The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-02 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

BLACKWOOD.—" Caxtoniana" is continued again
this month at considerable length. The subject upon
which it treats is " Posthumous Reputation." There
are many striking thoughts expressed in these pages,
and everyday events are put before the reader in a
most impressive manner. It is very truthfully
said, that however devoid a man may be of the
ability to procure fame, or the desire to possess
it, still " the thought of sudden and entire forget•
fulness would be a sharp pang to his human heart."
This feeling has been already described by Gray,
in his matchless Elegy in a Country Church-
yard

On some fond breast the parting soul relies,
Some pious drops the closing eye requires,
E'en from the tomb the voice of Nature cries,
E'en in our ashes live their wonted fires."
' From Cracow to Warsaw" contains a second
letter from Poland ; as may be supposed, it com-
prises within it some interesting information.
In it the writer says :—" The happy privi-
lege which Englishmen possesi of being able
to travel Without restraint, and to express their
opinions openly and without reserve, is calculated
to puzzle and mislead foreigners who have lived in
the retirement of oppressed nationalities." "Ire-
land Revisited" is a summary of the impressions
received by one who has recently returned to that
country after 12 years' absence. The result of his
survey has evidently been a satisfactory one, since it
is said that the change which has of late years come
over the land is in every way remarkable. One
curious piece of advice is given to the settler, namely,
to " procure without delay a staff of approved con-
victs for servants." They are described as models
of docility and obedience, thus testifying to the
famous Irish convict discipline. "Why has not
Italy done more," is an article on that vexed ques-
tion—in which it is said that great unfairness and dis-
honesty have been displayed towards the Conserva-
tive party in deolaring that they are unfriendly to
the real liberties of Italy. " The London Art Sea-
son" takes a retrospective glance at the Exhibitions
of 1863—pronouncing them to be, upon the whole,
without any happy result, for it is said that the year
of the Great International Exhibition has passed and
left us to all appearance precisely as we stood pre-
viously. A feeling of disappointment is ex-
pressed at the want of progress that has been
made by the Royal Academy. "The injustice of
the hanging is so patent to the eye that it cannot
much longer be endured." The close of the article
here referred to, is perhaps not unworthy of yield-
ing us the following quotation :
" The arts, it will be inferred, are on the eve of vast de-
velopments. We can only express the hope that the new
growth may be of a quality commensurate with its pro-
mised extent. The Government have obtained space, they
will doubtless take to themselves time, and we trust they
may in the end fill the void over which they reign with
something better ordered than chaos. We have seen that
the national frescoes have failed—we all know that the
Royal Academy, for its proverbial inefficiency, is under.
going the ordeal of public scrutiny. Other of our institu-
tions are in a state barely saved from anarchy. A master
mind would soon set this disorder right. Parliament, we
fear, wanting the head to lead, will commit itself to a patch-

ing hand."
Part 11. of the " Chronicles of Carlingford " con-
tinues the history of the Perpetual Curate. There
is not much incident in this number, but Mr. Went-
worth has some painful scenes and angry altercations
with his aunts, who suddenly come down upon him
as the three Parcae who are to mould his destiny. He
also becomes aware of some mysterious event which
concerns the Wodehouse family, and towards the
close of this instalment is actually introduced to the
1 skeleton in the closet.

DUBLIN. " Wylder's Hand" is continued at
some length; it is a very clever story, and is
sketched in an entertaining manner. There is the
prospect of many stormy scenes and sad events
before the close of the fitful passages of life here
recorded. Mark Wylder and Stanley Lake are
plotting against each other, mining and counter-mining,
and some dark result is sure to follow. Although the story
has not as yet proceeded far, there are several strange
events already recorded, and some of the characters intro-
duced are most extraordinary ; therefore there is every pros-
pect of this tale becoming a great favourite with the lovers
of the romantic and the admirers of the marvellous. "Irish
Actors of the Last Century" is the title of an article. De-
lane, Ryan, and Moody are the names here chronicled. The
accounts given of the lives of these histrionic geniuses is
worthy of perusal, and several striking anecdotes are men-
tioned in the course of the recital. The strange circum-
stances attending the death of Peterson are mentioned.
He was acting the Duke in " Measure for Measure," and
was addressing Claudio on the subject of death, when he
dropped down dead in a fit of apoplexy. " Montaigne, the
Great Essayist of France," is the subject of a memoir. It
is written in a superior manner, and contains some notice-
able passages. It is said that he has contributed one
book out of some which the world does not forget ;
" its fame has never suffered abatement." Mrs. Norton's
clever novel of " Lost and Saved" receives a due tribute
in some eloquent pages which discusses its merits.
" Catullus" is the subject of a third series of descriptions.
Several translations of his work are given, which are written
in a spirited style. " Stern's Adventures" are brought to
a close in a fourth book. "Bella Donna; or the Cross
Before the Name," is continued. There are some smart
sketches of life met with in this narrative, and" Jenny" is
a very skilful mover in the great game of life. "The Eng-
lish and Irish Convict System" contains some practical re•
marks on a topic that has of late so much engrossed the
time and attention of the public.

FRASER.—" Indian Prospects" is the first subjec
to attract the attention of the reader. There is
nothing very new or striking in the article which
recapitulates the signs of progress and development
perceptible in our Eastern Empire, and then de-
nounces the "mammon worship" of those speakers
and writers who are always encouraging the cultivation of
India and the extension of its trade. Of course, if trade is
Cowed to become a mere matter of selfish barter, and laws
are passed for the benefit of European traders and the op-
pression of the Hindoos, our rule does not deserve to
prosper, but under the equitable lama which real
free trade necessitates, and guided by the high principles
which usually influence our statesman in questions
of publio morality and justice, there is no need
to fear that because the wastes of India are converted into
profitable fields, end her savage tribes transformed into
peaceable labourers, we are injuring the cause of Chris-
tianity and civilisation instead of advancing it. The intro-
duction of honest, profitable, and pacific means of livelihood
will surely prove an assistance to moral and religious
teaching rather than a hindrance, The natives of India
are sufficiently intelligent and capable to profit by every
fresh development of the resources of their country instead
of suffering from it as mere savages might do. Doubtless
our responsibilities are great, and the conduct of every
Englishman in India, as Lord Stanley once observed, has
a powerful and extended influence. But we may hope that
a better day has dawned over the rulers as well as the ruled.
ELgland feels the weight of the solemn charge she has
voluntarily undertaken, and is endeavouring to prove her-
self worthy of it. A very excellent paper on "Liberty of
Criticism and the Law of Libel" will interest the reader.
It discusses a pOint of law sufficiently important to
political speakers and writers to attract them to
the consideration of its arguments. "A Chapter showing
how Lord P— became our Rector," gives some amusing
anecdotes of a Scottish celebrity of the last generation.
" A Derby Day among the Arabs" recounts the writer's
experiences of an Arabian tribe, and describes a race among
the dwellings in the desert. The writer repeats an asser-
tion which he heard, which, if true, is certainly singular,
The owner of an English thoroughbred assured the traveller
that his horse had distanced every Arab he had tried him
against, and that having become acclimatised and accus-
tomed to hard life and hard fare, he was quite equal to the
desert horses in hardiness and endurance. The entymo-
logical will be attracted by an account of some of the vary-
ing species of British snails, and the epicure may possibly
feel disposed to experiment on a dish of apple snails, but,
notwithstanding Evelyn's verdict that they are " huge
fleshy, and delicious," we do not anticipate that the taste
~, will become popular, " Our Modern Youth" is the title of