The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-02 00:00:00

LIT BR ATUBB.

Blackwood.—This number opens with the con-
tinuation of the articles on " Speculators among
the Stars." Part 11. of this" series undertakes to
set forward the arguments maintaining the exist-
ence of a plurality of worlds. The writer, however,
evidently inclines to the opposing doctrine. In-
deed, he is scarcely just in the method of his
arrangement, as he put forward Dr. Whewell's
views without any contradiction, while Sir David
Brewster's he continually contrasts with those of
his opponent. The article is evidently the work
of one who has studied the subject, which is one
eminently calculated to attract and. oceupy the
highest intellects. At the same time, the decision
and animosity evinced by the holders of antago-
nistic opinions on a point on which, after all, cer-
tainty is impossible, may well justify the author's-
quotation. from John Wesley, '• Be not so positive,
especially with regard, to things which are neither
easy nor necessary to be determined." The next
article comes like a hint to the disputants that the
world we know is more than we can manage. It
is entitled " King Otho and his Classic Kingdom,"
and. takes an almost despairing view of the per-
verse and incapable sovereign, and the vain and
degraded people. It is unfortunate that the grand
old names and memories that the nation still che-
rishes should not exercise on them a more elevating
influence. The writer coincides in the gene-
ral opinion, by observing that " the political
morality of King Otho, in his foreign as in his in-
ternal affairs, deserves the severest condemnation."
A paper on " Civilisation and the Census," after
propounding the perplexing question of " What is
Civilisation," indignantly olteets to the right of the
Great'Busybody, as it calls a census commission,
to pry into private- affairs. 44 A- Russian Reid-
niscenee" is the account of an old doctor, who
had been assistant-surgeon in the French army in
1812. The horrors of that campaign, or rather of
the retreat, are here vividly portrayed. It is fol-
lowed by one of the most interesting articles in the
Magazine, which is called, " Records of the Past—
Nineveh and Babylon." After some introductory
remarks on the vast expanse of ancient history, its
scope, its influence, and its fascination, the writer
goes on to regret that the task has hitherto been so
inadequately performed
" Let, then, some Newton or Humboldt of history-,-
some one who grudges not a lifetime of genius to the
task, and to whom Providence may give length of days,
—let such an one take up the theme of those old nations.
By the might of his graphic pen let him evoke them and
their crumbled empires from the dust, and place them in
their pristine glory before the eye of the reader. Let
him paint the people, the land in which they dwelt, the
temples in which they worshipped ;—let him glance with
graphic touch over the leading points of their history, the
master-spirits who influenced, and the poets who adorned
it ;—let him depict the arts of life and the arts of beauty
which characterised them ; and, hardest task of all, let
him dive into the depths of their religion and philosophy
—not the fantastic crust of superstition, but the more
spiritual dogmas which lie below ; and, wasting but
little time upon what was false, set himself to eliminate
the true, and place it once more before the world."
After a summary of the chief nations of the
ancient world he goes on to give us an interesting
account of the rival cities of Nineveh and Babylon.
Remarking on the difference between the two old
empires of Assyria and Egypt, it is observed that
their character was symbolised by their different
styles of architecture, the Egyptians having built
with granite, and the Assyrians with alabaster and
painted brick. In both countries granite and other
stone existed in the mountains, but the Assyrians,
fond of ease and display, preferred the softer and
more attainable materials,while the Egyptians, de-
sirous of solidity and durability, sent several hun-
dred miles for the more lasting material. The con-
sequence is, that it is after centuries of oblivion
faint traces are found where once stood the proud
Assyrian capital, while the obelisks and sphinxes
of the Valley of the Nilo remain to commemorate
the history of their architects. The number con-
cludes with an able analysis of " Spanish Politics
and Cuban Perils."

Colburn's New Monthly.—The New Monthly
opens with a paper on " The Life and Correspon-
dence of the late Lord Metcalfe." It is followed by
No: 24 of "Literary Leaflets," which gives us a
criticism of " Firmilian." A notice of the fourth
volume of " Dr. Veron's Memoirs," which has re-
cently been published in Paris, appears under the
title of "Louis Philippe and Mademoiselle Rachel."
It gives some lively political anecdotes of the,citi-
zen King, and some interesting details of the life
of the great tragedienne. A description of " Cos-
tume in the Eighteenth Century" furnishes us with
some amusing accounts of the toilettes of celebrities
of that day. The continuation of the " Diary of
a First Winter at Rome" describes the baths of
Titus, and recounts a visit to Cardinal Antonelli.
" Mildred, Arkel]," by the author of " The Unholy
Wish," is a story of real life, which possesses much
melancholy interest. The chief point in it is an
unfortunate mistake, in which the young lady in-
tended for the bridesmaid b,elieyes herself to be the
chosen bride. " A Righi Day" is a narrative of a
tour in Switzerland. The poetical contributions
consist of " A Late Night Scene on the Baltic," by
Nicholas Michell, and a rather perplexing ballad
from the German by Captain Medwin. There is
also a lively tale by Dudley Costello, and articles
on the loss of the Tiger and the Greek insurrection.

Colburne'sUnitedService.—A paper on "The Sea.
of War in Asia" commences this number. It gives
a summary of the chief geographical features, and
is accompanied by a map. A. brief account is given
of the origin of the dispute between the inhabitants
of Greytown and its American assailants. " A
Canter through Bulgaria" is the first part of a
narrative of an excursion to Schumla and Silistria.
" A Turk's Account of the Downfall of Constanti-
nople Four Centuries ago" possesses at least the
merit fit* antiquity. The " Extracts from the
Journals of the late MajorMacready" are continued.
A new series of papers is commenced on the
" French Naval Annals." The unfortunate Vil-
leneuve is selected for the first memoir, "from a
desire to do justice to his character." The num-
ber contains much information respecting the ex-
pedition to the Crimea, and other military move-
ments. The following extract is from an interest-
ing account of the great seal fishing trade of the
Arctic Seas
"Or SEAL FISHING.—It is not necos nary for me to
write the history of seal fishing in the Polar seas.
Everybody knows that, in the 17th century, and later
in the 18th century, regular fleets annually left the
ports of Holland, the Hanseatic towns, of England, and
the Basque provinces, in pursuit of the whales, the
morses, and the seals, which abounded on the coasts of
Spitsbergen and Greenland. These fisheries were so
productive, that the parties engaged in them disputed,
in desolate regions, the possession of the havens which
offered conveniences for an establishment on shore, and
international treaties determined the ports belonging to
each. It was to these fisheries that Holland owed its
power as a maritime state, which rendered her the ma-
ritime rival of England and France.
" HAUNTS OF THE SEAL.—For some time past the
seal has abandoned the neighbourhood of Spitzbergen,
and is now found in great numbers along the coasts of
Greenland, in about 75 deg lat. It is upon the fields of
ice united to the mainland, and amongst those which
extend to the north and to the east, as well as under the
meridian of Iceland, that immense flocks of seals abound,
whiCh the sailors pursue as they advance northward.
The number of these animals is so considerable, that the
little fleet, composed of at least forty vessels, which an-
nually leaves the Scotch ports, never returns with less
than 100,000 seals, killed in the space of a few weeks.
There is no reason to suppose that their number is dimi-
nishing, as all the statistics which I have consulted
show that seal fishing is increasing. •
ARRIVAL AT THE ICE-FIELDS.—The vessels which have
quitted the fitting-out ports of Scotland, with four
mouths' provisions if intended for the seal fisheries, and
with eight months provisions for whaling, quit the har-
bour of Lerwick in the first day of March, and steer for
Greenland. Arrived at the localities frequented by the
seals, a constant look-out is kept from the mast-head
by a man placed in the crow's-nest, a sort of sentry-box
lashed to the main-top-gallant-mast, which serves to pro-
tect the watcher from the cold.
" When a flock is signalled, the vessel approaches
the ice-floe, and it is then when the captain requires all
the coolness and dexterity which great experience, and
unlimited confidence in himself and ship can alone
give. Tiie approach to the ice field is frequently ren-
dered a difficult and delicate operation, by masses of
floating ice, which the winds and the currents carry
violently along ; by fragments of glaciers on a level with
the water, and therefore doubly dangerous; by lofty
icebergs, which, sometimes losing their centre of gravity
through the breaking off of portions, regain their equi-
librium in the midst of a tremendous fracas. It is in
the midst of these perils that the captain must determine
at a glance the course he is to steer for the mouth of one
of the numerous passages leading to the required haven
from whence the fishing is to bo carried on. On cach-
ing smooth water, the vessel is moored to the ice by
means of grappling irons—the boa4s are lowered—the
cask and hunting implements embarked—the men are
provided with provisions in case of accidents separating
them for a time from the ship—signals are established,
and lines are so disposed as to conduct the men on board
in case a fog sets in.
"The fishing then commences. The slaughtered seals
are carried to the boats, where the shins are separated
from the blubber, the latter being thrust into barrels