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

was.

21IE MAGAZINES.

Blackwood.
" Wassail, a Christmas Story" is continued, and
the events become more exciting as the story pro-
ceeds. The outcast son and daughter are wander-
ing about in disguise, and most probably in the
next instalment there will be a grand eclaircissement
and a welcome home to the lost and found. Some
of the scenes are very vividly described, and there
is altogether much to amuse the reader in this tale
for the season. The last passage leaves matters in
a very alarming state, as the man rushed in to tell
his master that the thatch was on fire, as they were
all enjoying themselves at Tregarrow. J. W.
Turner, R.A., is a paper that criticises the work
recently published on the life of that distinguished
artist. Some of the strictures are just enough, but
the general opinion is rather severe, and therefore
the writer does not carry the weight he might
have, had he adopted a milder treatment. The
view taken of Turner himself is a very triste one ;
he is spoken of as a " man who has enriched the
world with so many sunsets and sunrises, so many
various splendours of storm and calm, without
leaving one gracious human reminiscence behind
him to make his fame dear to any heart of man."
And again, further on, it is said in yet more
lugubrious accents,—" Let the darkest curtain
fall over the lost life. Here died a man
to whom, by the strangest accident, had fallen such
a glorious gift of genius as might have indemnified
a human creature for all the agonies of existence.
lie could not annihilate the splendid donation of
Haven, but he did all that human perversity could
do to lessen its glory. Few modern men have left
behind them a collection of works so splendid ; per-
haps no one modern man, whose days have been
thought worthy of a record, stands in himself so
poor a figure before the gazing public." There are
some pages devoted to the memory of the Prince
Con sort,which offer a gracious and grateful testimony
to his memory. After paying a just tribute to his
consistent conduct under very trying circumstances,
and alluding in effective language to his many esti-
mable qualities as a man in all the relations of life,
the following eloquent passage appears in conclu-
sion

It may seem to us that he has been called to his rest
before his work was done. That question lies within the
province of a wisdqm higher than ours; nor will we augur
future evil for a nation which knows how to honour a ruler
such as him whom we have lost. If we had once a Queen
who said she " took the nation for her husband," we shall
not now lack a people to stand in that stead to a widowed
Queen. God willing, she shall not want for counsel, in
any strait that may come. Again the question will be
asked, by high-minded men of all parties, " How is the
Queen's Government to be carried on ?" and it will be an-
swered honestly, laying self and party aside.
Let such a man go to his grave "among the kings,"
with all honours that we can give him. For a King he
was, in all but in the name; and one of England's best.
Not one of iron hand and will, the hero of battle-fields and
conquered provinces, but such as our time needed—wise,
firm, temperate, pure, and true. When the nation reckons
up her real Sovereigns, he will find his place amongst the
Rulers of England.
Even while these words are written, heralds have pro-
claimed his style and titles in the gorgeous pageant that
fills St. George's Chapel. That is the rite which custom
has consecrated for the funerals of Princes, and it is well
that it should still be observed. Let none call it an empty
ceremony, or say that pomp of woe mocks the cold clay that
neither hears nor heeds. But the simple wreaths which
affection laid upon his coffin were more honour than many
crowns ; and deep in a nation's heart and memory—graven
in deeper lines, more lasting than on the coffin-plate—will
live one title that is written there, the last and best—which
comes within no herald's cognisance, but which a mourning
people whispers through their tears—

VICTORIX RE GIN
CONJUCI IS PERCARISSIIII.

Dec. 23, 1861.
Also we meet with some touching lines on this sub-
ject called "The Nation's Prayer." The refrain is
the same as the National Anthem, and the two most
impressive lines are these—
" Thou hast given gladness long,
Make her in sorrow strong.
God save the Queen."
It reminds one that royal life is no exemption from
the doom of mortality, and that those whose
course has been sunshiny must look for the
dark days that lower on our earthly pilgrimage.
" Chronicles of Calingford" is concluded in a very
satisfactory style, and it is quite a relief when the
" big bushman" walks off with that compound of
absurdity and selfishness, Susan Rider. Nettie's
determination to go back to Australia was most
foolish, but fortunately she was not permitted to
make such a sacrifice of herself. The narrative
contains some very good sketches, and " Nettie"
herself is a first-rate description, with her origi-
nality and independence, blended with kindness
and devotion, Another story is met with in
" Captain Clutterbuck's Champagne." This has
now reached a fourth part, but the grand
climax will not be till next time. The beginning
of the end appears in the last chapter of this division,
and the reader will anxiously await the denoue-
ment. There is a ludicrous account of the sorry
figure that the expectant bridegroom cut when he
was thrown out of a carriage by his own clumsy
driving, and presented an appearance as adverse to
that of a hero as could he supposed. There is a
striking passage in this tale that refers to the appa-
rent anomaly of illness in sunshiny climes. "At
home sickness seems to be the result of fogs, frosts,and
constant changes, but in the tropics its appearance
is less comprehensible. Everything without is asso-
ciated with life, and joy, and beauty. People say
forcibly disease is far off where winter shakes in
melancholy halls. But no, it is ever at the door.
Thus probably must it ever be. Where earth is
most fit to be enjoyed, there must come the most
startling warnings that earth is not our resting-
place. We say, 'Lo! here is Paradise, and lo! there.'
But a dread Teacher is near to claim our whole
hearts, and forbid undue affections for created
things. 'Tis the same lesson read under every sky."
There is an article on the "Convulsions of America,"
that is very well done, and expresses some strong
opinions on the subject with a vigour and energy
befitting a great national question. The writer
asserts, fairly enough, that the best class of Ameri-
cans would bo an honour to any country, but it is
precisely because these men are excluded fi om public
life that we condemn the system that rejects them."
Further on, it is observed, "We are all ready to
join in reprobation of absolute government, but
when did any civilised absolute government show less
claim on our indulgence than the American Repub-
lic What despotism has displayed so little mode-
ration in prosperity, so little dignity in adversity,less
self-control, less wisdom in council, less courage in
the field. Such is the spectacle presented in the
first storm by the Model Republic—a gallant army
whose energies have been displayed chiefly in fight
—a free country whose judges are overlooked by
sentries—disinterested patriotism that requires to
be bribed with eight per cent.—a united atation
where the elements of war are rife—a practical peo-
ple who are spending more than they possess, for
an object which they cannot define—such are a few
of the results of these remarkable institutions—in-
stitutions that have been recommended for our
imitation as immense improvements on our own."
The recent news from America happily suggests the
probability that amicable arrangements may take
place, but should the blast of war sound in our
ears, and its trumpet tones summon our soldiers to
the fight, the advice here tendered may be wisely
and successfully followed with advantage to our
immediate prospects, and with glory to our subs-
quent retrospection of events. There is another paper
on American affairs called " Canada our Frozen
Frontier." This is illustrated with a map that
will be of essential service to the reader wishing to
comprehend the subject in all its nzinutice of detail
and description. Some of the suggestions as to rail-
ways, &c., here made are well worthy of considera-
tion, and may be of great consequence in the event
of a war. On the whole, this number of Blackwood!
is very
instructive and entertaining, and auspi-
ciously inaugurates the New Year with a collection
of subjects both grave and gay, of foreign and do-
mestic, political and social interest.

Fraser.
The first part of a " Study at Sea," by the bril-
' liant but eccentric author of " Catarina in Venice,"
' bears the curious title of "Thalatta I Thalatta !"
and displays all its writer's characteristic peculiari-
ties. The thoughtful and cultivated author who
writos under the name of Shirley, contributes a plea-
sant paper on "Early Scottish Poetry," with many
extracts from the quaint old writers. 'The predic-
tions •of the famous Sir Thomas, of Ercildoune„qo
far to confirm the claim of north countrymen to the
pessesvion of second sight. Most readers of _Fraser
will turn with pleasure to an essay bearing the fa-
miliar
signature of "A.K. H. IL" He discourses
"Concerning the world's opinion, with some (
thoughts on cowed people." There is as usual
sense and humour in his remarks both as
Ito the advisability of conformity to the gene-
ral sta.ndard on mere matters of taste or habit,
and also of resenting any undue or impertinent
interfarence with personal or private aillirs. The
author observes truiy enough that generally speak-
ing it is unwise to be eccentric. To be singular in
a greed cause may be an honourable distinction, but
to persist in a solitary observance of the fashions of
fifty years ago is merely ludicrous, and it is usually
in su eh trifles that eccentricity is displayed.
It is wise to give in to the little requirements on which 1
the weld's opinion has been plainly expressed, If you are