The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-04 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

FRASER.—A lengthened article on 'our relations
with China is the first thing to greet the reader in
this number. It enters very fully into Mr. Lay's
transactions with the Imperial Government, and is
inclined to look with disfavour on that gentleman's
arrangements. The paper will interest those who
have watched the progress of events in China, though they
may not sympathise with all the writer's views. An ar-
ticle on " Corporal Punishments and Penal Reformation,"
discusses a question of much social importance, which,
like many other vital questions, is many-sided. After con-
sidering the active opposition that has for some time past
been going on to capital punishment, the writer arrives at
the conclusion, " that if capital punishment for the worst
class of murders b 3 reasoned down, it must be shown,
first that the punishment is not dreaded and has no ten-
dency to deter ; secondly, that some other punishment will
deter; and, thirdly, that there is some,teasible mode of
reformation by which such criminals can be restored to
free citizenship and moral life in society. A state of hope-
less servitude is a detestable demoralisation." The writer
dwells very strongly on the duty and benefit of the pre-
vention of crime, which he looks upon as more important
than the reformation of criminals. Difficult as is that un-
dertaking, however, the general prevention of crime is
equally difficult. It is impossible to remove temptation
out of the weak man or woman's way, and certainly the
tendency of the day to extravagant expenditure and exces-
sive display does not lessen it. The Jong neglect of the
lowest classes, too, has left us little influence over the men and
women of this generation. It is only by training the
children that we can hope to do lasting general good, and
we may trust that those who come after us may reap the
reward of our labours. One thing, however, must be done
if we would diminish the attractions of crime. We must
make the gaol less pleasant than the workhouse, and cease
to treat poverty as the worst possible offence against so-
ciety. The tale of "Gilbert Rugge" is continued, and we
gather some hints of the earlier story. The madman has
recovered his reason, and his broken confession to Aunt
Laurinda reveals some of Captain Himslow's earlier doings
which are little to his credit. " The Story of Saneha, an
Egyptian Tale of Four Thousand Years Ago," is the title
of a paper that will interest the antiquary. The reader of
similar tastes will also be attracted by an article on "Bristol
Churches," which discusses some of the peculiarities of their
ancient architecture. A. K. H. B. contributes an essay
called " The Rest Of It," by which singular title he de-
signates the concluding reflections properly belonging to
his discourse " Concerning Ten Years." It is, perhaps, in
consequence a little disjointed, but is well worth reading,
nevertheless.

BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.—The editor's romance
of " The House of Seven Chimneys," proceeds with
interest, and chronicles the adventures that befell
the Prince Charles and the Duke during their in-
cognito journey. The story of "Catharine Cornaro"
is continued from the German, and its fair heroine
becomes in this number the unwilling Queen of Cyprus.
Dudley Costello also proceeds with his narrative of the illus-
trious career of Signor Tomkins, which, as might be ex-
pected from its hero's title, is tragi comic in its character.
Francis Jacox takes another "cue from Shakspere" respect-
ing " Postprandial Placability," which, in plainer English,
signifies after-dinner benevolence or good humour. A
hungry man is seldom a good listener, a ready lender, or
an amiable critic ; but after the magic hour his views of
things in general are greatly improved. "Noted French
Duellists" form the subject of another article, and there are
besides other tales, sketches, and poems.

COLDURN'S UNITED SERVICE opens with an
article on " Courts-Martial," and the impending
change in the constitution of that tribunal, of which
there is so much need, judging by the recent speci-
mens of Colonel Crawley and other partial samples.
The " Visit to the Court and People of Siam" mani-
festly improves as it proceeds. The Siamese are a singu-
lar, and yet a matter-of-fact, sort of people. In the
"Curiosities of Naval Literature" we find some old pecu-
liarities of national character, and some quaint anecdotes.
When Admiral Walton lay at Spithead, a nobleman in
the neighbourhood sent his gamekeeper with half a fat
buck as a present. " Sir George sent back a simple
message of thanks, but the keeper begged the steward to
inform the admiral that he expected a compliment for
himself. 'A compliment for himself,' said the admiral,
who was more economical of his money than his powder,
'then he shall have one; go and tell the captain to
salute him with five guns when he leaves the ship:" A
" Tour in Canada and the Northern States" will be read
with interest at this juncture, and so will the " Ameri-
can Navy." Talk of our Naval Estimates, indeed, as
providing "bloated armaments." Look at those of Ame-
rica for next year—only $112,189,663, or something above
£23,000,000 sterling! Shade of Joe Hume; it is well he
was not born a Yankee, though he loved a fourpenny
piece as much as the Yankee prized the "almighty
dollar." How the American conscience stretches beyond
the Gulf, and over the broad St. Lawrence. "Oswald
Hastings" is continued with unabated interest in its usual
lively strain. The "Editor's Portfolio" contains some
excellent hits, and among them " Sherard Osborne's pro-
posed Visit to the North Pole."

THE NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.—AD. Hunga-
rian's travels in Central Asia form the subject of a
readable paper. They extended over a wide range
of country, and one -which, from various causes, is
little frequented by European travellers—from Te-
heran across the Turkcoman desert to Khiva,
Bokhara, and Samarcand. The traveller at one period of
his journey found it advisable to assume the disguise of a
Dervish. Ile passed through several trying ordeals with-
out being detected, but had a narrow escape of discovery
from the Afghans of Herat, who took him for an English-
man. They have some curious traditions respecting the
English. A gate of one of their bazaars having passed un-
hurt through a late siege, is supposed by them to have
suffered so little because it was built by the English. It
can never, they say, be destroyed, because the English
when they build, only lay brick over brick as justice directs,
while the Afghans mix the mortar with the tears of oppres-
sion. Mrs. Bushby's story of " Woodbury" proceeds, but
the incidents are painful. The old man dies, his nephew
having had more than a share in his death. Alfred
Percival gains his end and obtains his uncle's fortune, with
what result remains to be .seen. The other story in this
serial, " Strathmore," is brought to a conclusion. It is its
author's longest and most ambitious work, and its end
shows that he has risen above the level of his former
fictions. The story ends differently from what the reader
was led to think, but its moral is the more impressive if the
less ghastly. We have another paper on a geographical ex-
ploration, in an account of the Desert of Gobi, or the Siberian
overland route from Pekin to St. Petersburg. Russia, it
is said, is anxious to open communication with Pekin by
roads and ways in waiting for railroads. " Forbear to
Judge" is one of the best of Francis Jacox's miscellaneous
essays ; and there are, besides a criticism on Browning's
new volume of poems, and a further instalment of Alex-
ander Andrew's Cotton Possibilities.
THE VICTORIA MAGAZINE.—This interesting
serial keeps up with spirit and shows no diminution
of its attractions or flagging of its zeal. An essay
on Walter Savage Landor does full justice to the
venerable and lamented writer's abilities. The
extracts from his " Imagmery Conversations" give
fair samples of the best known of his works. The sym-
pathisers with the sufferings of Poland will be much
interested in the account of Emilie Plater, the Polish Joan
D'Arc, whose career reads like a romance, although the
heroic patriotism of Polish women has long been justly
famous. " The Manufacture of Wearing Apparel" is the
title of a plper which treats of the great social problem of
the employment of female apprentices in needlework.
The writer, who enters very fairly into the subject, shows
the difficulties under which the employers labour, and con-
siders that the only solution is the regulation of such
establishments by Act of Parliament. A dressmaker said
on this point that if she refused to execute an order the
lady thought her disobliging, and went to her neighbour ;
but if all were under the same rule no offence could be
given. A gentleman connected with Messrs. Swan and
Edgar's establishment declared that in his opinion the
best thing for all parties would be a strict factory law to
limit the hours of work. It is strange that so simple a
remedy has never yet been tried. " Among the Black
Boys" is a tale giving an interesting account of an attempt
to civilise some young Australian aboriginees.
THE BRITISH ARMY AND NAVY REVIEW.—The
second instalment of the sketch of Dumouriez's
eventful career, by Ouida, is equal in interest to
the first chapter. The stirring days of the great

0

French Revolution are never exha,usted, and til
life of so prominent an actor, he of whom jadanl
ille
Roland said to her husband "II serait ton maitre," is° ;
significant biography. It is to be completed in the nes_
part. Strange to say, in this number we have no paper e.,a
article on the American war, whose episodes one Welll
think are sufficiently interesting to military read
ire
Though the romances of the present day
overlooked, however, wo are carried back to the roraaln.t'
e°
of the past in No. 5 of "Celebrated Trials connected 'ar
the Army and Navy," which records the memorable nnitinY
• fol-
of the Bounty and the perils of Captain Bligh and ills e
°
u
lowers. The two principal papers in the number arth
"Our Naval Defences," and " Our Military System,"
our
subjects of extreme importance and closely concerning by
national welfare. They are treated at some length Re
writers who have evidently studied their subjects, all'
commend them to the notice and consideration of the readt,
THE JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. NO. 87. BlaCklid.
wood. -Agriculture is no longer the mere routine e old
It has enlisted in its causes the first scientific win
.
of the day, and has profited as largely by the Prof
gross of modern knowledge as any other branch
n 1
industry. It is, therefore, no superfluous or illge
i
nificant undertaking to chronicle from time t°
the advance and the improvements made in its pracii-oei
and such journals as the one before us serve a g°,r
and useful purpose in collecting the views and the
perience of different cultivators, and in discussing
cis
different theories that are propounded as to rival me
five
of cultivation. The practical farmer and the specniss
theorist will alike find themselves consulted io thtebe
pages, while the tables of prices and summary for

quarter will prove of practical service.
THE MISCELLANEOUS -
MACAULAT, Part 11. (Longman and Co.)—
completes half of this compact People's Eut-ed
The contents of the second instalment, here issil
with the February Magazine, are, for the most po.l
political, philosophical, logical, and statistical of
their character. They include among them the el°s:
the Essay on History, the whole of the criticism o°P';:t,
it very subtle, indeed) on Mills's Essay on Govern:ii-
the whole, likewise, of the slaughtering review of Sa;ey
Law of Population, and the commencement of the '''bi
on Mirabeau. These pages includes within them 3,11°14:1
tribute to the genius of Jeremy Bentham, and a wl9,°-,e s•
extenuation, we might almost say certainly a veil IPl'ire• 3
sive explanation of the cause of the horrors and casf-tieb
marking the French Revolution, otherwise the j'reric

Revolution. Ttig
DR. WEBSTER'S COMPLETE DICTIONARY 7F i
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.—Part I. (Bell and Pal"l'dj'l
promises when completed to be a very eticycloP
11,
of information. The highly-elaborated and ye w°,l,
derfully cheap edition of this Dictionary hero c° oi
menced by the issue of this first number in a Seraiit
twelve monthly half-crown instalments, is announce" id
evidently with justice, to have been not only thoteug
rev_ but materially improved into the bargain---ilintoll
v
of course, by means of certain important additions• ss
labour of this careful revision and enlargement, D
been entrusted to Dr. Noah Porter and Dr. Glin:elleS
Goodrich—men, evidently, well qualified by their leTillt'ies
and sagacity for the able discharge of the responsible {:n
of Editorship. The Dictionary, in its present folio, - .o.ll°
only enlarged but is also illustrated, here and therei:V
explanatory woodcuts. Part I. extends from A 1 cs,l°,;llK
we don't know whether in jest or seriousness) to `-'-nre
one who bores"—mechanically; that is, not in the ce;:ee.4'
tional meaning, attached to the phrase. It may be in-na
sn
ing to add that the number of words which will be °IL-a
this dictionary exceeds by 10,000 the number comerm-ever
any other dictionary of'the English language that 0 ing
yet been published—as many as 114,000 act3l3llY
recorded and explained in Dr. Webster's Diammelli

tionary.
MR. ROMFORD'S HOUNDS. Part X.—This 111;
ber is very exciting, and presents some most foisult
scenes to our notice. The descriptions of thevjael
scenes are first-rate, and the fact of 3.lr'
Romford's being in a suspicious situation adds to the t rata'
013
o g
sity of the interest. Mrs. Somerville's attempts
an "at home,:' aided by her fair friend Betsey $1131:oa,
3l'o
transformed for the nonce into Miss Hamilton il°lvTriptiolj
most entertaining, and reveal a power of smart &se"
and sharp observation on the part of the author sc.cely
secure success to any story, be it grave or geY' 1 lea
or severe. The dupes and knaves, who go ost'
way in making up the various classes of eociewit is
here ably depicted, from Fizzer, the confectioner, t3icei ced
by a grand appellation, to Hazy and Watkins, c°l'v,:clet
of the orthodoxy of the Master of Hounds ; and the ".:Ay''
is likewise presented. with a fair amount of sporty vg sad
ings and doings, which are sure to prove attractive)
form an agreeable variety to other literature. ,
THE HOUSEHOLD MONTHLY MAGAZINE. 10° tliC
One would think there were enough serials ill t it
field, but this style of literature is so popular :41
seems the demand equals the supply, however larg°,,it4vlve'
be. The new comer is of much the same style as 'la ei
decessors, being better written than the gener3,ted.
cheap magazines, and certainly more profusely illus
The readers have no lack of material, although til,e!or
is only sixpence ; and as a great part of the contea,;Lyell
sists of tolerably interesting fiction, the journal is
to be popular. ,
MERRY AND WISE. Edited by Old Mar., • „,lt
2. Jackson, Walford, and Hodder.—ThiS
little serial is designed for younger folks thellnY
egrcet
our serial literature at present provides for.
Ple3,S;cll
ably written, prettily illustrated, and altogether a
attractive and entertaining little miscellany'.
„Tv, ' re'
THE YOUNG ENGLISHWOMAN'S mAO-0-- rt does,
markably cheap publication, containing, as: 11 sefal
such articles on the fine arts, fashions, an"
q. 4
and ornamental needlework.
THE ENGLISHWOMAN'S DOMESTIC MAc4--A,z I ;el
usual, overflowing with information on a lar
useful matters. 13a°
this 00"
LE FOLLET is a perfect picture gallery 431)
The coloured plates of fashions are more than
11-
attractive.

CASSELL'S PUBLICATIONS.—The librarY e""taco
of " Don Quixote," with illustrations by
Dore, is quite equal to the 1
preceding numbers, of
ld
we have spoken in terms of praise. "Gulliver'S 111.3.'(iejor
is also worthy of commendation, whilst the (Alter -pttir
trated publications, viz., the Shakspere,
CToldsm
yan, and Natural History, all do.credit to the enterl3ll'
firm. 11°
MISCELLANEOUS.—The Sunday Magazine A It#
found to contain several well-written articles P:i.oef
in prose and verse. The Chess Players' Maya" it
as edited by Herr Lowenthal, and circulating
does amongst most of the leading players in Putx
is a highly interesting magazine to those Who ,011
interest in chess. The Autographic Mirror abourtass'sqo
curious information and autographs, amongst wilic; oil
be found those of Torquato Tasso, Franklin, St°ll-'o,id
Jackson, Coleridge, and various other eminent Diet ce,
Boy's Own and Boys Monthly g • bot 7
adapted for those whom they are intended. The I'4:
Friend is a very useful domestic economist, a7at 00;i
Gardener's Magazine treats upon many subjects of 'l'l"°,of
to the horticulturist. Letts's Monthly Sheet
be found very useful, and the Horticultural Sheet filig
is very tastefully got up. nirectorg afiaa