The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-03 00:00:00

.L.F2',ERATURE.

THE MAGAZINES.
Blackwood.—Professor Johnston indulges the
yeaders of Maga, this month, with a second instal-
'ment of his ingenious disquisition on " The Nar-
cotics we indulge in"—a paper destined to re-appear
n a comprehensive work relating to " The Che-
*istry of Common Life," and which we are rejoiced
to observe is announced for speedy publication.
The concluding chapter of this work will be remem-
bered by many, we doubt not, as having already
" appeared in Blackwood under the arresting title of
The Circulation of Matter." Conspicuous among
the criticisms in the number of the magazine before
us, is the elaborate review of " Haydon's Auto-
biography." Of course. It would be difficult just
now to take up any periodical which does not refer
directly or only incidentally to the editorial
labours of Mr. Tom Taylor, in regard to the diary
of the painter of " Curtius" and "The Mock Elec-
tion," of "Waiting_ for the Times" and the " Mus-
lag Napoleon." Everywhere, for the last half-year;
have we been haunted by that grim spectre of the
Mist lying stark deadbefore the easelsustaining the
Commencement of his last historical composition.
The 'reviewer in BlackivoOd enters upon the some-
et embarrassing task of criticising this singular
contribution towards the annals of modern art in
England with some severe and admirably-deserved
strictures upon the majority of those who have
elarailled cHaydon's Autobiography" in the pageEV
the different periodicals. "We fear," says the
*writer, "that, of late, there has been considerable
deterioration in the tone of contemporary criti-
cism ;" adding, in explanation of the remark, that
works which in themselves contain nothing either
'interesting or memorable have been puffed into
liotice'on account of the Celebrity of the editorial
accoucheur, or the former reputation of the
larty to . whom they more particularly refer."
llustrations of this are adduced in the mention of
" Moore's Memoirs," edited by Lord John Russell,
as well as by the reception accorded to " Lord
11611ancl's Reminiscences." Nay, observes Maga
"w-"even in the domain of poetry, fustian has been
mistaken for inspiration." It is a melancholy truth,
and a truth as contemptible as melancholy. After
this criticism, come two contributions of a very
different character, one referring to " Brute Life
in the Alpine Regions," the other relating to " The
Romans in Scotland"—the latter suggested by Mr.
Stuart's researches, and the former by the re-
searches of M. Tschudi, the naturalist. Further on,
Blackwood gives us "A few more words" on that in-
terminable "University Reform," and still further,
" A Few Facts" on that everlasting "Turkish Ques-
tion." Immediately after the paper (already men-
tioned) referring to Narcotics, the reader will be
gratified to find four charming little "Poems by
H. J. K.," in one of which the successor of Delta
sings very prettily of a slowly-grown but lasting
love, as contrasted with a passion as sudden as
evanescent

" The gourd that in a night appeared,
Next noon had withered on the sand ;
The oak a hundred years have reared,
For ages crowns the land."
" Athens in 1853" is graphically depicted by one
contributor, and " Paris in 1853" by another,
Which other, by the way, is dignified by the title
of " Our Commissioner ;" and a remarkably chival-
rous and gallant gentleman " Our Commissioner"
appears to be, as well as a right shrewd and pene-
trative observer. Witness his allusion to the
beautiful Empress Eugenie, of whom he writes,
" She is as sweet and gentle a lady as ever it was
our fortune to look upon"—adding, " None of her
portraits do her justice." " Fromhenceforth," he
exclaims in conclusion, " From henceforth our
glove is perpetually in the ring against all comers,
as champion a routrance of the Empress Eugenie
—always saving and excepting our Sovereign Lady
the Queen." For the secret of which enthusiasm
-we may refer to the circumstance of the young
Empress of the Third Napoleon being distinguished
by an unmistakeably national characteristic—a
"refined Scottish expression" of countenance.

Fraser.--Regina for November amuses his sub-
scribers with Part 11. of " Uncle Peter," as well as
with a second paper anent the "Morals of Queen
Elizabeth." As another contribution towards the
history of the Second Golden Age we have "Ex-
tracts from the Journal of a Visit to New South
Wales in 1853." A delightful chapter on " Pro-
pertius" is evidently the utterance of one not less
Tefined in taste than ripe in scholarship. Not so
the " Thoughts about Shelley and Byron"—
thoughts as vulgar and confused as they are con-
tradictory and superficial. " Anatomy in Long
Clothes" is the odd title of an essay replete with
curious and interesting information. " Dartmoor
Prison" is elsewhere minutely described in all its
complicated arrangements—as are also in two other
contributions, the North American Fisheries and
the Chinese Insurrection.

Bentley's Miscellany.--The three chapters of
" Aspen Court" chronicle strange events. The
flint describes a stormy scene at Mr. Wilmslow's
Louse, at which a partie earl*, consisting of Lord
Itookbury, Mr. and Mrs. Wilmslow, and Bernard
Cfirtyon, have an awkward conversation. The
second and third chapters tell us the adventures of
the three young ladies who were left in such a dis-
agreeable position in the last number. Owing to
'an accident, the illustration is postponed to the
'next month. An incident of Australian life twenty
years ago, though presenting a contrast to the
present time in many respects, unfortunately bears
too much resemblance to the accounts of highway.
' robbery and attacks on travellers that we now re-
ceive. " A Journey from Westminster Abbey to
St. Peter's" is continued, and there. is also
an additional instalment of the " Life of
an Architect." As the approach of the an-
niversary of the 18th of November draws the
attention to the memory of the great warrior,
it may be interesting to peruse the " Random Re-
collections of Campaigns under the Duke of Wel-
lington !" The anecdotes of "My Monkey Jacko"
do not inspire us with any great respect for his
tribe, as he appears to have been a somewhat dis-
agreeable companion. While faking him in the
railway in a bag, the monkey very inopportunely
put his head out as the railway official was claim-
ing the tickets. The man insisted that it was a
(kg, and must be paid for. In vain the monkey
Was called forth and exhibited—it was a dog, and
must be paid for. The owner, thinking to carry
n'a the joke, produced a tortoise which he carried,
and asked if that was charged for. " No, sir," re-
Plied the learned official, after consulting his supe-
rior, "No charge for them, they be insects !" Of
course, there is an article on Turkey. It is, how-
ever, not modern, but ancient Turkey which is
brought under our notice. Thck poetical contribu-
tions consist of a sonnet to the cypress, and some
agreeable verses called " Pleasant Days."

Colburn's New Monthly.—Colbum's commences
'with a romance of " Carlton Gardens," in which a
crossing sweeper named "Gruffy," renders very es-
sential service to an unwarypatron of his who suffers
himself unwisely to be entrapped by some gambling
associates. The sweep overhears their plans and
defeats them. "An IMperial Visit" is an entertain-
ing narrative of the visit of the Emperor and Em-
press to Dunkerque. " Travels in the North," is
a notice of the journey of a Swedish gentleman
through Lapland, Siberia, &c. " Walks up Hill"
is a lively sketch. A criticism on Bryant occupies
the eighth number of " American Authorship."
We are sorry to see the author of "The Unholy
wish," who has the capacity for producing tales of
sustained interest and superior style, allow his
'writings to degenerate into mere chronicles of the
horrible. The present story of " St. Martin's
Eve" is of an appalling nature. A stepmother,
Whose husband was dead, after much ill-usage of
11,is son, a little boy of five, suffered him to set
-unnself on fire, and then locking him in the room
left him to burn to death. To suppose that many
women were capable of such superhuman wicked-
ness would be an insult to human nature. There
may be, and there doubtless are, exceptions of
great cruelty and crime, but certainly a refinement
o,f barbarity, to which a rapid murder would seem
'4ling, is not to be introduced as a natural or pro-
bable occurrence. An article on the interesting
subject which has recently revived our curiosity
respecting the Polar Seas, is entitled " The North-
Zest Passage." " Chronicles of a Country Town"
p continued, and all we can say in pity for the
Misfortunes and domestic misery of its hero is, that
l',incere and sensible men are so easily deceived
4,1a%t imposed on by heartless and designing women,
y deserve to suffer for it. We miss from the
12:1'. ~tiesl pages this month the pleasing verses of
1,7‘.•""i4s of CarpenMichter, and the talented and melodious
N. ell.

Ainstvorth's.—The lovers of the marvellous may
here find much to please them in the romantic and
awltl stories presented to their notice. "Is ho a
merely amusing. A
"OCOr ? " is an exception to the usual style ; it is
young gentleman introduces
himself into the house under pretence of being a
d°e, rantor, and played his part exceedingly well.
tions coise de Foix" contains some serious reflec-
on the wretched fate of that young and lovely
Woman.. She was singularly unfortunate. De-
.eiv.ed into believino• that her husband wished for
he.r. in Paris, upon astening thither he treated her
coldness and harshness, which, by arousing
_47 yride, hurried on her ruin. " Dark Re-
.l4l.fieeence of my First Curacy," is a most painful
L 4,103; it contains the adventures of a mau for
7_4_, La no interest can be felt. He entered all
l'uct4 of bad company, then enlisted twice de-
)