The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-01 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES FOR APRIL.

Blackwood.—Although the April number con-
tains no very conspicuous attraction, the-
several contributions making up its contents'
are of something more than average excel-
lence. A capital article on " Temperance and Tee--
total Societies," leads off the papers in the Edin-
burgh magazine, with a really delicious onslaught
upon the vulgarity and fanaticism of the more in-
fatuated antagonists of even occasional drunkenness.
The charming story of "John Rintoul" is con-
tinued, and does full honour to the graceful writer,
of "Katie Stewart." Agnes receives an offer, but
rejects it, being faithful to the memory of poor Patio
Rintoul. There is promise of rather more sus-
_ tained interest than was imparted to the former
tale by the same author. The principal attraction
of " Katie Stewart"—the narrative, we mean, not
the heroine—lay in the manner and the sentiments
rather than in the incidents there strung together.
A droll and satirical review will be found in the
subssqucnt article, entitled "A Modern French
Comedy." About the most valuable, if not actually
the most fascinating, paper in the number is the
one relating to " Lombardy and its Irrigation."
Another " continuation" will be turned to with
curiosity by the readers of Blackwood, namely, the
fourth instalment of " Lady Lee's Widowhood."
Another criticism also will be perused by some with
satisfaction—we allude to that on " Twenty Years
in the Philippine Islands," as described this year
by M. P. de la Gironiere. From first to last it is
very pleasantly animated, picturesque, descriptive,
and anecdotal. The political article of month is
the only one now not yet particularised. It is
suggestively, but rather indefinitely, designated
" Hints for Legislation." Allusion is made at the
outset of this, the closing contribution to the April
instalment of Blackwood, to the immortal Mr. Puff,
in the incomparable Critic—that inexhaustible re-
pository for droll and grotesque illustrations.
How happily is the situation of our Happy Family
in Downing-street exemplified by reference to that
other " situation" imagined by Mr. Puff, where
every one holds his • dagger at his fellow's throat,
yet nono dare strike I It is, in truth, as Maya
intimates, the stage situation of a dead lock : " for,"
as Mr. Puff saith himself, " every one of them
is afraid to let go first." Happily the dead-lock of
the Coalition Ministry cannot last in perpetuo.
This very month of April—the January of the
financial year—must, for example, bring on the
terrible and inexorable necessity of the Budget ;
so that the Beefeater in the Critic—the interrupter
of the dead-lock of that preposterous "situation"—
will be represented by the Right Hon. the Chan-
celior of the Exchequer. Before closing our notice
of the current number of Blackwood, we must espe-
cially and earnestly commend the castigation be-
stowed in the course of the political article on the
writer of a certain absurd " prophetic pamphlet,"
who is aptly treated as—what he is in truth—a
drivelling blasphemer.

Fraser.—The first article in this month's num-
ber is a criticism on the poems of Professor Long-
fellow. It is justly observed that he is "by many
degrees the most popular of the American poets
among English readers." That his popularity is
well deserved few will deny, though it is to be
questioned if the auther of " Evangeline" and " The
Psalm of Life" has added to his laurels by his latest
work, " The Golden Legend." Chapter 111. of
" The Wetherbys, or Sundry Chapters of Indian
Experience," is given, and contains some amusing
passages. The "Modern French Memoirs" of
Madame de Genlis, Barere, and De Bausset are
criticised. The wild and singular tale of " HY-
patia, or New Foes with an Old Face," is con-
cluded. There is an article on "Mr Layard's
Second. Visit to Nineveh," which is interesting to
the numerous admirers of his researches. There is
the second paper of " Wanderings through Lon-
don," and it is entertaining to see a foreigner's
opinion of England, though it is not very flattering
to national vanity. " Progress of the India Ques-
tion" is a political paper, and. bestows much con-
sideration on this important subject.

Dublin University.— In "April Fancies" we
meet with some very pleasing verses. One of
the best of the poems is " The Resurrection of the
Dead," being an allegory concerning the sleeping
flowers : •

" The trumpet of the Angel Spring,
Proclaims the Resurrection morn.

" trp from their graves the dead arise,
The dead and buried flowers of Spring ;
-Up from their graves in glad amaze,
Once more to view the long-lost skies,
Resplendent with the dazzling rays
Of their great coming Lord and King.
" The virgin snowdrop bonds its head,
Above its grave in grateful prayer,
The daisy lifts its radiant brow,
With a saint's glory round it shed,
The violet's worth, unhidden now,
Is wafted wide by every air ;

" The parent stein reclasps once more
Its long-lost severed buds and leaves ;
Once more the tender tendrils twine
Around the forms they clasped of yore :
The very rain is now a sign
Great Nature's heart no longer grieves."

The story of " Sir Jasper Carew " is continued
in two chapters. They are entitled " Disappoint-
ments," and " Fum's-alley, near the Peddle."
They contain a series of misadventures and misfor-
tunes sustained by the unfortunate widow and her
cousin, who is unable to find her marriage certifi-
cate. He meets with a lawyer, who throws addi-
tional mystery over the affair. "Heroes, Ancient
and Modern," gives a very good account of Corio-
lan us, and Charles, Duke of Bourbon. In the epi-
tome of the two characters the palm is accorded to
the Roman, who sacrificed his revenge to his in-
herent love of country. The Frenchman was in-
stigated by motives of private enmity, and to the
end persevered in his schemes of retaliation. " A
Flying Shot at the United States" is completed in
thismumber. In summing up his various opinions
at the end, theauthor remarks :--
" Farewell Columbia ! One who may possibly be des-
tined never again to tread thy shores, now bids thee a last
adieu. If, in a brief pilgrimage through thy lands, he has
seen more to condemn than to approve, let it not be sup-
posed that he now watches the last glimmering halo which
hovers over the retreating continent without regret. In
fancy he sees many a familiar face, and hears the friendly
accents of those who welcomed the stranm'er. Though the
" Flying Shot" has flown right and left, in relentless an-
tagonism with the errors of democracy, there is much that
lies beyond the range of ordnance, however skilfully di-
rected. The satirist, though he may be prone to dip in
" gall the celestial feather" with which he seeks to main-
tain an aerial position, is fain to confess that even in a con-
stitution of such things as he heartily disapproves of, there
is still something to commend ; and far be it from Fitz-
gunne to deny to individuals that meed of praise which he
grudges to bestow on a system. If in these pages more
pains has been taken to lay bare than to cover deformities
—if criticisms have been severe—if censure has been un-
sparingly used—be it understood that there has been no
intention of casting a stigma upon a whole people. Freely
be it granted, proudly confessed—proudly on account of
our mutual c!aims of consanguinity—that there are many
in America who would do honour to any kingdom
under heaven. In spite of the injurious influences
which are exerted upon the public mind by popular
misrule, we shall find amongst the people of the United
States much to excite our warm sympathies, much hospi-
table feeling, much real kindness ; and, lastly, while we
must deny that they display all the cardinal virtues in their
full lustre, we must at least admit that they possess some
of the manlier and more important ones. For those of in-
dustry and perseverance, then, we here give them a parting
salute.
" Whatever we may say of the present condition of Ame-
rica, we must admit that the future is all her own—an al-
most boundless territory, vast lakes, and mighty rivers are
hors ; and she boasts of possessing all the vegetable pro-
ductions of the tropic and temperate regions, and nearly all
the treasures of the mineral kingdom. As yet the great
is .
continent little else than a forest intersected by roads,
with a patch of cleared laud around the village, and a larger
tract around the suburbs of the city. What shall America
axeonshea,lal
lhl atvheefisulivsahnedgiitasnttrsemsheanli-
dboenwshteanskth.?—e woodman'swhoneen, by have bowed their proud heads ?
when whati is now a wil-
derness shall be converted into —a
garden ? In sooth, per-
haps, the soaring monarch of the air may .not have been a
badly chosen symbol, after all ; and so 1 wish all strength
to the opinions of the American Eagle."

.Ainsworth.—The industrious author of " The
Confederates" is completing that tale, while he
gives us, at the same time, two chapters of " Nicho-
las Hamel." There is a very interesting paper on
"The Last Days of Burns," which, though short,
is full of attraction. "The Wife's Avenger," an
Irish tale of the last century, is concluded.
" A Lecture on the Italians of the Fifteenth
Century" is interesting ; and there is an amusing
account of "Mr. William Johnson's Great Balloon
Ascent." The poetical contributions consist of
" The March for Russia," by the talented author
of " Ruins of Many Lands," and some graceful and
pleasing verses by J. E. Carpenter, which are en-
titled "On the banks of a beautiful river," and
are well adapted for music.

The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Bc-
new.—ln " Pares and Penates" we are presented
with several engravings of the household gods of
the Cilicians, which were broken up by them upon
their becoming Christians. Some very interesting
accounts are given concerning them. A most ad-
mirable summary of the life of Jacques Van Arte-
velde is given. He was a very important character,
and exercised a great influence in his generation.
His untimely end struck terror to all. It is ob-
served in these memoirs :

" Jacques Van Artevelde was a man deserving the
epithet of great, if we consider the ago in which he lived,
the characters of his associates, and the cities whose in-
terests he guided. Called upon to act by the free voice of
his fellow-citizens, his policy frees him from the accusa-
tion of an intriguer ; its success, the greatness of its aim,
imparts to it the genius of the statesman. That personal
ambition and personal hatred were often the impulse of his

career cannot be denied. The accusation of tyranny
wants more definite confirmation. His administration of
public affairs evinced both energy and the profoundest cal-
culations of political science. His great influence
may be ascribed also to his rare abilities. Cautious, yet
bold, daring in action, but warily waiting his oppor-
tainity, he made his genius the obedient minister
of his will ; ho won the multitude by his familiarity, and
silenced envy by his unpretending manners. With the
noble his bearing was manly, he was the cher compere of
Edward, the proud companion of his proud and gallant
Britons. He spoke with conscious dignity, and enforced
his argument by the feeling of a somewhat lofty spirit, as
one familiar with princes."

In the paper on "James Thomson," it is showA
that the celebrated poet took his idea of " Winter"
in the "Seasons " from a poem written by a
Scotch clergyman, named Riccalton, which was
entitled " A Winter's Day," corrected by an emi-
nent hand, supposed to be Thomson himself. The
sheet poem was printed in this magazine in May,
1740.

The Colonial and Asiatic Review. The
Euphrates Valley Route to India " is continued
from last number, and treats of the Antiquities of
Asiatic Turkey and Western Asa. "On the Sites
of Nicea and Buceplialia " gives much curious in-
formation respecting these ancient cities, which
were founded by Alexander the Great. " A Sketch
of Mrs. Chisholm's Life and Labours" must be
read with interest. There is a paper on the
" Canadian Clergy Reserves," which subject has
lately engaged so
.much attention. There are also
articles on " Native Petitions from India," and-on
" The Bengal Military Fund."
The following extract is from " The Route to
India :"

" Before the merchants of Tyre and Sidon had emerged
from the ranks of fishermen, at a period coeval with the Exo-
dus of the Israelites, the land of Edom was in a highly culti-
vated state, with fields, vineyards, wells, highways, and a
numerous population, who long afterwards conducted an
extensive caravan trade between the countries of the Per-
sian Gulf, Egypt, and the shores of the Mediterranean.
The more recent discoveries in these countries prove their
ancient greatness and grandeur. Asia Minor and Mesopo-
tamia are rich in minerals, so is Armenia, Chaldea, and
the ancient Babylonia. The names Colosse, Antioch in
Pisidia, Patara, and Xanthus, with their memorials of art
in marble, &c., need only to be named to remind us of the
celebrity in remote times of one and all of these remark-
able places. Colosse, to the citizens of which one of
the New TestaMent epistles is addressed, flourished
in remote antiquity. It was visited by Xerxes when
on his march to Greece, and afterwards by Xenophon
during the famous expedition of the ten thousand Greeks,
who describes it as large, rich, and well inhabited. Mr•
Hamilton found its site in 1836 at the junction of three
streams—the Tchoruk-su, corresponding to the ancient
Lyons, the Ak-su, or white water, and the River Chouds,
near the modern village of that name, affluents of the
Meanda.

" Patara, once a busy port and maritime spot, described
by Strabo as a large city, now,presents nothing but tombs
and ruins, in Which some monuments of the Christian age
are discernible. These are partially buried under the gra-
dually accumulating sands, which in the course of ages have
cut off the place from the sea, and converted the splendid
bay in which the waters rolled in the time of Paul, into a
plain, upon which vegetation has seized, and planted oho'
tors of the graceful palm-tree."
MARKET NEWS—(THIS DAY.).