The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LO NDO N, FRIED A VE Ni NTG, JAN UA RY 3. 1862.

THE MAO AZINES.

The Dublin University.

" The House by the Churchyard" is continued at
some length, and increases in interest as it proceeds.
In this division the ladies appear more prominently
on the scene. Mervyn is most unjustly treated, as
his friends listen to some reports and then seek to
cast him off without explanation, "Aunt Becky"
makes what mischief she can by her inuendoes and
insinuations, altogether proving herself so tiresome
that it is a relief when Miss Magnolia forgets her
own manners in censuring those of her opponent.
There is much to amuse in this tale altogether, and
the accounts of the disputes that abound in the
various circles that we meet with display much
knowledge of human life, and considerable ac-
quaintance with men and manners in general. In
the article on " The Disrupted Republic," we weet
with much worthy of consideration, and some car-
rect remarks relating to the ton© adopted and the
views taken on the other side of the Atlantic. In
speaking of the evil influences that abound, the
writer thus forcibly animadverts on the conduct of
the journals :

THE AMERICAN PRESS.
" In the business of depraving the American mind, the
press of that country has done its part but too well. In
none of the crises that have occurred during the long
struggle antecedent to this disruption, have the public
writers of the States been on the side of moderation and
good sense. They have laboured, as with a malevolent
consistency, to widen differences and embitter them with
personalities. A style of language has been used by
them which would not be tolerated in any British journal,
which is, in fact, unknown out of America. A New York
_Herald in London, were it possible for such a literary
enormity to exist there, would simply be a national disgrace.
In the manufacturing districts it would be a political incen-
diary, worse than ten Fergus O'Conn rs, or a score John
Brights. The English people are thoroughly cured of any
silly notion they may have been inspired with in favour of
Americanising our institutions, and if they would perma-
nently ward off such a calamity, let them take heed that
their journalism do not become debased. The country
whose organs of opinion are excitedly employed in the
effort to provide stimulating food for the inordinate appetite
of a diseased public, is near 'ro anarchy and disaster. When
the American problem has been somehow settled, and the
Northerners get time to consider the lessons their sad ex-
perience will have taught them, they will, no doubt, make
sweeping changes in their political system. It is already
proposed by many, to abolish the licentious principle of
universal suffrage ; but even before this is done, it will be
wise to consider what they may do to elevate and purify
their daily press."

" A Chinese case of Breach of Promise of Marriage,"
is a very strange sketch, and as it is represented as
literally translated, it will doubtless interest some.
The conclusion arrived at by the Mandarin was a
very correct one on the whole, and the Sharps both
by name and nature were caught as they deserved
to be. There is a well-written essay on the respec-
tive merits of Alexander Smith and Gerald Massey.
The palm is awarded to the former " Henceforth
while our estimate of his brother-poet hangs rather
on the past than the present, Mr. Alexander Smith
may point to his last achievement as a triumphant
answer alike to the prayers of impatient
f, mrienilddrito
s,nagndn theth etaunts
of unsparing foes."
,Barrister," cpmmences a new
story, that is written In an animated manner,
and the fix into which the hero is
pinnged will give rise to some stormy and sad
scenes in the next chapters 9f the tale. In a paper
on " Tamhauser and Plagiarism" this poem is vindi-
cated from the charges brought against it in certain
quarters, of being indebted for some of its thoughts
to other brains than those of its author's.
The defence is very ingenious, and those
readers who have entered at all upon the vexed
question will do well to peruse this criticism
on critics. " William Henry Seward," is the sub-
ject of the last article, and of course attracts
notice at present. It etates in very emphatic
language that there is probably no American citizen
more execrated throughout the United Kingdom
than the honourable senator whose name we prefix
i
to the present article. It s not to be expected that
Mr. Seward can be the hero of the American mob,
and, at the same time, retain the respect of the in-
telligent classes of this country. Further on, it
states that " We are prepared and can bid him do his
worst. It will be the adder biting the file. Young
America wants to be taught the sobering lesson
that we have learned during a :schooling [which
began at Hastings and ended at Waterloo."
In speaking of the future of America, it is observed
that " She has to create for herself a balance of
power and a comity of nations. She will divide and
sub-divide into several Republics, which will settle
down at last into law-fearing, boundary-keeping
States. The god Terminus has as yet no altar in
America. The squatters who hunted off the red
race have entered on their possessions with loose
notions of treaty boundaries of natural frontiers, and
a respect for rights, above might. We shall
never teach them these things, but they will
be forced on them by their own divisions."
There is another " draw" from " Peter Brown's
Black Box." It is written in a spirited manner,
as most of the contributions of its:author are ; the
tale in itself is not, however, quite so attractive as
usual. There are other subjects of interest, as the
article on " Alexis de Tocqueville," which is one of
those biographical sketches for which this magazine
is so celebrated. At the beginning of the contents
we meet with a suitable allusion to the death of
the Prince Consort.

Orley Farm.

The St. James's Magazine.

of the Prophet Smith." It takes a fair view of the
question, and expresses just contempt and indig-
nation for the mixture of sacred subjects with
human depravity. " A Heart Struggle" is con-
cluded. It is a most painful sketch, and jars on
the mind of the reader. Really, it seems a pity
that storytellers cannot invent something that can
excite and interest without trenching on such hor-
rors. "Aurora Floyd" is another new tale that
begins with the New Year. It commences in a vigo-
rous manner, but the narrative will evi-
dently be full of mystery and fraught with
troubles, as the heroine is a most unsuitable
1 style of damsel, and has already in her
19th year, become skilled in deceit, treachery,
and perhaps worse. "London Poems" has for
subject " Christmas in the City." It is written
in a suitable style, and contains some good
thoughts. " The Morals of the Decade" gives a
lively resume of the changes that have taken
place of late years. The greatest advantage is
ascribed to the effect of the Exhibition, as will
be seen from this passage:—
Our theory, then, is, that the ameliorations which we
have pointed out, and many others besides, are to be ascribed
to the influence of the Great Exhibition of 1851, which
awakened us all to a new life, and set before us new objects
of ambition, and a wider field for active life than we had
ever dreamt of before. If we are correct in our deductions,
the result is a literal and remarkable illustration of the
familiar precept of the Latin Grammer :—" Fideliter dedi-
eisse artes emollit mores, nec sinit csse feros." And if so
much has been accomplished by this new engine of civili-
sation at the outset of its career, retarded by the friction of
a fresh start, what may we not expect to see ten years
hence, now that it is about to derive fresh impetus in the
midst of its increasing force and speed I

A tribute is offered to the memory of the de-
parted Prince in the following verses. Without
being remarkable in any way, they are above
the average, and the spirit that animates them
seems in accordance with the universal sentiments
of sympathy and sorrow.

IN MEMORIAM.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Across the breadth of all the land,
A sudden stupor, worse than grief;
A nation mourning for its chief,
With woe too new to understand.
Life's noblest climax barely won,
Where manly power and wisdom meet
The track of youth's receding feet :
And, lo I the Princely race is run.
Too short for England and for us I
Too great a loss, whenever lost :
But lost to-day, when needed most :
It is not strange we mourn him thus.
Oh, widowed Sov'reign I drowned in tears;
Oh, orphaned children I new bereft—
Take comfort that the Lost has left
A record of unsullied years,
A stainless life, a golden age
Of quiet virtues new to kings,
And greatness shown in simple things •
A story with no blotted page.
In this, how deep a comfort lies !
In this, God sanctifies our grief;
And sorrow, chastened by Belief,
Turns skyward when a good man dies.
M, E. B.

The commencement of the second volume is full
of interest. Poor Mr. Furnival, clever lawyer
though he be, is checkmated by his jealous spouse,
and his annoyance is the more because her suspi-
cions in the present case are groundless. Lady
Mason pays him another visit at his chamber, and
he endorses young Orme's advice to break off the
marriage with Sir Peregrine Orme. John Ken-
neby, the former lover of poor Mrs. Dockwrath,
pays a visit to Hamworth, where, in spite of
Miriam's advice and his own resolve, the crafty
Dockwrath contrives to turn him round her
finger. Ws subsequent courtship of Mrs.
Smiley, his sister's friend, is a fair specimen of the
simplicity of some weak-minded men, and his cha-
racter is brought out forcibly by the contrast of
the determined and self-willed Moulder, who, al-
though a kind and affectionate husband, will have
his own way, coute qui coute. The concluding
chapter, in which Lady Mason tells the chivalrous
old baronet the dread secret, as the only means of
breaking off the ill-advised marriage, is written
with great feeling—
" ' In doing this I shall gratify my own heart, and also
serve you in your great troubles. Believe me, I have
thought of that,'
" 1 know you have, Sir Peregrine—and therefore it
cannot be.'

" But therefore it shall be. The world knows it now ;
and were we to be separated after what has past, the world
would say that I—l had thought you guilty of this crime.
"' I must bear all that.' And now she stood before him,
not looking him in the face, but with her face turned down
towards the ground, and speaking hardly above her breath.
" ' By heavens, no ; not whilst I can stand by your side:
Not whilst I have strength left to support you and thrust
the lie down the throat of such a wretch as Joseph Mason.
No, Mary, go back to Edith and tell her you have tried it,
but that there is no escape for you.' And then he smiled
at her. llis smile at times could bo very pleasant !
" But she did not smile as she answered him. Sir
Peregrine,' she said; and she endeavoured to raise her face
to his but failed.

" ' Well, my love.'
" ' Sir Peregrine, I am guilty.'
" Guilty! Guilty of what ?' he said, startled rather
than instructed by her words.
" Guilty of all this with which they charge me.' And
then she threw herself at his feet, and wound her arms
round his knees."

We look forward with interest to Sir Peregrine's
answer to such a crusher to his hopes.

A very interesting paper on " The Repose of
Nature" opens this number, and discourses on the
winter sleep of squirrels, dormice, and similar
animals. The editress continues her story of " Can
Wrong be Right ?" with her accustomed ability. It
is very original in plot, although painful. The
unfortunate Mildred loses all her beauty by an
attack of small-pox, and is so much altered that
her husband speaks to her, but does not recognise
her. An explanation seems, however, to be at
hand, and the reader is left in expectation at an
exciting moment. The story of "The Tracy Family"
is brought to a conclusion, which is not much loss,
and there is the first part of a tale which promises
interest and ability, entitled "A Tangled Skein."
For more solid contents we have an article on
" Pneumatic Despatch;" a paper on " The Pilgrim's
Shell," by J. Emerson Tennent, author of the cele-
brated work on Ceylon ; and some remarks on the
defences of British North America. Mrs. S. C.
Hall commences a series of " Sketches of Irish
Character," which is likely to enhance considerably
the attractions of the magazine. Molly Candy, the
heroine of this first instalment, is a good-natured
Irishwoman, who disguises herself as a good-
for-nothing idler of the neighbourhood, and
so proves an alibi fir him on a trial
for smuggling. The sketch is full of
Irish fun and wit, and the success of Molly's device
is amusingly told. " Cosy Nook" has its customary
pleasant words for little people, and the poetical
contributions consist of some mournful verses by
the author of " John Halifax," and a spirited boat
song for the Naval Reserve, by Thomas Hood, jun.

The New Monthly Magazine.
There are two papers on America in this part;
one of them discussing the propriety of rectifying
the frontier of British America, the other on the
affair of the Trent. They are both worth reading,
and neither of them are very favourable to the pre-
tentions of our Transatlantic friends. The story of
"The Shadow of Ashlydyt" is .ontinued within-
terest, and this fourth part chronicles some very
important incidents. The reader will regret that
one of the most attractive characters disappears
from it, and her death brings fresh sorrow on the
troubled house of Godolphin. " The Shadow"
certainly does not appear without founda-
tion, since the old baronet's end seems also to
be fast approaching. Miss Cornelia Knight's
autobiography is the subject of an agreeeable paper
which gives a summary of the work and several
extracts from it. Those who have not met with it
will obtain a good idea of its style and character
from this notice. " Granville de Vigne" is proceeded
with, and one of its romantic friendships seems
likely to come to a happy termination. The insou-
ciant colonel has, it appears, been haunted by a
spectre in the back ground, very similar to that of
his friend Granville de Vigne. Nicholas Michell
contributes two poems, one on the year 1862, and
the other an elegiac tribute to the memory of the
departed Prince. " Colley Cibber," best known
through Pope's kind assistance to his reputation, is
the subject chosen by Sir Nathaniel, who gives an
entertaining account of the petty spite displayed by
the 18th century men of letters. " The History of
the French Army" is brought to a close as regards
the native regiments, but the history of the foreign
auxiliaries remains to be told.

Good Words. Edited by Norman Macleod, D.D.
Groombridge, London.

We congratulate the editor and contributors to
this able and interesting journal on having opened
a fresh year with unabated merit, and com-
bining by a happy art, unfortunately very rare, the
highest moral and religious tone, with a variety
and attractiveness not always found in serials de-
voted solely to the purpose of entertainment. With
such writers as Sir David Brewster, Archbishop
Whately, the editor himself, Dr. Stanley, the Rev.
J. Macduff, and many others, the standard
merits of the work cannot be brought in question,
while Miss Muloch, Mme. Gasparin, Dr. Brown,
and many others, contribute papers no less fasci-
nating than profitable. We are glad to see the
initials of an essayist who has attained some cele-
brity added to the list of authors, and A. K. H. B•'s
brief essay is by no means the least profitable of the
contents. The author of " John Halifax, Gentle-
man," begins a tale of domestic life entitled, " Mis-
tress and Maid," which bids fair to be full of into-