The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-01 00:00:00

1855.

THE MAGAZINES.

Blackwood.—The whole family of mendicants
ought to feel deeply indebted to the writer of the
fist article in _Blackwood, who takes up the pen in
their cause, and by a variety cf arguments and
illustrations succeeds in awaking the reader's in-
terest in a class not generally regarded with much
favour. The paper is entitled " The Beggar's
Legacy," . and narrates the fortunes of the author
of the " Journal of Llewelliu Penrose," who left
the manuscript of that work, and two hundred
volumes, to the benefactor who had placed him in
the almshouse, where he ended his days. The ac-
count of this old man is extremely curious, and not
the least remarkable point is the assertion of Mr.
West, R.A.,• that but for the beggar he would never
have been a painter. It appears the unfortunate man
had been an artist, among other occupations,
and it was he who first showed and explained the
camera to Mr. West, and lent him the "Lives of the
Painters," which confirmed his inclination topursue
the art. The introductory comments on the race
of beggars are not the least entertaining portion.
The writer is at great pains to show the advantages
of their calling. He asserts that one should look
on a beggar with confidence and respect, as he
stands apart from the circle of our experiences, and
is not one to be known but to be speculated on.
He will not go to law ; "hough twenty lawyers
pass between him and you he will not engage one
against you ; he will not even give you in charge
to the policeman. From whom on earth can you
expect such privilege of exemption ?" Poets and
painters are cited to uphold. the beggar's dignity :
ho has formed models for the one and subjects of
song for the other. Every ballad-lover re-
members " The Blind Beggar's Daughter of
Bethnal-ea-eon," which, of course, is alluded to ;
but as he turned out to be a Da Montfort, with
hoards of gold, the argument is perhaps not very
logical. One • confession our author makes rather
to the disadvantage of his clients—the fact that,
since the days of mmer, " though revered by men
dogs have an antipathy to them." As the canine
race are celebrated for being good judges of charac-
ter, this is not to their credit ; but the writer inge-
niously suggests that the quarrel arose in the early
social state, when dogs and beggars were alike ad-
mitted to feasts, and disputed for the prizes. The
charming romance of " Zaidee," which becomes
more and more interesting, describes the flight of
the heroine from her home and friends, urged by a
spirit of self-sacrifice and affection. The sorrow
which has come over the happy familyat the Grange
since the fatal will was discovered, the various
forms which the trouble takes, and the ap-
proaching dispersion of the little home circle,
are gracefully and pathetically portrayed, in
the writer's most succesful manner. An enter-
taining paper on " Vagabond Life iu Mexico,"
is a notice of a recent French work, "Scenes
de la Vie Mexicajne," whose author gives
a graphic description of the extraordinary adven-
tures and associates he encountered in the New
World. According to his account the neighbour-
hood of Mexico, is the "paradise of robbers."
Every one takes the law into his own hands, and
the greatest disregard of human life prevails. This
is, unfortunately, a Spanish characteristic. It is
with regret that the reader learns at the close of
the article that the traveller who escaped so many
dangers only survived to meet his death by
drowning while crossing the Atlantic. Another
article on " Civilisation," brings the correspondent
of Eusebius to the conclusion that the unfortunate
Census Commission, against which he has taken up
arms, "is not only an impertinence, but a mischief."
A. "Peep at Paris" gives a very- attractive descrip-
tion of the City of the Seine, and takes a view of
some of the picture galleries. The writer very
nearly becomes a convert to the "enlightened
despotism " of our neighbours, and is very much
'nelined to think "a constitutional Government,

like a constitutional walk, a necessary bore." Cer-
tainly our recent Governments have not been such
as to make the French discontented. The " Story
of the Campaign" gives a brief sketch of the hos-
pitals of the Bosphorus. A paper on the recent
Ministerial changes concludes the number—those
changes which seem to have led us into a charmed
circle, only wasting time and expectation with
scarcely a step in advance. After an article on the
now Government, it is of course necessary to add
in a postscript that three of the chief members have
resigned.

Dublin University.—" The Dramatic Writers of
Ireland" is continued in a third series, and is
equally deserving of attention, as on previous oc-
casions. The present series contains twelve names,
among others that of Thomas Sheridan, the father
of the great orator of that name. The last men-
tioned in the list is Oliver Goldsmith. The highest
praise is here awarded to him. "An Irishman he
wag, and Ireland may well be proud of him." It
is remarked that his talents were of a most versa-
tile description ; he was alternately a critic, a no-
velist, an historian, and moral poet, and afterwards
a dramatist. An anecdote is mentioned characteristic
of his conscientiousness : he had received from a
bookseller one hundred guineas for the copy-
right of the " Deserted Tillage ;" but upon men-
tioning the fact to a friend, the latter observed it
was a great sum. Goldsmith replied, "Ia truth,
I think so too, it is nearly five shillings a couplet."
He subsequently said that he would return the
note, which he actually did. In conclusion, it is
remarked that, " Goldsmith's principal works
are now more popular than ever. They charm
and fascinate in youth, they please in life's de-
cline, and are acceptable to all tastes and all
humours. Age cannot wither them, nor custom
stale their infinite variety. It would .be difficult
to cull from the aggregate labours of any other
general author so large a proportion which bears
the undeniable impress of immortality." Some
observations are made on the literary " Life and
Correspondence of the Countess of Blessington,"
recently published. Dr. Madden, it is said,
has performed his task well, and has brought be-
fore us a collection of " wit and wisdom" unrivalled

in variety, extent, and interest. Lady Blessing-
ton, with all her brilliancy and glitter, had not an
enviable existence. Her own testimony of herself
is—" I have drunk the cup of bitterness to the
very dregs." " Flights to Fairyland" has for its
subject " the Lily of the Valley." It is written
in an easy, flowing style ; and, although the idea

_ .
is not a very original one, of an old beggar woman
coming to two sisters, aud, on being repulsed by
one and succoured by the other, suddenly trans-
forming herself into a fairy capable of dealing re-
wards and punishments, the story is pleasingly
narrated. The " Memoirs of James Montgomery,"
which are commented on, are very interesting,
and give some accounts of the poet's young days,
in whiCh the love of literary composition was mani-
fested ,at an early period. The " Soldier Surgeon"
is &serving of attention, but it is doubtful whether
the War-office take the moral intended for them,

as announced at the commencement. It is asserted
that " we should have as good a medical depart-
ment, ti;e., as any in the world if we were only to

set the intelligence they contain free to work, un-
reLtricted by the incapacity and machined by the
discouragement of official chiefs. What we desire
to inculcate is the eternal truth, that, is the con-
duct-, of war, no extent of material develop-
ment can compensate for the lack of human
intelligence, and that this will not work in
ehain3." Those remarks are peculiarly appro-
priate at the present time, when so many la-
mentable errors and mistakes have occurred in this
department, and so many obstacles have been thrwit
iu the way of the surgeons performing their duty.

The, New•Moittlay.—The: New illoiithly opens
with an article entitled "Travels in the Crimea,"
and founded on a recent work, by Dr. Karl Koch,
who has published the history of his travels under
the title of " Die Krim and Odessa." " The Cha-
teau de Beaufoy" is the continuation of thestory of
" The Elopement" under a different title. It seems
to promise a melancholy conclusion. "Ourr first and
Last Winter at Carisruhe," by an Old rra.veller,
gives a description of German' life, and
makes the extraordinary assertion that the Germans
are deficient in persevering energy—persever-
ance be ii? one of the qualities most generally
ascribed to them ; but, according to this traveller,
the tradesman would not relinquish his pipe or
mealtime for. the prospect of a fortune. The
twenty-ninth number of Literary Leaflets contains
a criticism on Lord J. Russell's Memorials of Fox,
and remarks - upon his adventurous spirit
in the department of letters. "A Night on
a Whale " is, as its name implies, a vivid and ex-
citing narrative of the " perils of the seas." " A
Chapter of Incidents of the War" gives a few
anecdotes of the battles and their attendant cir-
cumstances. It is 'stated, in alluding to the ca-
valry charge at Balaklava, that it was the first
action the nth Lancers had over been in. Their in-
signia, it appears, is the appropriate motto of a death's
head and cross bones, with "or glory," written
underneath. The " Diary of a first Winter in
Rome" is this month " intended for those fond of
the history of the past," and takes a retrospective
view of the ancient histories and heroes. A de-
scription of " Gambling in the Eighteenth Can-
, tury" describes the universal mania of lotteries,
which at one time reached such a ridiculous height.
A paper on " The Regimental System " concludes
r the number.

Co/bi_un's United Service.--The narrative of the
siege of Sebastopol, brought up to the latest period,
leads the wa,y. -In connection with it will be found
a substantial and detailed description of Sebastopol,
drawn up by a French Staff-officer, by command
of the, -Eniperor. 4f Campaigning before Sebasto.

•
pol," a paper pleasantly charged with observation
and anecdote, by Staff Assistant-Surgeon Charles
Richetts, of the Coldstream Guards, appropriately
enough folio ws. From his statement it would appear
the French suffer more from the sorties of the
Russians than they are willing to confess. A
second article is given on " Brigade Movements,
Cavalry and Horse Artillery, and a Few Facts re-
lative to the best system of Breaching, as exempli-
fiJd by the experiments carried on at Bassaunne' is
concluded. The " Oxus and _ Transoxania."

Some useful information is given respecting
this river and district (the latter better
known as Bokhara), which are: now attracting
considerable attention in connection- with the pre-
sent war. " Captain Topgallant's Story", really is
wonderful, and will give the lovers of the mar-
vellous and terrible a sensation. It graphic and
deeply interesting review of the Emperor Napo-
leon's system of field artillery, extracted from
Sir Howard Douglas's Naval Gunnery, is "the
paper" of the month. The Editor's Portfolio con-
tains, among other things, a few remarks on the
appointment of a new admiral to the Iraltic fleet,
which he describes as impolitic, and a contradiction
of the rumour of the command of the Foreign Le-
gion having been given to Colonel Chesney.

Bentley's Miscellany.—This pleasant serial opens
with a continuation of Harrison Ainsworth's excit-
ing story of " The Spendthrift," and gives us
another chapter, of "Aspen Court," by Shirley
Brooks. From a paper headed " The Resources of
the Anatolian Shores of the Black Sea" we gather
that unthin,l2 hours' sail of the port of Ba/aktava,
is to be found abundance of wood, coal, horses,
cattle, and all sorts of provisions !A "The Rus-
sians at Home" is a notice of the condition of the
lower classes in that country. _" Baktchi Sarai and
the Tartars of the Crimea" have suggested an in-
teresting paper, and " The Conduct of the War"
affords opportunity for severer but well-merited
remark. " Thomas de Quincy" is the subject of an
elaborate paper by Monkshood, written in
.a kindly
spirit. Among the remaining contributlons are
" The February Winter," a characteristic paper,
by Dudley Costello. " The. Parson's Oath,' a
wild story. " The Fairy that I know," a pretty
love song, by W. Brailsford, Esq., and " The Czar
Nicholas and the French Actress," an improbable
one.