The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-08 00:00:00

Divii

LITERATURE.

A Short Trip in _Hungary and Transylvania in the
Spring of 1862. By Professor D. T. Ansted,
M.A., 8.-e. Allen and Co.

So little has Hungary hitherto been explored that 1
a work describing its natural features and produc-
tions, if seen only during a short trip, must possess
unusual interest, especially when proceeding from
the pen of so accurate an observer as Professor An-
sted. Here he was upon comparatively new ground.
Of all parts of Europe Hungary has, perhaps, been
least frequented by tourists, and this, in great mea-
sure, owing to a prevalent idea of its inaccessibility
—an idea which Professor Ansted's volume will go
a great way to dispel. He shows that, upon the
whole, the difficulties of transit have been greatly
exaggerated. Railroads traverse the country. The
steamers on the Danube are excellent, and the hotel
accommodation seems to have been quite up to the
average. There is no reason, then, why some of the
swarm of tourists that England annually sends forth
to scatter gold broadcast over the Continent should
not direct their steps thither, inasmuch as for na-
tural scenery, mountain climbing, or sport, it is all
they could desire. Here the Alpine Club would find
a new field for their energies, and the pursuers of
game would, in the dense primeval forests, gratify
at once their love of adventure, and find ample em-
ployment for their organ of destructiveness. In
one respect, however, it does seem to be inferior to
most other nations of Europe—it has no mediaaval
antiquities—no works of art. The towns appear
to be essentially uninteresting, the villages are mere
assemblages of huts. Collections of Roman anti- ,
quities exist in some of the chief cities 'tis true,
inasmuch as the country was conquered by that
people in the time of the Dacians, and traces of its
occupation by them still exist. Still they are of
small account. " A few roads, the form of an old
amphitheatre near a few towns, and some other in-
dications, are all that can be made out." Never-
theless the soil itself is rich in antiquities, and col-
lectors would unquestionably find a trip remunera-
tive. In the words of the author, " Travelling in
Hungary is really now so easy and so pleasant that
there is no reason why the artist, the professional
man, and even the typical tourist, should not take
advantage of a district in Europe where it is possi-
ble to obtain new sensations, to visit scenes not
hackneyed, to study a people not yet spoiled by a
large influx of travellers, and to meet those mode-
rate difficulties and little hardships that are not
only perfectly endurable, but almost pleasurable by
their novelty. There are forests i❑ Hungary, only
a very few days' journey from populous cities,where
the bear and the wolf are extremely abundant, and
are accompanied by the lynx, of which individuals
have been shot not much inferior in size to the leo-
pard. The rivers of Hungary abound with fish of
kinds seen in no other European waters. Birds
from Africa are frequent visitors, and establish
themselves in noble primeval forests of beech, such
as are not to be found elsewhere in the Western
world. Not far off are mountains whose snowy
caps are rarely doffed, and which give rise to
streams and torrents, sometimes falling over lofty
precipices, sometimes forming in narrow, tortuous
channels, and sometimes rushing over golden sands,
or amongst broken but gigantic fragments of the
rocks they have undermined. Even reptiles of rare
forms and colours are not wanting ; and of the in-
sect world there are flights of locusts only rivalled
in Asia Minor, and a peculiarly troublesome fly, a
kind of tsetse of the Danube, also absolutely local.
The geologist will find in the beds of some of the
rivers and in the mountains rare and valuable mine-
rals. The paiceontologist may study the innumer-
able fossils obtained from the plains and bed of the
Theiss, one of the richest localities in the world for
gigantic bones. The antiquarian will follow with
interest the course of Roman conquest in one of
the most remarkable of the progresses made by
that singular people, and may enrich his museum
with rare coins and rarer and more interesting
household utensils, manufactured after classic mo-
dels of the fine gold of the country." Thus there
is something to suit all tastes; end not the least
interesting part of the book is that which treats of
the different races found in the country, such as
" the Msgyar, the Jew, and the Turk, the descen-
dant of the old Raman, the D tcian modtfied into
cue u•vuo,., Wailautl, tue Odauu, tt,s_ O prey, and
sometimes other tribes, all settled harmoniously
for centuries, each acknowledging the other as a
fellow -countryman,ancl yet each as distinct as if be
never left his native soil." It is clear then, that the
country is one which affords a wide field for obser-
vation ; and, now that Professor Ansted has shown
the way, it will, doubtless, not be long ere we shall
meet with more information concerning it.

THE MAGAZINES.

The Cornhill.

" Philip" is finished in this number with melo-
dramatic suddenness, and in the Round About Paper
the author discourses of his craft. " Romola" re •
veals a little more of the early Florentine life.
" The Creize of the Sumter, from the Private Jour-
nal of an Officer," gives an interesting account of
one of the most skilful and daring expeditions of
modern times; and as Alpine travel has now become
an institution with vacation tourists, its " art" is
here expounded for their edification. Under the
head of " The Climate and the Work" we meet with
a description of the difficulties and dangers encom-
passing an Indian Governor-General; and A
House in Westminster" is the title under which we
find a graphic description of the missionary labours
of certain tqsters of Charity among the heathen of
that district. " There are dens in Westminster
where no respectable people dare go," says the
writer, " streets and alleys, where the houses are
built so close together that scarcely more than one
person can pass along at a time. Persons who visit
the poor in :some of these localities choose days
and hours when the men are away from home;
They dare not go when they are there. Fights in
the streets, insults, brutality, drurkennea, swear-
ing, and brawling, and then all the children prat-
tling and playing in the dirt, and stirring the
gutters round about, and looking on with their
round eyes ; and the geese cackling and the women
standing at the doors with their babies; and then,
perhaps, three or four people shrieking and yel-
ling, and rolling ever and over in the
middle
of the road : one need but go into the dens of West-
minster to see such things as these; and one turns.
away and comes out into the broad streetsoneegehiand,
glad to escape out of this Hades intorlhyieh
strayed. But into this brawlivrg land the
hesitation;g they
quiet sisters pass without fear
of the living women
glide along like kindly ghosts n ter the houses; they
they used once to be; they enter
send for them
and by the sick Patients;
the men
e harms them, and men
and they come. No OD
themselves, instead of ill-treating, respect them and
help them in every way."

Bentley's Miscellany.

This month Mr. Ainsworth relates the origin of
the 3fansion House, and shows how the positions
of Tradescant and Herbert are becoming reversed,
the former appearing as the" Good child," the latter
as the " Tom Idle" of the tale. The second part of
the sketch of " The Two Brides" is given, and the
adventures of " Mossoo" among the aristocracy of
Leicester-square are continued. In "A Summer in
America" Captain Knight gives his impressions of
the Hudson and Niagara. Of the former, he says,
" There are, I think, parts of the Rhine more
striking than any part of the Hudson, but nowhere
on the Rhine do you find the wild sylvan beauties
which adorn the Hudson's banks; the drooping
woods and rugged rocks, the quiet bays where the
still water reflects the overhanging foliage, are
characteristics of the Hudson which are wanting in
the Rhine—in short the banks of the European
river are more cultivated, and therefore less pictu-
resque than those of its American rival, to which,
on the whole, I should award the palm of superiority
in point of beauty." The Table Talk by Monkshood
treats of professional diners out; and the tale of
"An Arclplogist in Trouble" is based on the
lssassination of the celebrated antiquary Winckel-
mann.

',Europe and
article in urn's .A'eto Monthly.
America" is the title
this number, which i°
0f
btahsee d open-
ingon a

work recently published by M. Gasparin. And
the concluding article treats of" The Slave Power."
The philosophic Marcus Aurelius is chosen by " Sir
Nathaniel" for his biographical sketch; a prince
who is compared by M. Guizot, for conscientious-
ness, with St. Louis, and of whom Addison said, that
he found in Italy " as many figures cf that excellent
Emperor Marcus Aurelius as of all the rest together ;
because the Romans had so great a veneration for
his memory, that it grew into a part of their religion
to preserve a statue of him in almost every private
family." His philosophy was that of Stoicism.
And " Adam Smith refers to the meditations of
Marcus Aurelius as contributing more to the gene-
ral admiration of his character than all the dif-
ferent transactions of his just, merciful, and benefi-
cent reign"—but in analysing the Emperor's prac-
tical philosophy, which teaches that a man's being
occupied in contethplating the mere sublime can
never be an excuse for neglecting the more humble
department, the shrewd Scotch economist perti-
nently remarks, " and he must not expose himself
to the charge which Avidius Cassius is said to have
brought, perhaps unj astly, againstMarcusAntoniLus
that while be employed himself in philosophical
speculations, and contemplated the propriety of the
universe, he neglected that of the Roman Empire."
The most sublime speculations of thecontemplative
philosopher can scarce, urges Father Adam—father
of political economy—compensate the neglect of
the smallest active duty." " The Shadow
of Ashlydyat" and " Granville de Vigne," are con-
tinued, and the " Private of the 38th Middlesex"
contributes the second part of the account of his
ascent of Mont Blanc.

Newton's Journal of Arts and Sciences.—The
articles on the contents of the International Exhi-
bition here given, contain an account of that pecu-
liar seaweed of Southern Africa, which serves for
walking sticks, whip handles, &c., and discusses
Military Engineering and Appliances. The de-
scription of recent patents is complete as usual,
and at the beginning of the number are two plates
of recent inventions.

Baily's Monthly Magazine of Sports and Pastimes.

—A portrait and biography of the 31arquis of
Anglesey are given ; an account of the horseflesh
at Battersea follows. The tale of Charlie Thorn-
hill is continued, and the usual sporting topics of
the past month complete the number.

Kingston's Magazine for 80y5.—.." Marmaduke
Marry" is continued—a narrative of travel across
the Rocky Mountains into British Columbia is in
progress, and the International Exhibition is
noticed.

Modern Metre.—This " medium for the poets of
,he day" now appears in a new and neat form.

BERTON'S PUBLICATIONS.—The Englishwoman's
Domestic Magazine contains an oriental design in
Berlin wool work, together with a plate of fashions
a sheet of patterns for ornamental and useful needle-
work, together with tales and essays. Book of
Garden Management treats of gathering and
storing fruit, gives a monthly calendar, and has a
chapter "On Harvesting Soils and Composts.'
Boy's Own Magazine.—" Peter the Carpenter
King," and " How I won my Spurs," are the prin-
cipal tales in progress. Boy's Own library.—
"Phaulcon ; or, the Ship Boy who became a Prime
Minister," is now concluded. Home pets, squirrels,
guinea pigs, and tortoises, are described in this
part.

Barrington. By Charles Lever. Poor Tom
Dill breaks down in this number, and enlists as a
private soldier, whilst old Peter Barrington, with
his sister, goes to France to meet his grandcLild
Josephiue.

Orley Farm. By Anthony Trollope.—The trial
is almost over; the number concluding with Mr.
Furnival's speech for the defence.

THE MEDITERRANEAN FLEET

VALETTA, AUG. 2.

Most of the available ships of her Majesty's Mediterra-
neon fleet have lately been ordered to Corfu, for the par -
pose, it is unuerstuud, or enabling the Commander-in-Chief
to put them together through the steam exercises which he
has hdd for some time past in contemplation. Although
this may be, and no doubt is, one of the reasons for assem-
bling a squadron just now in the Adriatic instead of the
Bay of Naples, as intended, still, considering the present
aspect of affairs, it cannot but be looked upon as having
some political significance. The ships now there are the
Marlborough, 131 (flagship), the Algiers, SO, the Amphion,
36, the Doris, 32, and a gun-vessel or two ; and this force is
immediately to be increased by the Queen,' 86, and probably
the Scylla, 22, both from Malta. The Scylla arrived here
on the let inst. from Gibraltar, bound for the Piraeus of
Athens, having been relieved by the Malacca, 17, but it is
thought likely she may receive telegraphic orders instruct-
ing her to join Admiral Martin. The melancholy news was
received by her of the very sudden and unexpected death,
at Gibraltar, of Lieut. Warren, of the Malacca, supposed
to have been occasioned by disease of the heart, The Queen
is refitting, and filling up with stores and provisions, and,
it is expected, will be ready to leave for Corfu about the 7th
inst. The Magicienne, 16, which left Malta on July 24 to
convey Mr. Scarlett from Corfu to Athens, will probably
remain at the Pirwus for some time, to take the place
of the Exmouth, 86, ordered to Smyrna, and thence to
Malta. The ships on the coast of Smyrna, by the last
accounts, were the Mars, 80, Icarus, 11, Firebrand, 6, and
surveying vessel Firefly; but, the Mars having been
ordered home to be paid off, the two gun-vessels have been
despatched to replace her. These vessels—the Wanderer,
4, and the Surprise, 4—left Malta on the 26th ult. for
Beyrout, the latter having orders to call at Suda Bay
(Candia). The vacancy caused in the Mediterranean fleet
by the Mars going home will be filled up by the Edgar,
Capt. the Hon. F. A. Foley, lately commissioned at Ports-
mout, as flagship of Rear-Admiral S. C. Dacres, C. 8.,
second in command of the fleet in the Mediterranean. The
Pelican, 17, was still at Alexandria,
rawaiting the arrival
of he
of the captain, officers, and crew Majesty's sloop,
Pantaloon, from Bombay, who are to be submitted to court-
martial for allowing their vessel to get ashore in the
Mozambique Channel. They were expected at Suez about
the 30th of July, or the week following. The Garnet, 11,
was at Constantinople, and the Weser, 6, and Cockatrice,
3, were at their stations in the Danube. The Medina, sur-
veyingship, Capt. T. A. B. Spratt, C. 8., left Malta for
Smyrna on the 31st ult. Capt. Sprat has obtain° 1 four
months' leave of absence to recruit his health, which has
been for some time past failing him. After according his
the
epreker
Turkish waters
positionsaant
edrsoiffno etthh the Medina
Levant,mcertain
ed ilni ga hhtt
oo-
t owillu s valuablee
sgive
ab adviceouupt
t o
temporarilyba as
e bt oui theitinp
Lieut. Wilkinson. The Medina has recently afforded valuable
assistance to the local Government in examining the sea
bottDm round a considerable extent of these islands,
with reference to the late discovery of coral near Gozo.
r rom her explorations it appears that coral rocks exist
in from 30 to 60 fathoms in many localities round the coast,
and a closer survey will doubtless disclose many others not
yet discovered. The local Government has not yet decided
on the steps to be taken for regulating the coral fishing,
which premises to be a lucrative source of industry for the
hai dworking population of these islands. The Trident, 3.
paddlewheel sloop, went out OR the Ist inst. to try her en-
gines, which have been repaired in this dockyard, and on
the following day took her departure for Naples with super-
numeraries and stores for the London, 86, and NePilinet
S 6, stationed there. The Trident was the first vessel to
enter the new dry dock just completed under the direction
of the engineer and architect, Mr. Churchward, upon whom
its construction reflects much credit.
The ships of war in port at presentare the Hibernia'
receiving-ship, yinogn-lship, bearing the flag of Rear-Adwiral Codring-
ton, C. 8.; the Queen, 86; the Scylla,
and Growler, tenders. 22; and the Boxer
The English screw steamer Una,
hired transport, 0. E.
Smith, master, lett Malta on the 30th ult. for London, with
41 invalids from the different regin'e-fits and the following Quartermaster R
military passengers :—Dr. Scott, Staff;t
d two
Malcolm, 25th Regiment ; one sergean anprivates.

'"-----da .—The steamers Tartar
ur
SOUTHAMPTON, Th
s Yton this eveninn• for Libbcn.
and Tagus sailed from
S°ll,•tehi.:imgnPs on freight.
The latter took 20,000
modification, says the Constitu-
" An important rb
15th, in the illumination of
tionnel, " will
Concorde and the Champs Elysees. In.
the Place Kle la teamntade on the
the
administrationmunici-
pal has determined to make trial of a new
pal
stead of the coloured oil-lamps hitherto used,
illumination. In the Place de la Concorde the
mcde of Ps
,is lamps will be replaced by bouquets formed of un-
nuisaiil fished glass globes. The vases of the fountains will also
bei surrounded with gas lights. The number of these
globes of fire on the Place will be about 2,000. Rows of
' similar globes will run from one lamp-post to the other, all
up the Champs Elysees. At short intervals there will be
trophies decked with flags and lightel with gas, represent-
ing the Emperor's monogram and the Imperial Eagle. The
tountain at the Rond Point will be splendidly illuminated
with gas, and the circuit round it will present eight arcades
tastefully ornamented and brilliantly lighted. The tota
number of lights will not be less than 122,000."