The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-02 00:00:00

Temple Bar.

" John Maechmont's Legacy," by the able
authoress of " Lady Audley's Secret," is continued
at some length. This gifted authoress is deter-
mined to lose no time in her compositions, and it is
to be hopes that she will not over-work herself in
her multitudinous efforts. "The Strange Adven-
tures of Captain Dangerous" are concluded. This
story is at great length, and comes to a conclusion
in a satisfactory manner. " Sitting Up" is an
amusing sketch, by one who employed his leisure
during his dreary watch by figuring others as un-
fortunate as himself, till he quite forgets the hap-
less object of his vigil, who had to effect an en-
trance. " Ode to the Rain," is a new written poem
in a flowing metre that is very appropriate at the
present season "Towns on the Thames" is a very
interesting sketch, as may be imagined from
its title. A gossipping account is given of the towns
of note interspersed with appropriate quotations.
At last, it is said, " Enough of London's regal river,
ever famous for historic memories and pleasant
places of resort, es I gaze downwards where the
estuary widens, I think perforce of the vast and
ceaseless current of intellectual and commercial life
which flows through the Thames to every nation
of the earth." " The Blackburn Sewing Schools" is
a most interesting article. The chronicle of the
day's melancholy wandering through the famine-
stricken streets of Blackburn, is well worthy of
consideration. In conclusion, he states one cir-
cumstances that speaks volumes in its narra-
tive. " Men and women, four abreast, marshalled
by policemen, and moving slowly in, side by side,
up to the point where help was rendered, they had
been advancing thus for six hours, and yet these
berried ranks came on an army of reluctant recipi-
ents," The sad description leaves off with a
Worthy moral. " From every class in every scene,
by every tone, by all the past months of cruel pri-
vation, by all the confidence of the people in the
ftre and consideration of their countrymen, and by
their hopeful waiting for better times, we have had
°lir lesson. Let patience have its perfect work,
that we may be perfect and entire, wanting
thing." There are various other articles that
ocomplete this number and continue to keep up its
general tone and spirit.

The Cornhill Magazine.
" The Small Rouse at Allington" is continued at
some length, and in this division we meet with
some skilful touches of Crombie's portrait. The
cold, selfish man of the world feels himself in his
indigenous atmosphere amid the heartless life of
Courcy Castle. What if he felt ashamed of himself,
he still must persevere and keep up the show of
caring for nothing and nob )dy out of the charmed
circle of fashion. It is a painful but a probable
portraiture this representation of the man away from
the immediate influence of " Lily Dale," and ex-
posed to the fatal fascinations of his aristocratic
idols. Lady Dumbello, whom every one admired,
they hardly knew why, who kept a whole draw-
ing-room waiting dinner, while three attendants
dressed her, and then sailed in in majesty, hardly
deigning to look at her admirers of all kinds, is a
smart sketch of a great lady, who really does no-
thing a human being can rightly boast of, and yet
makes more stir in the world than many neglected
(roes, with whom she is not worthy to be ranked in
Common. The deceit practised by both sides in
talking of Crosbie's engagement is very natura.ly
deseribed. Each knew the other purposely de-
ceived, but was willing to aid and abet the sub-
terfuge. Lily Dale is an emblem of many simple
maidens, whose idols have
proved clay, and the
golden days of whose youth have been turned into
dross by the fickleness and faithlessness of their
lovers.
Tbe Punishment of Convicts" is a very
readable papers and touches on a subject that just
mow engages public atten ti an to a great
extent; some very sensible .remarks
ourema on
rkosavot system.riemadein
the course of this analysis o
The following passage is most appropriatelywopuultd,
and it would be well if some in authority
mark, learn, and inwardly digest it.
" Some sixty or seventy thoroughly hardened professional
footpads and garoti ers are enough to throw all London into
e
a panic, and when the put-lie ask why this is
so,
they are
told that penal servitude is not intended for gentlemen of
this persuasion. It would be well to make an effort to meet
their peculiar views. Even if it should seem too extensive
and difficult an undertaking to devise new classifications of
crime and new systems of punishment for special cases,and
if, as there is great reason to fear, it is true that the objec-
tions to transportation are really conclusive,it is the greatest
of all mistakes to make convicts too comfortable. To
honest poverty it is the most cruel insult, to the criminals
themselves it is cruel kindness, for their crimes are due in
almost every case to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eye, and the pride of life.' It would be an outrage on de-
cency to paint with any approach to truth the inside of the
minds of prisoners. If their habitual language is the best
index to them, they must contain abysses of blasphemy and
filth which can hardly be imagined. Take a man of this
kind, feed him well, work him lightly, iet him have plenty
of sleep in a soft and warm bed, and confine him for years
to the society of persons of his own class and sex, and you
expose him to temptations far greater than libraries of tracts
alacl armies cd chaplains can oneolulter. Monkish auto.