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

our own day, and we suspect ne belongs to a clans'
which is never quite extinct. We meet with two
papers on historical subjects; the first on that
rash expedition of Charles I. and Bucking-
ham, which has already been the theme
of so many authors; the other on the career
of Nicholas Fouquet, superintendent of finances, in
the early days of the " Grand Monarque." The
papers descriptive of life in Russia, and in Canada,
are continued from the last number, and we have also
an account of " A Trip from Belgaun to the Falls of
Gokah." More attractive to the reader, however,
will be the narrative of a visit to the extreme north
coast of Jutland, bearing one of the great names in
Scandinavian literature—Hans Christian Andersen,
and is rendered into English by that indefatigable
and able Danish scholar, Mrs. Bushby.

The New Monthly

A paper on the Himadu or Snowy Mountains of
Africa quarrels with the speculations of recent
travellers with regard to the watershed between
the Nile and the Indian Ocean. The view upheld
by this writer is the one which describes the Abys-
sinian plateau as a series of terraces rising one
above the other, the lowest step being in the direc-
tion of the Red Sea, and the highest in Inarya,
which is regarded as the line of separation between
the waters flowing to the Nile and to the Indian
Oeeaa. The opposing theory maintains, on the
contrary, that the summit line of the high country
is towards the coast itself, and from thence it de-
clines to the interior. Leaving these geographical
perp exities we come to the continuation of Mrs.
Wood's melancholy, though powerfully written,
story of " The Shadow of Ashlydyat." The
wretched situation of the unfortunate Maria
Godolphin, left to bear the brunt of her husband's
misconduct, not alone from the world at large, but
from her own injured family, is forcibly described.
The universal distress occasioned in the quiet
country district by the sudden collapse of the old
and long-trusted bank is also vividly told. Sir
Nathaniel discourses upon the merits and mis•
fortunes of an ancient heroine, whose name Mr.
Kingsley has rescued from undeserved oblivion. It
is Hypatia, whose wondrous talents, beauty, and
tragical end have long since thrilled the readers of
"New Foes with an Old Face." The career of
Washington Irving, one of the most popular of
transatlantic writers, gives the text to an agreeable
paper. The story of "Granville de Vigne" pro-
gresses steadily, and many important events take
place in this instalment. Prominent among them
is the death of Sabret,sche's miserable wife, who
has so long stood between him and his happiness.
This event furnishes the writer with an opportunity
for one of his favourite diatribes against the marriage
law. He draws two very extraordinary and excep-
tional cases, and then proceeds on the assumption that
they are of common every-day occurrence. It is
scarcely worth while to enter upon his arguments
on this subject, only if he considers the continental
standard of married life so much happier in its re-
results than the English, such is not the general
opinion. A Frenchman's description of our busy
and unwieldy metropolis will probably afford
some entertainment. In a sketch of the life and
times of Calvin we find a vivid picture of that grim
but earnest minded reformer. An article on the
First Napoleon's proposed invasion of England
concludes the number.