The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-01 00:00:00

MAGAZINE-DAY.

BLACKWOOD.—" Sir Brook Fossbrooke" is con-

cued, and becomes very exciting in this number.

The "last days" which Lendrick and his children
spend in their pretty place are very touchingly and
truthfully described. Lady Lendrick is introduced
in this number, and presents a striking picture of a

virago in fashionable life. Old Sir Brook is as amusing as

ever, and rattles on with the spirit of one just entering
into life, instead of what might be expected from one
battered by hardships in various climates, and worn by
contests in the rough highways of the world. " Josiah
Wedgwood" is the title of an interesting and instructive

article, in which an animated and entertaining resume of
the work recently published on this subject is presented to
the reader. It is mentioned that the "present instalment
of the work is in itself a specimen of the arts of engraving
and printing, which would have rejoiced Wedgwood's
heart." There are few things more interesting than to

ponder deeply over the lessons which such a career sug-
gests, and.to strive to realise in some degree the aspirations
which urged forward those men of deep thought and high
intellect, who have been the benefactors of their kind, and
the noble pioneers in the path of progress ; and the life of
the gifted individual before us is replete with interest at
every step. "Hands and Hearts" is a curious article, which
will bo sure to attract attention by its quaint remarks and
mystic revelations. The French have been great on this
subject, and, as it is truly explained here, "have sought

:o find in the hand those indications of character which

Lavater professes to discover in the features, or the phre-

nologist in the bumps of the head." A little work has
recently appeared, entitled the " Psychonomy of the Hand,"
which sets forth the opinions of the two celebrated French
speculators on the subject, with some English illustrations

and comments. It is curious to notice that these theorists

agree in recognising the " Hand" as the desired distinction
between men and monkeys. It is facetiously added by the
writer of this article that nowadays the brain has lost its
merit as a possession peculiar to man. " Nobody has any
certainty that the gorilla has not got it too, and only re-
quires education and development to enjoy universal suf-
frage." " AlissMarjoribanks" is continued, and that strong-

minded young lady is plunged into a regular vortex of
mystery and misunderstandings. Mrs. Mortimer is the
heroine of this part of the narrative, and contrives to make

every one confused with her uncertain mode of explaining
herself. It is evident that the plot of this story is a com-

plicated one—more so than its predecessors; they were more
descriptive, while this enters into details, and furnishes

glimpses of startling occurrences in every day life that

arrest and enchain the attention.

" Cornelius O'Dowd

upon Men and Women and other Things in General,"

brings before us this time his experiences "En Voyage."
These are very smartly given, as, indeed, it is unnecessary
to say of anything by this writer ; and perhaps some may
be amazed to find so graphic a description near home, and
feel like M. Fourdain,when he found that he had been talk-
ing prose all his life without knowing it. An impressive
passage is that which records how the traveller met here

and there in his wanderings with some grave and revered
signorand such like personage who was once, in the far-off
days of youth, a member of an ardent club of spirited indi-

victuals, and when he saw them he could find how faith-
fully they cherished the memory of past times, and how

bright those spots shine through all the dreary severities

of life. In such convivial gathering; exclaims the author,
there is a spirit of "affectionate attachment that survives
time and distance, so that he on the Himalayas shall toast

him on the Baltic coast, and the ice-bound sailor in Beh-
ring Straits remembers him who is toasting away under
the sun of India." "Piccadilly, an Episode of Contem-
poraneous Autobiography," is proceeded with, and shows
up the follies and vices of the day with as much skill and
savorie-faire as ever. The narrator has hit upon a daring
scheme by which he hopes to outwit Lady Broadbrim's
deep designs, and unmasks her treachery. Though pecu-
liar, there is enough in this satirical sketch to attract some
attention.

"The London Art Season " is a sketch that

aptly fulfils its object, and puts before the reader the chief
points of the matter, the yearly progress, the several
styles, etc., in a very suitable manner, and with clear defi-
nitions. " The Late Elections" aro commented on, and no

desponding view is taken of the issue of the affair. It is
asserted that the long continuance of Whiggery in office
has been the cause of much mischief, but salutary changes

must ensue before long. " Cleopatra" is the title of some
stanzas that are spirited in their strain, though peculiar in
their style; they are penned in a daring and dashing spirit,
that accords well with their subject, and expresses some-
what of the frenzy and terror which animated that strange
being who has been a wonder and mystery to all who
studied her career, the never-failing heroine of romance
and the theme of song.

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY.—" Not Wisely, but Too
Well," is the title of a new tale that promises to
become interesting, and is rendered pleasing from
its graphic descriptions of home-life. The young
heroine is a charming girl, but a feeling of sadness
pervades the mind of the reader, -who learns, before
his introduction to her, that she has passed away, and that
her name in the grey old church among tn,
Bic Jacets. "Who is the Heir" is also continued, and is as
brilliant and fascinating as ever. The descriptions of po-
litical, literary, and other characters is ingeniously inter-
mixed with an interesting story and complicated plot.
Guy Luttrel is a character in himself and very aptly pic-
tured. " Moods of Mind" is a reflective essay that will suit
the thoughtful reader, and, indeed, contains much matter
for reflection and contemplation. It is divided into two
parts, "Life" and "Style." A good description is given of
the different moods in which we complete the journey of
life, and it is said that it resembles the travellers on a
coach, who travel from morning till night, and arrive in
different fashions at their common goal. However, when
one is asleep, it is no matter in what manner the journey
was ended, and after a time the other inmates of the inn
forget their arrival. The remarks on "Style" are also to the
purpose. "A judicious use of comparison always forms an
agreeable essential," it is truly said, and may be taken to
heart with advantage by young writers. " Tinted Sketches
in Madeira" is a very pleasing article,ewhich describes the
manners and customs of a place long famed for beauty, but
of which but little is known in detail. A paper "On
Giants" attracts attention. It is said that " Ireland has
contributed her quota to the list of these exalted charac-
teis." After an animated account, it is said that giants are
not of much use in the world except as objects of curiosity
or scientific inquiry. " The Verdict of the Country" harps
on the old story of the elections, and takes an exaggerated
view of the present position of affairs and the flourishing
prospects of the Ministry. "Minions of the Moon, An-
cient and Modern," is a very curious collection of anec
dotes concerning well-known characters of notoriety,
whose perusal is certain to win attention from many
readers.

THE ST., JAMES'S MAGAZINE.—SO many of our
novel readers as have not already learned the end
of Harcourt Lowther's scheming, of Mr. and Mrs.
Tredethlyn's matrimonial difficulties, and Rosa
Grunderson's romance, through Mr. Mudie's agency,
will unravel the tangled skein of their fortunes in
the current number of the "St. James's." "Only a Clod,"
which we have already noticed as a completed work, ar-
rives at its final chapter, bearing full evidence of its
writer's fresh and vigorous powers. The admirers of Miss
Braddon, however, will see with regret that she is abso-
lutely indefatigable, and that the very number whiCh con-
tains the last lines of " Only a Clod" bears also a notice
that next month we shall have the first instalment of
another novel from the same fertile pen, and this, too,
while "Sir Jasper's Tenant" is actually in progress in
another serial! Such incessant labour is too much for any
writer, however industrious ; and however easily Miss
Braddon gathers her laurels, she should be a more sparing
reaper if she would not overtask her powers. In "Only
a Clod" she still follows the higher walk of fiction that she
has lately entered upon, and depends more on the skilful
delineation of character than on mere sensational plots and
catastrophes. "The Quaker's Legacy" relates the troubles
into which an unwary Englishman got in crossing America
in the midst of war. He was made the victim of an inge-
nious device, and narrowly escaped the gallows. Mr.
Scoffern contributes a paper on secret poisonings and
medical etiquette, in which he is justly severe on Dr. Pat-
terson's excessive attention to the courtesies rather than
to the duties of his profession, and labours hard to reassure
the public mind with regard to secret poisonings as a
practice. His opening remarks on the criminal's repent-
ance are not written with good taste or good feeling. Into
such questions man has no right to pry ; but however
unsuitable may be confident expressions of hope in such
cases, they are certainly more appropriate to frail human
nature than flippant denunciations. Octave Delepierre
endeavours to remove sundr, erroneous impressions from
our minds, and assures us that the steam-engine was ac-
tually thought of some three centuries back, and that the
poverty of Belisarius is a fiction. An article on Abyssinia
and the unfortunate captives denounces Lord Russell's
"muddling" foreign policy. The dilemma which has now
arisen would never have existed, says the writer, "had
not the counsels of a great department in the State been
so totally void of all consistency, vigilance, and tact." A
paper on "Early Spanish Playwrights" is worth reading,
and introduces the English reader to a department of lite-
rature which is not so well known as it ought to be. " The
Village Doctor" and " Working in the Dark" are both con-
tinued, representing the two extremes of French extrava-
gance and English dulness.

TEMPLE BAR.—" Sir Jasper's Tenant" discloses
the rest of the dark secrets of the prison-house con-
cerning the chequered career and the blighted hopes
of Pierrepoint. The sad story is told with all the
power and pathos which distinguish the descriptions
of this author; and no one who has studied the
course pursued by the "florid widow" will be surprised
that her earlier years were made of vanity and vexation of
spirit. The wonderful style of this retrospective sketch is
well sustained, and although mistaken in the line of con-
duct towards Maria he is evidently honest and honourable.
"Through Oxon" is a charming sketch, that tells of wan-
derings through time-honoured haunts, and amid sylvan
scenes of beauty and grace. Few things are more agree-