The Sun.
London, England, 1837-12-01 00:00:00

BENTLEY' S MISCELLANY.

This Miscellany has only reached us this morning,
consequently we have been unable to do more than
just glance hastily over its contents. Unless we re-
ceive the Magazines on the last day of the month,i

is impossible, with the vast number that crowd our
table, to render them anything like justice. " Oliver
Twist "—so far as we can judge from a very super-
ficial perusal—does not diminish, but, on the contrary,
seems to increase, in interest. The usual " Song of
the Month," is neatly and pointedly written. It is
from the pen of Cornelius Webbe. But the
best article in the Number is decidedly the
essay on the character of Lady Macbeth, a con-
tinuation of Dr. Maginn's admirable " Shakspeare
Papers." In this essay the author defends the cha-
racter of Lady 'Macbeth at the expense of her hus-
band, thus directly reversing the criticism of Campbell
on the same subject. His introductory observations
on Shal:speare's women are beautiful, though Hazlitt
has almost exhausted that theme, which was a favou-
rite one with him. We do not hold with the Doctor's
theory on Lady Macbeth, which we think is far too
finely spun ; but this we will say, that it is defended
with consummate adroitness and ingenuity.
" Except her share in the murder of Duncan—which is,
however, quite sufficient to justify the epithet in the mouth of
his son—she does nothing in the play to deserve the title ; and
for her crime she has been sufficiently punished by a life of
disaster and remorse. She is not the tempter of Macbeth.
It does not require much philosophy to pronounce that there
were no such beings as the weird sisters ; of that the voice
that told the Thane of Glamis that he was to be Kin.. of
Scotland was that of his own ambition. In his own bosom
was brewed the hell-broth, potent to call up visions coun-
selling tyranny and blood ; and its ingredients were his own
evil passions and criminal hopes. Macbeth himself only be-
lieves as much of the predictions of the witches as he desires.
The same prophets who foretold his elevation to the
throne, foretold also that the progeny of Banquo would
reign; and yet, after the completion of the prophecy, so
far as he is himself concerned, he endeavours to mar the
other part by the murder of Fleance. The weird sisters
are, to him, no more- than the Evil Spirit which, in Faust,
tortures Margaret at her prayers. They are but the per-
sonified suggestions of his mind. She, the wife of his bosom,
knows the direction of his thoughts ; and, bound to him in
love, exerts every energy, and sacrifices every feeling, to
minister to his hopes and aspirations. This is her sin, and no
more. He retains, in all his guilt and crime, a fond feeling
for his wife. Even when meditating slaughter, and dreaming
of blood, he addresses soft words of conjugal endearment ;
he calls her " dearest chuck," while devising assassinat ons,
with the fore-knowledge of which he is unwilling to sully her
mind. Selfish in ambition, selfish in fear, his character pre-
sents no point of attraction but this one merit. Shakspeare
gives us no hint as to her personal charms, except when he
makes her describe her hand as " little." We may be sure
that there were few " more thorough-bred or fairer fingers,"
in the land of Scotland than those of the queen, whose bear-
ing in public towards Duncan, Banquo, and the nobles, is
marked by elegance and majesty ; and, in private, by affec-
tionate anxiety for her sanguinary lord. He duly appreciated
her feelings, but it is a pity that such a woman should have
been united to such a man."
" Adventures in Paris" are sprightly, and not de-
void of humorous incident. " The Glories of Good-
humour" sufficiently explains its subject, which is
treated in a befitting spirit. " Eighty Years Ago"
gives us some singular details respecting the exe-
cution of Earl Ferrers for murder. " Jack among the
Mummies," to which an illustration by George Cruick-
shank is attached, is full of the most diverting carica-
ture, and will occasion a hearty laugh. " The Last
of the Bandits" is not so interesting as its title would
imply. It may, however, serve to amuse an idle half-
' hour.