The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-03 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.-A simple story of
domestic country life opens this number. It might
with advantage have been curtailed, and has no
very striking incidents ; but it is rather refreshing
in these days to meet with a tale of everyday life
without great crimes or marvellous mysteries. The
editor's romance of " Cardinal Pole" proceeds with
its usual animation and interest. The character of
the good Cardinal is shown in strong contrast to
some of his contemporaries. Frederick Marshall,
who has previously attracted notice by his admir-
able series of essays on the commerce and institu-
tions of our neighbours, contributes an entertain-
ing sketch of " French Kitchens." He remarks that
there is no more radical or conspicucus difference
between the English and French internal arrange-
ments than exists in the organisation of that im-
portant branch of domestic economy. Mrs. Bushby
continues her narrative of a visit to Denmark and
Sweden, and confirms her previous pleasant im-
pressions. A Crimean officer criticises Mr. King-
lake's strange eventful history, and a Garibaldian
recounts a recent visit to his old chief at Caprera.
The pleasant position of the Sultan's son-in-law is
amusingly described in a paper on Turkish women
and their ways, and there are several other papers,
mostly on subjects of foreign interest.

TEMPLE BAR.--" Sohn Marchmont's Legacy" is
very painful in this instalment, as Edward becomes
convinced that.his wife-iavdead. • The character of
Olivia is well sketched throughout, and she now
begins to reap the consequences of her fearful acts.
The account of the mystery that envelopes the dis-
appearance of Mary Marchmont is admirably sus-
tained, and altogether this promises to be one of the
most exciting of the authoress's eventful tales.
Cavinia Weston is a very sharp woman ; she
tyrannises over her weak husband, and is mixed up
in her brother Paul's transactions. Edward Arundel
is left on the watch, which he has resolved never
to relinquish until some light is thrown upon
the crime, and its consequences are revealed.
" French at a Glance" is a light sketch of the mis-
chances that befel a man who went abroad to learn
the language he ought to have known before to
ensure comfort, especially as he travelled alone.
" Nursery Classics" is an entertaining paper on that
topic, and explains the great mischief that arises
from substituting new-fangled notions for those
beautiful old songs that have charmed and delighted
so many children for successive generations.
" Breakfast in Bed" takes us to Paris, which is an
agreeable variety, and furnishes a change of topics,
which are of course dealt with in a very amusing
style. "Forty per Cent." is an article that is de-
serving of attention, and brings before us a very
solemn subject. In the bills of mortality it is stated
that forty per cent, of the children born in England
and Wales die before they are a year old. A long
analysis is made as to the various causes which lead
to so sad a result, and this paper is well worthy of
the consideration of all likely to be of service to
those referred to. It is truly said that "something
ought to be done to clear us of the responsibility of
this wholesale infanticide, which must shock every
soul that gives it a moment's consideration." " The
Trials of the Tredgolds" is proceeded with, and poor
old Bryan is pronounced in a hopeless state.
" Bohemia" is a clever article, that brings before us
some striking phases of human life, and is original
in some of its descriptions. " The Peril of Florence
Weston" is a very extravagant sketch. It is
written in an entertaining style, but is so very outre
in its events that it scarcely comes under the pale
of probability. There aro other topics of interest
in this number. " Working Men's Clubs" is on a
subject that will prove attractive to many readers.

THE CORNHILL.—" Romola" is continued, and
in this portion is truly dreadful. It is a most har-
rowing tale on the whole, and the last chapter brings
before us a vivid picture of retributive justice.
Baldasaire is at hand, when Tito lands after his
desperate struggle with the waters, and he but ex-
changes one death for another. No one can lament
the fate of such a deceiver. The tale is so fraught
with horrors that it is not likely to prove attractive
but it exhibits great skill in its general style, and
some of the characters are very forcibly delineated,
" The Small House at Allingtou" is continued, and
this number is an attractive one. Lily Dale shows
great spirit, and improves so much upon acquaint-
ance that it is quite a relief to think that she is
freed from such a wretch as Crosbie. It is also a
relief to fled that Crosbie is as unhappy as he de-
serves to be. It is net often that such men reap
their due deserts, but certainly Crosbie had out-
raged even the appearance of decorum. An elabo-
rate plan is made by the Earl de Guest regarding
Johnny Eames and Lily Dale, but as yet it does not
progress very far. There is something very natural
in the manner in which this story is described, and
it cannot fail to prove interesting to its readers.
" Was Nero a Monster ?" is a really extraordinary
sketch. It sets out to show that there is not any
evidence whatever of the capital charges against the
Roman Emperor, who has shared such unenviable
notoriety. One argument adduced is, that the three
historians who write so strongly against Nero were
not present at the events they describe. This reason
applies with more force to the writer of this essay,
since they were considerably nearer to the epoch
described. " Professional Etiquette" is a readable
paper which satirizes some of the absurd rules and
regulations that have been laid down by some
people. " Amateur Music" contains some very
good advice for those concerned, and sets forward
the doctrine that it is not impossible for the Eng-
lish to become a musical people.

MACMILLAN.--Italian and ecclesiastical ques-
tions nearly divide the contents of this number be•
tween them. We have a continuation of " Vin
cenzo on Sunken Rocks," in which instalment the
miserable hero escapes from his state of forced de-
pendence and inaction, and enters, we may hope,
upon a more honourable and useful career. He
rejoins his friend at Turin, who, although
dispirited at the result of his former experiment,
does his best to befriend him. " Southern Italy,
Its Condition and Prospects," is discussed in a paper
by Aurelio Saffi. " Clerical Life in Scotland" and
" Convocation and Bishop Colenso," are the two
ecclesiastical papers ; the first revealing some
curious peculiarities of the Northern cha-
racter. " Letters from a Competition W.ral-
lah" give an amusing account of a novice's
social adventures and experiences in India. A
paper on " Cottage Gardens" tells us the very gra-
tifying and successful results of an allotmcntexpe-
riment. The writer owned a large field, which he
divided into several parts, and let out at a very low
rental to some deserving labourers of his parish.
The experiment answered perfectly well, and has
proved of great benefit to the cultivators in more
ways than one. One of the most noticeable articles
of the magazine will be found near the conclusion.
It is the first of a series on " Lord Bacon as a Natu-
ral Philosopher," by no less a person than Baron
Liebig. It is, moreover, a severe attack upon the
claims of the English celebrity to scientific distinc-
tion. As it would be a serious task to take part in
such a battle, we will merely refer the scientific
reader to the attack in question. Christina Ros-
setti contributes a quaint and original poem
called "A Bird's-eye View," which, although par-
taking too much of the vagueness and mistiness
of the modern school, bears evidence of talent.

ST: JAMES'S—Though far inferior to what it
was in its early days, has some entertaining read-
ing. It opans with a fresh instalment of the story
of " Aubrey-Marston," which contains a true inci-
dent of romance, for the hero succeeds in rescuing
the heroine from imminent danger. Nevertheless,
the tale is anything but a romantic one, the grim
figures of speculators and schemers continually
passing.
i across the page, while Aubrey Marston
himself is evidently becoming the dupe of sharp
practitioners. The popular and national style of
art is considered in a brief essay, headed " Wanted
a National Gallery," the writer of which considers
that our artists would be more generally admired
and honoured if they selected subjects of popular
interest, such as scenes in the lives of our great
met, or striking incidents in the national history
during the last two hundred years. The critic
considers that if " at least halt of our collections
were devoted to modern pictures of historical and
human interest, both landscape and figure, works
that would reflect the wants and feelings of the
ninteenth century," mote would be done to raise art
in dignity and value than all the Schools of Design
can effect. We can hardly complain, however,
that the modern element is altogether neglected.
Maclise and Leslie have represented subjects suffl
ciently human in their interest to awake our
sym-
pathies ; Millais's Huguenot and Order of Release
are both drawn from history, and represent possibleoccurrences. Stanfield's sea pieces and tfhe
others,
land-
scapes of Redgrave, Cooper, and a hostolost
sight
prove that our artists have not altogetherßoker," who
of the romance of reality. " The Bill „ drawn
narrates his chequered experience,. chiesnyus this
from the dark side of human
_life, 11
month of the ingenious manner in whichew
self was imposed upon by a lady who . s
aadsratuitre.