The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-03 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS.

Tait's Edinburgh Magazine does not present us
with anything of striking interest. " Black Made,"
a romance of the last century is continued, and the
tc Irish Tale of Priest and People," also proceeds.
" Electro-Biology" is introduced, and takes a sur-
prising effect on a young lady who is very anxious
to ride at some public races, and is not exactly of
the sensitive disposition we should suppose neces-
sary to the success of such an experiment. " In-
dia and its Governments," a series of papers, gives
us this month a continuation of the Moguls. The
"Shining Ladder" is not a very comprehensible
story of the exploits of a madman.—The National
Miscellany has a very interesting article on
" Cyphers." Henceforth, the advertisements in
the Times need be no mystery to the patient
and painstaking, for the article in question
supplies us with a great number of clues.
The numerous instances given are very cu-
rious, especially one, in which a message being
sent from the General of an army to an ally, he
arranged a letter in double cypher, apparently
meaning nothing of importance. The messenger,
according to previous instructions, allowed himself
to be taken by the enemy, and on being ques-
tioned gave them one key—the third word after every
stop. On reading the letter by this means, it was
found to arrange a night attack on the next Wed-
nesday. The messenger was then allowed to pro-
ceed with the letter, which, according to the
other key, every twelfth word fixed the at-
tack on Tuesday. " Roman London" gives us
a history of London as it was in old times, and
tells us where the traces are still to be found.
" Turkey—its Past and Present "—gives us a his-
tory of the Turkish race and dominions—informa-
tion which, at the present aspect of affairs, is useful
and interesting. There are several other articles
of merit. This magazine is conducted with unusual
ability, which only requires a few articles of a
lighter description to render it very attractive.—
The British Joutnal commences with a paper on
the war in China. The " Rival Cousins ' is con-
tinued, and a tale, entitled " Edith, or the Dark-
ness Brightened," commenced. The " First Touch
of Cold," by Horace Mayhew, warns us of the ap-
proach of winter, and gives a lively picture of the
changes produced by frost and snow. Various
sketches are added, which are capable of affording
entertainment. In the Scottish, Review appears an
admirable and clever paper on what is "called.
" The Rationale of Electro-Biology." Hogg's In-
structor contains, bssides other attractive papers,
a critical essay on " Thomas Moore and Lord John
Russell," by George Gilfillan. Just now we fancy
that not a few will turn with interest to the chapter
on " The Present Crisis," given in Lawson's Mer-
chant's Magazine, an able commercial and statis-
tical review, edited by Mr. Strousberg. In New-
ton's Repertory there are, as usual, several curious
specifications. Among other amusing articles in
deserving
esn."
the Charm for October will be found an entertain-
ing chapter called " Half-Hours with the Alche-
mists." Le Follet still preserves its pre-eminence
as an authority
area in
few dress
others by
scarcely
all
fashi
do v.g
character,
Besides all which periodicals of a miscellaneous
enumerat there
on.

SERIAL STORIES.
Conspicuous among the serial stories published
on the Ist of October, is the first instalment of
Izack LakadamlAlexandre Dumas's masterpiece.
The work, in its translated form, is exquisitely
" got up," and reflects the highest credit upon the
Messrs. Vizetelly and Company's establishment.
We anticipate for this remarkable tale in England,
no less than in France, an enormous circulation.
A fiction, in sixpenny numbers, is commenced this
month, also, by Mr. Percy St. John, under the
title of Paul Peabody. It opens with agreeable
vivacity. Priam, too, commences a sporting nar-
rative—being the "Life and Adventures of Dick
Diminy, the Jockey." Mr. Lever's story of " The
Dodd Family" hastens towards its conclusion.
Meanwhile we have lying before us the new num-
ber, being the fourteenth instalment of the Writ-
ings of Douglas Jerrold (beginning with. his
" Plays"), and the fifth portion of Charles Knight's
noble English Cyclopcedia.