06 00:00:00

United Service Magazine.

The United Service opens with an admirable
article upon Mr Cobden's criticisms on Government
manufacturing establishments. If the writer seems
to be severe upon a man who has in some respects deserved
well of his country, he is certainly borne out by facts when
he says that Mr Cobden, in his endeavour to remodel the
financial tariff, has overstepped his limits, and entered upon
a field of discussion of which he is ignorant. We do not
wish to detract from Mr Cobden's claims to public consi-
deration for what he has done, but would advise him to let
well alone, Many points of his French treaty did not re-
dound to his credit any more than to that of the Govern-
ment which employed him. When a man suffers himself
to be persuaded into sacrificing the interests of his country
for an idea, as Mr Cobden did about the duty on rags, it is
time that he abandoned the field of diplomacy. The opening
sentence of this article speaks to the point, and although
the hon. member for Rochdale may not relish it, he must
still admit its truth. " Some great men," says the writer,
have a peculiar tendency to imagine that because they have
become great in consequence of their having undertaken
and mastered some one important subject, they are there-
fore capable of dealing successfully with all others that may
chance to fall in their way. Instead of being content with
taking the lead in one question, they are induced by that
tyrant, ambition, to try their power on others that are quite
out of their own line, and after a while they are taught the
sad lesson that

' It is the curse of greatness
To ba its own destruction.'"

An article by Lieut. A. Steinmetz on the formation of
troops for battle is well written, at least so far as the
description of the strategic plans of eminent commanders is
conceived. "Curiosities of Naval Literature" are concluded,
and, as if to end these interesting papers with a flourish,
the reader is inaugurated into Borne of the mysteries of the
process of tattooing, as practised among seamen of all
nations. Several very curious illustrations are given.
"Four Years on the Gold Coast," by Captain Mathew, is
continued, and narrates further experiences of his researches
in the locality. "Oswald Hastings," by Captain W. W.
Knollys, is continued, and some other papers, on general
subjects, are also contributed, together with the usual pro-
fessional information of the mouth.

The Gallery of Geography, Parts XI. and XII.

Chambers.

This most interesting and instructive work pro-
ceeds in its usual style. The illustrations are numer-
ous, and many of them excellent. The maps, too,
are good. The chief attraction is, however, the
letterpress, which will certainly tell many who
think themselves tolerably well informed, a good deal
about countries with which they are familiar that they did
not know before. In the description of European Russia,
for instance, we find the account of the forest of Bialowieza,
which is situated in the government of Grodno. " There
is here an expanse of wood 31 miles long, 27 broad, and
112 in circuit, with an estimated area of 135 square miles,
nearly equal to the half of Middlesex." The trees are
densely packed, and an "innermost district of about:ls,ooo
acres, or two square miles, has not yet been penetrated by
the woodcutter. It bears the name of the unknown region,
and is quite impassable until the axe clears the way, owing
the multitude of trunks of trees rooted up by the storms of
ages crossing one another in all directions. Such is the old
forest of Bialowieza, the last stronghold of the auroch, the
bison of Europe." The slaughter of these animals has been
strictly forbidden, and certain peasants are bound to make
hay for them at appointed places to serve for winter fodder.
No living specimens of this animal are known, except in
this one Luthuanian forest, so that groat interest attaches to
its preservation.

Mr Ronyord's Hounds. By the author of " Handley

Cross, &e. Part V.

There is not much to be said about Mr Rumford
this month, although the number is well worth
reading. Mr Rumford establishes himself in the
country satisfactorily, and is at the close of the number in
high feather, but we expect he will not be long in smooth
water. There is no question that the writer of these amus-
ing sketches of hunting life is thoroughly acquainted with
all the ins and outs of the craft, both high and low.
His fate seems, however, to be showing up delinquents
rather than exhibiting a fair specimen of a true English
sportsman. But that in his former works:he has in one or
two occasions introduced us to gentlemen, such as Mr
Jovey Jessop, people migh* wonder how he knew so much
of such queer proceedings I

Another Story of the Guns ; or, Sir Emerson Ten-
nent and the Whitworth Gun. By the "Fraser"

Reviewer. Macmillan.

The war of words between the Fraser Reviewer
and the author of " The Story of the Guns,” is
already pretty well known to the public, and the
dispute has excited so much interest, that it is not surpris-
ing the author of the criticism should have embodied it in
a more substantial form than the one in which it first ap-
peared. The writer, as is well known, is an advocate of Sir
William Armstrong,while Sir Emerson Tennent inclines to
favour Mr Whitworth. Those who like to collate and com-
pare conflicting testimonies, so that they may arrive at a
fair and unprejudiced decision,will now be able to place the
two opponents side by side on their shelves.

Luttrell of Arran. By Charles Lever. Part X.
" Luttrell of Arran" does not come up to our
expectations this month. The conduct of Kate
O'Hara is inexplicable and unnatural, while that
of Sir Within Wardle is not in keeping with his
character. That the author can appreciate true greatness
of mind under difficulties is proved in the admirable letter
written by Sir Gervais Vyner in his troubles. The practical
tact of the worldly Mr Grenfell is well described, but unless
Mr Lever proposes to compete with the latest sensation
novels, and rival " The Woman in White," a hoe genus
ovine, we cannot fathom the drift of his plot which seems
only to introduce characters to expunge them.

Ihe Eclectic.

An interesting article on the late Archbishop
Whately gives copious extracts from his writings,
Edmond About on Progress forms the topic of
another essay, and a criticism on the recent efforts of some
of our minor poets is worth reading. The other papers are
chiefly on controversial subjects.

The risherman's Magazine. No, VI. Chapman

and Hall.

This magazine, which is something of a novelty
in the serial world, is adorned with a portrait of
the Bull Trout, a tempting prize for an angler.
gg A Chat on Fishing ; where to go for it," is very season-
able, while a description of "The Wye; its tributaries and
fish" is interesting to the tourist, while the account of
"My First Salmon" will certainly attract the beginner in
the art.