The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING OCTOBER 5, 1863,

THE MAGAZINES,

Priory" COLI3UiRsN' NEWr first tale i
SSouthwoodnoticlt
concerns a ghost, and must delight the lovers of the
the file that°N lr
meets our "
mystic and marvellous by its thrilling passages and
dreadful mysteries. These stories have recently not been
much in vogue, but this one revivifies one's memory of all the
fearful anecdotes that once abounded concerning avenging
spirits and souls that could not rest. "The Shadow of
Asblydyat" is continued. It this time brings us to the death-
bed of Maria. That worn-out frame has nearly done with
pain, and the suffering spirit now near its rest. George
is delayed in his journey, and only comes in time for the
last. His thoughts are bitter as he stands by that couch
and ruminates over the past. This passage sadly and so-
lemnly comments upon the lost chances never to return that
crowd upon the guilty conscience in the supreme hour when
the mortal is to put on immortality. When these earthly
scenes are closing—when the grave is about to set its seal on
one to whom we would have saved pain and did not—when
Heaven's solemn approach is to be seen, and Heaven's purity
has become all too clear to our own sight, what would we
give to change inflicted wrongs, to blot out the hideous
past ; moments of reprisal like these, prolonged as
they may seem, must come to us in the end. It is a charm-
ing thing, no doubt, to ignore them in our hot-blooded
carelessness; but the time will come when they find us
out. " Cleon" is Sir Nathaniel's hero this month. "Even-
ing at the Land's-end," by Nicholas Mitchell, is a sketch
of some striking scenery ; the lines are suited to their sub-
ject, ;and seem to realise the spirit of the scenery, sublime
rather than beautiful. "Twice Sacrificed" is here con-
cluded, It is most melancholy, yet the sequel of the
narrative cannot be called altogether unsatisfactory,
for the General dies at his post on the deathbed of
fame, and Jeanne seems impressed with her has-
band's heroism. "Killarney" describes that picturesque
locality in eloquent phraseology. " Strathmore" proceeds
with its romantic history ; and " My own experience of a
Ghost" may be of service to some timid readers in convey-
ing the notion that generally these witch and wizard mum-
meries could be made clear, by the simplest statement, if
the right person were only by. " Bayard "is a sketch of
that hero's knighting the young King Francis the
First, by the Royal desire. The Chevalier, sans pear,
et sans reproche, is at all times an attractive theme, and
the reader will be glad to inform himself concerning these
details. " Gipsies "is an animated account of those wan-
dering tribes One or two other subjects make up the
number.

DUBLIN.—" Wy leer's Hand" :proceeds at some
length ; the plot :is becoming developed gradually,
and the villains: of the piece are unmasking them-
selves to us. There are no attractive heroes or
heroines in this tale, but we are furnished with a
variety of sinister individuals of different shades of
iniquity. This is the only way in which to pourtray the cha-
racters who do the dark work of human nature, and all who
have mixed much in the world will know that their name is
legion. Wylder has disappeared for a season, and Stanley
Calze now figures on the stage. He is full of schemes, and
threatens to wreak some deadly vengeance on his sister and
Dorcas Brandon if his wish of marrying the heiress is not
realised. "Bella Donna" is also continued, and the artful
Jenny is doing great damage to her enemy ; she has actu-
ally come down to Greyforest and is there undermining
Charlotte's influence with her lover. Time will work won-
ders for her schemes, no doubt, with her wily way of
going to work, her artful manoeuvres, and
strange plans. The description of this girl is
a very able one, and aptly depicts the most conspicuous
qualities of the class of "mischief-makers" who are the pest
of society and the torment of all who know them. 111-fated
are they whom they consider their enemies ; the bold adver-
sary can never work one-half the evil, or cause one-half
the misery occasioned by those well-seeming hypo•
crites, who, with smooth words and benevolent manner,
hide their deep designs and screen their malicious purposes.
"An Old Greek Scene and Adventure" is a well-written
sketch that possesses some of the freshness of novelty about
it, which, in these days, is in itself a desideratum. " Irish
Dancing Fifty Years Ago" presents us with an entertain-
ing account of the style in which that pastime was carried
on by an earlier race ; it is well worthy of perusal.
" Alaster and Eola" is a dreamy sort of sketch that con-
tains some philosophic reflections on the various celebrated
scenes that the travellers passed thr,ugh. It is not the
kind of article likely to be generally attractive nor easily
understood, but it will suit the speculative reader.
" Studies of Old Actors " brings some histrionic
notabilities before us. We find "Garrick in Lord Hastings,"
"Mossop in Card inal Wolsey,"and "Henderson in Jacques.'
These sketches are for the most part deserving of notico
and one cannot well become too intimately acquainted with
the peculiarities of those who delighted the last generation
and who still shine forth in their firmament with a radiance
that none of our present day can equal. " Icelandic Lore
and Scenery" refers to some works of travels in that direc-
tion. Lord Dufferin's amusing work is mentioned, and his
famous after•dinner speech in Latin is quoted, and will
certainly edify all who peruse it. The introduction of some
well-known quotations is very ingeniously effected, and the
oration must have been a splendid success. The last article
is on " Savonarola." The readers may be interested to
compare the history of this remarkable man that has just
been translated from the Italian with the brilliant romance
on his life which has appeared from the pen of the author
of "Adam Bede." "My Aunt's Spectra" is a lively
account of a lugubrious object that very forcibly connects
the serious with the comic.
BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.—A page from the dark
annals of Russian history is the first thing to meet us
in this number. It is followed by a paper detailing

the pleasant peculiarities of Treves, " the Belgic
Rome." The story of " Six Weeks at Hunsdon
Manor" is continued with interest, although the converse,.
tions of the dramatis persona are sometimes considerably
spun out. It is impossible to doubt that some disaster will
befal the fair heroine Ethel from the malice of the half-
witted Tony. " Scent Memories" are the subject of a read-
able essay, which quotes abundant passages from prose and
verse to sustain the theory that "memory, imagination, old
sentiments, and associations are more readily reached
through the sense of smell than by almost any other chan-
nel." The tragedy of the Sicilian Vespers supplies the
subject for an article, and we have also papers on the career
of the late Baron von Stockman and the history of the Pont
Neuf. The editor's historical romance proceeds with inte-
rest, and is rapidly approaching its conclusion. The
Queen's death will probably end the troubles of the lovers.
GOOD WORDS.—Good Words is excellent, as it
always is, and foremost among its secular attractions
is a paper by Sir David Brewster, on " The Life-
boat and its Work," full of information and interest.
Mr. Glaisher gives an account of the first "Balloon
Voyage in England," which, it seems, took place in
1784, when a young Italian, Lunardi by name, and
Secretary to the Neapolitan Ambassador by profession,
made an ascent in presence of the Prince of Wales and an
immense assembly of spectators. The editor continues his
pleasant "Reminiscences of a Highland Parish," and
Alexander Smith contributes a well-written essay on
" Literary Style." He remarks that every sentence of the
great writer is like an autograph. " If Milton had endorsed
a bill with half-a- dozen blank verse lines it would be as good
as his name, and would be accepted as good evidence in
court. If Lamb had never gathered up his essays into
those charming volumes, he could be tracked easily by the
critical eye through all the magazines of his time. The
identity of these men can never be mistaken. Every printed
page of theirs is like a coat of arms, every trivial note on
ordinary business like the impression of a signet ring." We
have an essay on Needlewomen, and various other articles,
besides the usual religious ones, including a domestic story,
by Sarah Tytler, prettily illustrated.
LONDON SOCIETY.—The "society" which we
meet-under this sparkling red cover is, as usual, ani-
mated and entertaining. Stories, sketches, songs,
and disquisitions abound, most of them concerning the
doings of the gay world and its votaries. The illustrations
are, as is customary, numerous and clever.

MISCELLANEOUS M AGAZINES.
the Eclectic Review has an interesting article on
the life and Works of James Montgomery, under the
head of "An Old Eclectic Reviewer," in which capa-
city he is less known than in that of poet. We meet also
with an essay on " Fine English," with which the general
interest of the serial ends—the rest of the contents being de-
voted to papers of a controversial nature. —.Newton's Lon-
don. Journal of Arts and Sciences has its usual list of
patents granted, reports of engineering institutions, &c.,
besides preliminary articles on the duties of the Patent-
. ..

office,
—The aßnodyst,heoarencelintagl litigation respecting
skifulyatdhaept‘edCi 1:0osit
tastes most general amongstitsread,
and y
ers. Thehe p
same mayble
a
Curiositiesboth published Savage zife
by Mr. Beeton, whose Dic-
tionary ad oa f
zin e
of Universal Information also claims a notice, and
fully deserves its name.--Cassell's Popular Educator con-
tinues to be a marvel of compendious information,oprofit requiring
b yall
itseithdeerpgarrtemateinnts of knowledge.dustryorgreatabilities, fully to

ALFRED DE VIGNY has bequeathed all his manu-
scripts to Louis Ratisboune, who is preparing their speedy
publication.
CITY OF LONDON HOSPITAL FOR DISEASES OF
THE CHEST, victoria-park.—The number of patients re-
lieved at this hospital during last Week Was 1,055) of which
173 were ussw Oftiego

Mr. Glaisher's Fifteenth Balloon Ascent for
Scientific Purposes.

was held, and it was plain that we must descend ; the
valve was opened but the balloon rose, and it required a
very free use of the valve to get the balloon to turn to de-
scend. As we came down the wind changed, blowing to-
wards the north. Passed north of Grantham, and then
moved with great rapidity towards Sleaford.
At this time we saw the trees greatly agitated, and it was
evident that the descent would be a rough one. I packed
up the instruments with wadding, and we both prepared for
some bumps. When at an elevation of 150 feet, passing
very quickly, we had to throw out sand to avoid a farm
house, and could not come down where we wished.
Au open country was before us, the grapnel failed to
hold, and broke through a hedge; we struck the earth,
and rebounded to strike again ; the grapnel passed throu-zh
the light earth without exercising any influence. We broke
through a hedge, and everything loose in the car bounded
about much to our discomfiture. The balloon stood the
beating about wonderfully, and no rent appeared at all till
she came violently down on the earth, when we perceived
a long tear come up from the place where she struck on the
ground. The two sides stood out like wings. Still the
upper part of the balloon remained, until finally a great
rent passed up to the valve, when I expected all would
drop down; but for the space of a minute the great valve
with its heavy springs held 50 feet high in the air, whilst
the whole balloon opened out in one immense sheet, and,
kite-like, kept up for perhaps not more than a minute ;to
me it appeared a much more considerable length of time. It
then gradually fell to the ground. It was most painful to
see the noble balloon which had carried us so well so much
injured. I opened my packages to see, as I expected, the
debris of all the instruments, but to my intense surprise
discovered but few broken, the greater part remaining
uninjured. As to ourselves, we had of course a few
bruises, none of any consequence. The inconveniences of
this descent are perhaps as small as can be expected in
morning ascents made about the times of the equinox.
At the extreme elevation Mr. Coxwell assisted me in fill-
ing two bags with air for Professor Tyndall, and he saved
me much time by watching the blackened bulb of Daniel's
hygrometer.

Our place of descent was Temple Bruer, six miles N.W.
of Sleaford, on the farm of D. Blackburn, Esq., to whom
we are much:indebted, and to whom our best thanks are
due for the kindest hospitality, for sending the instru-
ments and the balloon in his own conveyance, and our-
selves in his own carriage to the Sleaford Station.
Blackheath, Oct. 3. JAMES GLAISHER.