The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-03 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

LE CORRESPONDANT. No. 115. Paris : Charles
Douniol—is mainly interesting this month by rea-
son of its containing a paper from the honoured as
well as powerful pen of Charles, Count de Montalembert.
That illustrious writer, orator, civilian, patrician, Christian
has not, however—to our great regret—selected one of the
themes so many earnest observers of the more intellectual
portion of the periodical press of France would far rather,
would dearly have liked him to have selected ! Not one
thinking man in Christendom—it matters nothing of what
belief or of what unbelief—is there who would not have
preferred to have found that the Count de Montalembert,
instead of descanting, as he does most charmingly, in this
latest instalment of Le Correspondent, upon the gifts and
merits of Monsieur le Comte Beugnot, - had taken in
hand some far more momentous theme, some theme
coming more directly home (according to Lord
Verulam's phrase) to the business and bosoms of men
of this generation—some such theme, let us say, as the
Encyclical, as the Syllabus appended to it, as the Church
question in Mexico, as the still vexed question of godless
or of godly Education. Monsignor Dupanloup has spoken,
boldly, most eloquently, and thoroughly well to the purpose,
upon the two first, as they are also the two most important
of the particular themes thus cursorily enumerated by us.
But, glad though we are naturally to learn what is thought
and felt upon matters of such universal importance, and
of such very considerable magnitude, by a man as
gifted as Monsignor Dupanloup—we would yet more
have rejoiced at any opportunity enabling us to learn
what are the thoughts and feelings with which those
same notable subjects are regarded by the Count de
Montalembert. As it is, writing as he does upon the cha-
racter and influence of a man of distinction like M. le Comte
Beugnot, Montalembert (here, in this present number of
Le Correspondent) follows up a paper more expressly about
the man himself, written by Count Daru of the Institute,
with an eloquent and persuasive disquisition, as we may
call it, upon Count Beugnot's association, his intimate
and potential association with the cause and interests
of Religious Liberty. Another Count, the Count do Cham-
pagny, leads off the present number with a brief but timely
paper, apropos to the " History 'of Julius Caesar," by the
Emperor. Very noticeable, also, among the contents of
the number, is the earnest, almost impassioned, tribute
paid to M. Thiers, in reference to his recent discourse—a
tribute of gratitude, hardly less than of admiration offered
with an open hand to the Great Orator by Leopold de
Gaillard. The translated novel of " Constance Sherwood,"
by Lady Georgiana Fullerton (who translated by, we
know not) is continued—Le Correspondant, in addition to
other miscellaneous contributions not here particularised,
closing with its customary record of the Events of the Month,
and its usual Bibliographical Bulletin.
MACMILLAN'S MAGAZINE.--TWO new stories are
commenced in this part, to replace the two so lately
finished. One is by the author of " The Heir of
Redclyffe," and is called "The Dove in the Eagle's
Nest." The scene is laid in Germany in the middle
ages, and the plot of the story, as it is yet indicated,
gives ample room for the authoress's original talent. The
portrayal_ of character, in which she especially shines, is
likely to occupy a prominent place. Christina, the heroine,
a gentle and sensitive girl, has been brought up from her
infancy by her uncle and aunt, rich citizens of the good
city of Ulm. Her father, a reckless landsknecht or free-
booter in the service of some of the fighting barons of the
time, gladly leaves her to their charge. All at once, hOw-
ever, he returns to claim her as an attendant on his chief-
tain's daughter, who is ailing and lonely. The feelings of
the poor maiden, suddenly transported from all the comfort
and civilisation of the good burgher's house to the rough,
half savage baronial castle, are vividly described; but her
work lies before her, and Christina, timorous though she
seems, is strong enough to do it. The other story,
" Cradock Nowell," opens with promise. Sir Alexander
Duff Gordon gives us an account of a visit to the Isthmus
of Suez, and Lord Hobart contributes an article on our
financial monopoly system, as exhibited in the Bank Act
of 1844. The Editor continues his recollections of the
eminent men whom he has known, among whom this
month he chronicles Hugh Miller and Thomas De Quincey.
The two last papers in the number are on two men of
whom England has good reason to be proud—one, alas !
just removed from amongst us ; the other, we may hope,
about to assume a still more prominent position.
THE ST. JAMES'S MAGAZINE.—Miss Braddon's
clever story of " Only a Clod" is rapidly approach-
ing a conclusion, and the plot thickens as the tale
goes on. Harcourt Lowther, the Mephistopheles
of the piece, is advancing rapidly in his grand
scheme of securing the ruin and wretchedness of
Maude and her husband, but it is more than probable that
the mine so carefully prepared will select himself for its
victim when it does finally explode. " Charles Churchill—
Parson and Poet," is the title of au animated sketch of the
career of that notability, who, despite his talents, reflected
very little credit on his profession. " Street Songs and
their Singers" gives an interesting account of some of our
wandering minstrels of the lower ranks. It is worth no-
tice as investing this not very honourable trade with a
mournful pathos that according to the census returns there
are no less than six hundred blind musicians in this coun-
try. The writers of the most popular street songs have
been of very various kind and degree, some of them being
among our most famous authors. " Venice in 1864 " gives
a picturesque description of the Queen of the Waters as
she looks at this not very hopeful era of her history. We
have also a paper on " Extinct Species," by Dr. Scoffern,
and the new sphere which Central Asia presents for Bri-
tish commerce is dilated upon at some length. " Working
in the Dark," a regular French novel, is continued, and a
is ingeniously designed,
short story,
_"Left Well Off,"