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

Birth—purely and simply for tho old Horatian
reason that it is are perennius.

Can You Forgive Her ? By Anthony Trollope.

No, IV. Ctitipm-in and H. 411;

No—hardly even yet can we conceive to ourselves
the p)ssibility 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 Vavesor. There are three very droll scenes
enlivening this new number—vexatiously inexpli-
cable and inexcueeable though the heroine's conduct
still continues to be. There is the scene at George's
lodgings, off she Strand, overlooking the river—the
scene, namely, bet ween himself and Grimes, of the
" Handsome Man," in the 13, ompton-road, and Mr.
Scruby, of Great Maribarough-street, attorney-et-
law. There is the scene in the farmyard of that horrid
vulgar Cheeseacre of Oiieymead, near Yarmouth,
where he ostentatiously displays his wealth in
" muck" to Mrs. Greenow and Kate Vavesor.
Finally, there is the scene at the Roebury Club,
where George takes Fanny's hand in a game at
whist with Maxwell, the banker, Grindley (other-
wise Grindems), the would-be fast attorney, and
Calder Jones, the Member of Parliament—all three of
which scenes are capitally told, and with a rich, racy,
easy vein of humour. Maxwell's excuse for a faulty
horse is surely excellent. "He never has anything
that is right all round," says Grindley, talking or
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 very 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. Bat a man when he wants a horse
won't put up with anything! Therefore those who've got
horses to sell must lie. When Igo into the market with
£lOO I expect a perfect animal. As I never do that now I
never expect a perfect animal. I like 'em to see; I like
'cm to have f,.ur legs ; and I like 'em to have a lime wind,
I don't much mind anything else.' •

Att Wriii,ql-3gdin -ye are truoptett to say it—is
surely excellcut.

THE UNITED SERVICE.—The United Service
opens with a summary of the debate on the Navy
Estimates, with accompanying corntnents. The
writer observes, in conclusion, tnat it is well fur the
cmintry we should find men on both sides of the
;oust' siipporting the Government in carrying out
measures which tend to keep England ahead 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
Eneineering cif the Ancients" is continued, and the au, hor
of this interesting series of papers refers to the Old Testa.
went and the writings of the ancient Greeks for proofs of
the vest extent of some of the fortresses mentioned in the
early history of mankind. " Anecdotes of the Civil War in
Spain are brought to a conclusion this mouth, 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 2(1 Lancer Regiment, under Col.
Jacks. A squedron, consisting of not above 80 horses of
this corps, was attached to General Zurban's co.umn, in
the plains near Vittoria, when suddenly the Carlist batta-
lions were seen at a distance too far off to be reached by
the infantry. Tne 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 Teneriffe" is amusing, and gives
promise for the future. An article on the lifeboat and its
work does full justice to the praiseworthy exertions of the
National Lifeboat Institution, whose members are about to
introduce a new kind of fishing smack, which shall to a
certain extent possess the buoyancy of a lifeboat. " 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 not 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 unsus-
pecting 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 ot 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 Harvoy, an historical sketch of the equipment of
British Infantry, and a paper on the Soldier's Why and
Because, by Lieut A. Steenmetz.
COLBUE,N'S NEW MONTHLY.—This number is
above the average in interest, although we can say
tittle for the long-continued stories ghat form its
pieces de resistance " Streebmore," by the .uthor
ot " Granviite tie Vigne,' has many ot the faults ot
that very questionable work. It is a mom highly-coloured
narrative of love, jealousy, and revenge, dealing iu super-
latives in every other line. I s characters all move in the
inner circle of fashionable lite, cluthet in purple and fine
linen, and moving Irons feast to ;east 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.
Shakepere and his Centenary are the subjects of two con-
tributions—the prose essay by Sir Nathan.el 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 legendery art which so
often c ,nceals a deep and earnest moral under its wild play
of fancy.

BENTLEY's MISCELLANY.—The editor's wary of
J&-In Liw " proceeds with rt mirkabie animation.
We have also the continuation of Mr. Dudley Castello's tale of
" Mr. Grireshaw's Little L ye Affair," and the second part
of a story, translated from the Mulish. by Mrs. Bushby.
" Handy Dandy, Justice and Thiet," is the title of an en-
tertaining paper, and among the pleasantest of the remain-
ing articles is the second paper on our Derbyshire peaks
and dales.

CoRNUILL.—" Denis Duval" is eintinukd at some
lungth 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
—culler and more rambling even than the story 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 spellbound 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 ler to make up the sum of existence.
A. Gossip on R Christenings" comes very apropos
just now. The reader will certainly be entertained with the
fund of amusing anecdotes and graphic sketches which is
here aret with. It is at all times interesting to to ik 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 toreta.hers were reared, and in which
our rulers 11 ,orktied. " Margret 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 asc lbws the present
improved ccndition or society to the ittluence of clubs. Va-
rious other subjects of interest complete the contents of
this periodical. The lines on "Au Old Muff" are very
smartly written.

THE POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW.—This very ex•
e:lent an vaitiabie aerial contains in the new num-
ber mull ii.teresting inforcumion. It opens with an
essay on "Printing T3legraphs," which is full of
curious details resp,cting that marvellous art. Tue
Jiff rent systems and improvements are descrlbA in
clear and intelligible terms, illustrated by diagrams. One
of the most astonishing of these inventions or discoveries is
the Pontelegraph of the Abbe C4selli, which transmits
Chine,e or Perslaucharacters, if required, and will reproduce
a correspondent's autograph, or even his portrait if neces
sary. "1 he despatch is written in ordinal y ink upon silvered
paper, and by a peculiar arrangement of batteries the copy
is produced in blue upon a white ground " The American&
are very clever telegraphers. Bdcause 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 rep;y by tapping then tog,ther withouG any apparatus
whatsoever." It is remarked at the conclusion of this
interesting paferthat it is difficult to imagbas what degree