The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-05 00:00:00

Birth—purely and simply for the old Horatian
reason that it is (ere perennius.

Can You Forgive Her ? By Anthony Trollope.

No. IV. Chapman and Hall.

No—hardly even yet can we conceive to ourselves
the possibility of forgiving her ! Alice Vavasor's
conduct in the rejection of John Grey, of Nether-
coats, is fairly inexplicable. Particularly when
the only apparent reason for it in any way within
the field of vision, even hypothetically, is a sort of
a morganatic preference, if we may so term it, for
that (in vulgar parlance) " bad lot,". her cousin,
George Vavasor. There are three very droll scenes
enlivening this new number--vexatiously inexpli-
cable and inexcuseeble though the heroine's conduct
still continues to be. There is the scene at George's
lodgings, off the Strand, overlooking the river—the
scene, namely, between himself and Grimes, of the
" Handsome Men," in the Brompton-road, and Mr."
Scruby, of Great Mariberough-ttreet, attorney-at-
la w. There is the scene in the fat neyard of that horrid
vulgar Cheeseacre of Oieey mead, near Yarmouth,
where he ostentatiously displays his wealth in
" muck" to Mrs. Greenow and Kate Vavesor.
Finally, there is the scene at the Reebury Ciub,
where George takes Fennys hand in a game at
whist with M ex well, the barker, Grindley (other-
wise Grindems), the would-be fast attorney, and
Calder Jones, the Member of P three of
which scenes are capitally told, and with a rich, racy,
easy vein of humour. Maxwell's excuse fore, faulty
horse is surely excellent. "He never has anything
that is right all round," says Grindley, talking of
George Vavasor's little stud—what Mr. Grimes
would have called, not " right all round," but "as
round as your hat and as square as your elbow.'
" Who has ?" says Maxwell—

That's the mistake men make about horses, and that's
why there's so much cheating. I never ask for a warranty
with a horse, and don't vary often have a horse examined.
Yet Ido as well as others. You can't have perfect horses
any more than you can perfect men or perfect women. You
put up with red hair, or bad teeth, or big feet, or sometimes
with the devil of a voice. But a man when he wants a horse
won't put up with anything I Therefore those who've got
horses to sell must lie. When Igo into the market with
£3OO I expect a pert'ect animal. As I never do that now I
never expect a perfect animal. I like 'em to see ; I like
'cm to have four legs ; and I like 'em to have a little wind,
I don't much mind anything else.'

All which— gain we are tempted to say it—is
surely ea:uncut.

THE UNITED SERVICE.—The United Service
opens with a summary of the debate on the Navy
Estimates, with accompanying comments. The
writer observes, to conclusion, that it is well for the
country we should find men on both sides of the
house snpporting the Government in carrying out
measures which tend to keep England nhead of all other
nations with regard to her navy. Under the head of " The
Rhine and its Fortresses," we have a sketch of the principal
strongholds along the banks of that romantic river, showing
their relative strength and importance. " The Military
Enteineering of the Ancients" is continued, and the author
of this interesting series of papers refers to the Old Testa-
ment and the writings of the ancient Greeks for proofs of
the vast extent of some of the fortresses mentioned in the
early history of mankind. " Anecdotes of the Civil War in
Spain are la, ought to a conclusion this month, and the
chapter before us contains an interesting account of the
capture of Trun and Fontarabia by the British Legion.
The last affair in which the " Old Legion" took part was
that of a few cavalry of the 2d Lancer Regiment, under Col.
Jacks. A squadron, consisting of not above 80 horses of
this corps, was attached to General Zurban's column, in
the plains near Vittoria, when suddenly the Carlist batta-
lions were seen at a distance too far off to he reached by
the infantry. Too lancers galloped up to them, as they
halted in time, deployed, and delivered a volley; but the
cavalry dashed in, routed and scattered them on all sides,
and brought back 120 prisoners to the general. The first
instalment of "A Trip to Tenerifie" is amusing, and gives
promise tor the future. An article on the lifeboat and Its
work does full justice to the praiseworthy exertions of the
National Lifeboat Institution, whose members aro about to
introduce a new kind of fisning smack, which shall to a
certain extent possess the buoyancy of a lifeb tat. " A Visit
to Canton" contains some observations on the manners and
customs of the inhabitants of that city. In referring to the
dog's-meat shops—which, by the way, do nut purvey food
for dogs as might be supposed by the uninitiated—but dogs
for human food--the writer remarks that it seems to him
almost akin to cannibalism to see the innocent and 1.111bUS•
'Reefing friend of man jumping forward to the length of
their tethers to greet his purchaser and liberator, as he
fondly believes, while he is only wanted to supply the mid-
day meal, with rice and salad as dressing. The " Foreign
Summary" contains a retrospect o. European events for the
past month. We have also a chapter on the invasion of
Denmark and the political crisis, a memoir of the late Major-
General Harvey, an historical sketch of the equipment of
British Infantry, and a paper on the Soldier's Why and
Because, by Lieut, A. Steenmetz.
COLBURN'S NEW MONTHLY.—This number is
above the average in interest, although we can say
little for the long-continued stories that form its
pieces de resistance. " Strathmore," by the author
of " Granville de Vigne," has many of the faults of
that very questionable work. It is a most highly-coloured
narrative of love, jealousy, and revenge, dealing in super-
latives in every other line. Its characters all move in the
inner circle of fashionable life, clothed in purple and fine
linen, and moving from feast to feast with the apparent ob-
ject of showing their utter disregard for all poor common
notions of right and wrong, and of making themselves and
everybody around them as intensely miserable as possible.
Shakspere and his Centenary are the subjects of two con-
tributions—the prose essay by Sir Nathaniel and the verse
by Nicholas Michell. An interesting paper on .‘ The
Women of the Bastille" gives us some curious records of
the very different women who dwelt within those gloomy
walls. "Host and Guest" is an entertaining paper on the
universally important topic of gastronomy. The first part
of a dissertation on the ballads and traditions of Northern
Europe will attract the lovers of legendary art which so
often conceals a deep and earnest moral under its wild play
of fancy.

13ENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.—The editor's story of
" Sohn " proceeds with remarkable animation.
We have also the continuation of Mr. Dud ley Castelio's tale of
" Mr. Gricashaw's Little L ve Affair," and the second part
of a story, translated from the Danish. by Mrs. Bushby.
" Handy Dandy, Justice and Thief," is the title of an en•
tertaining papFr, and among the pleasantest of the remain-
ing art:cles is the second paper en our Derbyshire peaks
and dales.

CORNHILL.—" Denis Duval" is continued at sours
length in this number. Doubtless it will be an
object of attraction to many, from its being the
posthumous work of a departed favourite in the
ranks of literature; but, speaking of it quite
frankly, it certainly appears to us to be altogether
about the most dull and rambling production we
ever met with in the form of a fictitious narrative
—duller and more rambling even than the stury of
" The Virginians," and that is saying a great deal!
" The Small House at Allington" is concluded,
and not in the most satisfactory manner. Indeed'it seems
so far unfinished and incomplete that there is every reason
to suppose that at some future time we may meet the chief
characters in another place. " Johnny Eames" has
slightly improved, and one wishes him a better fate than
to be spell bound by a young lady who is so foolishly in-
fatuated by the arch deceiver Crosbie. This defect in
Lily's character quite spoils her—she is otherwise a charm-
ing, graceful heroine, but there is neither sense nor spirit,
neither right nor reason, in her persisting in upholding the
image of a man as contemptible as her idolised first love.
This story is a natural and charming sketch of life, full of
probable personages, and replete with sketches of those tri-
vial incidents which go iar to make up the sum of existence.
" A Gossip on Royal Christenings" comes very apropos
just now. The reader will certainly be entertained with the
fund of amusing anecdotes and graphic sketches which is
here met with. It is at all times interesting to look back
through the past to the historical incidents which impart a
domestic character to the solemn pageantry and the stiff eti-
quette in which our forefathers were reared, and in which
our rulers flourished. " Margaret Denvil's History" is
proceeded with at some length. This story is very intri-
cate, but it cannot be called a pleasing tale. " Club-house
Sobriety" is an amusing article, which ascribes the present
improved condition of society to the influencobf clubs. Va-
rious other subjects of interest complete the contents of
this periodical. The lines on "An Old Muff" are very
smartly written.

THE POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW.—This very ex-
cellent and valuable serial contains in the new num-
ber much it teresting information. It opens with an
essay on "Printing Telegraphs," which is full of
curious details respecting that marvellous art. The
diffirent systems and improvements are described in
clear and intelligible terms, illustrated by diagrams. Ono
of the most astonishing of these inventions or discoveries is
the Pontelegraph of the Abbe Caselli, which transmits
Chinese or Persian characters, if required, and will reproduce
a correspondent's autograph, or even his portrait if neces
sary. "The despatch is written in ordinat y ink upon silvered
paper, and by a peculiar arrangement of batteries the-copy
is produced in blue upon a white ground " The Ameritm,
are very clever telegraphers. Because of a peculiarity in
their system they can eclipse us in one respect. " When in
the open country they can read what is passing on a wire
by cutting it and putting its two) ends into the mouth, and
can reply by tapping then together without any apparatus
whatsoever." It is remarked at the conclusion of this
interesting raper that it is difficult to imagine what degree