The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-04 00:00:00

TILE MAGAZINES,

Blackwood.—Blackwood opens with "The Story
of the Campaign," written in a tent in the Crimea.
It commences with the rendezvous at the .Bospho-
rus, and traces the events of the campaign up t o
the occupation of Balaklava. It is written in
a concise and vigorous style. The _second paper
is a most attractive one ; it is the first part
of a romance, evidently by the charming
authoress of the " Quiet Heart," and " Katie
Stewart," its delightful predecessor. It bears
the somewhat fantastic name of " Zaidee,"
but introduces us to an English home circle never-
theless. It would seem to promise, from the num-
ber of characters introduced in this first instalment,
a more diffused interest than in the former works.
It is a most welcome addition to the pages of Black-
wood. Au article, on the "Education of the
Royal Artillery" takes into consideration the pre-
sent state of military education, and the alterations
and reforms advisable. " The Jew" is a tale
from the Russian, though, as the scene is laid in
Vienna, that does not affect the story. It is a
simple and pleasing tale. One of the most
striking features in the number is an arti-
cle on the prospects of the modern drama,
doubtless from the pen of Professor Aytoun.
After some observations on the decadence of the
English drama, which he attributes in a great
measure to the worthlessness of the modern plays,

the writer proceeds to criticise a recent transiation-
of Ochlenschlager's tragedy of " Correggio," by
Mr. Theodore Martin, from which several extracts
are taken. In conclusion, the critic does not de-
spair of the resuscitation of the British drama.
" Not many years ago we were told that the public
had lost all taste for poetry, and that no singer,
however sweet, had any chance of an audience.
If you wished to throw a publisher into a paroxysm,
the easiest mode of accomplishing your design was
to clap a roll of manuscript verses into his fist.
The metamorphosis of Lycaon into a wolf was mild,
compared with that which followed the touch of
iambics. Now there is a reaction, and the public
are said to be screaming for poetry." This com-
parison leads to the consideration of " the young
poets, of whom two aro selected for favourable
mention—Alexander Smith and Gerald Massey.
But their rivals are told to wait in patience, for
a "field-day" is promised for the special inspec-
tion of the ranks of the volunteers of the Muses.
In conclusion, some satirical shafts are aimed at
the American spiritual appearances of our de-
departed poets. Surelynone but the brilliant author
of " Firmillan" penned the ironical extract from
Shakspeare's posthumous tragedy. The second
dialogue on " Peace and War" begins by defending
the month of November, and the town of Boulogne-
sur-mer, which it meats aro held much in the
same light and unjustly abused. It contains a
continuation of the discussion between an advocate
of war and his Quaker friend, who at the conclusion
is happily converted, not by his friend's arguments,
but by the sight of a tall boy kicking a little one.
This sight puts a stop to the conversation by the
active interference of the Quaker,who,lhaving thus
contradicted theory by practice, subscribes to the
Patriotic Fund, and ceases to be a Friend. His
opponent observes, " I wish no worse fate to all
men of peace, though I cannot help thinking they
brought the Russian war upon us." A brief but
talented sketch of the late Professor Wilson, by
the author of " Ten Thousand a Year," concludes
an unusually interesting► number.

Dublin Universiiy.—" The Waite,' a Christmas
story, is a pleasing sketch. The first chapter de-
scribes two brothers listening to the midnight
music, very different in disposition, but united in
affection. Many years pass away before the story
is resumed, and then the brothers are separated by
the influence of various feelings, and an impassable
barrier seems placed between them. Laurence, the
elder, and more worldly, becomes a rich merchant,
while William pursues a more humble vocation, and
remains in the country. After some time another
change takes place by a reversion of the wheel of
fortune. Laurence was ruined, and William, by
his exertions anti talents, was rendered compara-
tively rich. Through all these varations the
estrangement was kept up in spite of many attempts
on the part of the younger brother to overcome it.
At last, one Christmas eve, forty-five years after
the first one mentioned, Laurence, walking home
alone, found his thoughts wandering back to his
early home and his long-lost brother. To complete
the memory of past times, the " Waits" that night
played the same tune. that they had listened to
when boys. The evening of the next day saw the
brothers again together, keeping Christmas in the
old house at Cheriton, where their youth had been.
passed. In " Biographical Sketches and Anec-
dotes," Anne of Austria and Voltaire are the
p'ersonages met with. It is observed of the Queen
that she was a very ambiguous character, for, while
some historians praise her greatly, others are equally
censorious as to her personal qualities and general
conduct. A brief sketch is given of her reign.
She made an inveterate enemy for herself in Riche-
lieu, by treating him with derision. She was scarcely
more successful after his death, for confusions and
intrigues were constantly around her. In the re-
marks on " Voltaire" a letter is published which he
addressed to Horace Walpole ; it is said that it is
probably translated here for the first time. "Mosses
upon Grave-stones" is concluded this month. This
melancholy tale is told with great feeling. " The
Expedition to the Crimea" is described in a second
part, and gives a summary of the most important
features of the war. " A Pilgrimage to the Land
of Leis and Ossory" is concluded for the present.
A great deal of interesting information is afforded
by its perusal. " Rose Condon," a fairy ballad, is
a spirited composition ; the refrain of the wild harp
introduced in each verse has a pleasing effect.
There is likewise a chaunt to celebrate " The ad-
vent of snow-mantled, ice-crowned December."

Fraser.—The present 'lumber opens with a me-
moir of the late Charles Kemble. It is ably writ-
ten, and gives an interesting account of the perse-
verance and study with which he pursued his art.
It is observed that he obtained the highest recom-
pence which an actor can receive for his efforts—
that the spectator ever afterwards embodies the
poet's creations in the image of the actor. " The
names of Faulconbridge and Mark Antony in-
stantly evoke the person, the tones, and the looks
of Charles Kemble. In the one we had before us
the express image of the mediaeval warrior, in the
other that of the Roman triumvir. His Faulcon-
bridge bore us back to Runnymede and the group
of barons bold that wrested the great charter from
the craven John. His Mark Antony transported
us to the forum and the capitol, to the legion at
Pharsalia, to Alexandrian revels, and to the great
Actian triumph. In such characters, we appeal
to the old play-goer, ' he just hit the difficult
mark. He was noble without bluster ; self-pos-
sessed without apparent effort ; energetic without
bombast ; eleaant without conceit.' " This memoir
is followed by an onslaught on the Lord Mayor's
Show, entitled " Gilt and Gingerbread ; or, Tom
Fool's Day in the City." The bill of fare at the
Guildhall banquet is placed in invidious comparison
with an officer's allowance in the Crimea. A very
entertaining paper on the " English Letter-writers
of the Eighteenth Century" remarks on the different
styles of ancient and modern correspondence.
Now we write because we have something to say ;
but a 'century ago a good letter-writer had a dis-
tinct and recognised place in society. "His mind
had to wear a court dress as well as his body, and
he would as soon have thought of seizing his sove-
reign by the hand as of presenting himself to a cor-
respondent without the epistolary bows and flou-
rishes which good breeding demanded." A sketch
is given of the most distinguished letter-writers—
Pope, Lady Mary Wortle;Montagu, Horace Wal-
pole, Lord Chesterfield, Gray, and Cowper. " A
Commonplace English Tour ' relates an excursion
to a spot free from railways. " General Bounce''
is concluded. The two chapters of the present
number relate the marriage of Frank Hardingstone
and Blanche, and the death of Cousin Charlie. It
is an interesting tale, and the characters are well
drawn. The concluding paper on "Dutch Litera-
ture" gives a sketch of the revival of the muses in
the Netherlands from the end of the last century.
" The Poultry Pentalogue," a review of a work
with that title, has some useful information for
those who patronise the now popular pursuit of
Poultry-keeping. A paper on "Siam" describes the
present king as an extraordinary character. He is
well acquainted with English, and is a constant
contributor to the Calcutta periodicals. A notice
of the " Life of Lord Metcalfe," and a "Retrospect
of the War," conclude the number.

If M

Colbitrit's New Monthly. A notice of
Huc's recent work is entitled "How to Travel in
China," and describes some of the social peculiari-
ties of the Celestial Empire. The first part of a
tale by Dudley Costello, " The Sister of the Hotel
Dieu," is a melancholy narrative, and promises
.become still more tragical. No. XXVI. of " Lite-
rary Leaflets," bears the name of "Light Readings
in Alison," and severely attacks some points of the
historian's style. " Doing our Vesuvius," is a de-
scription of the ascent of the mountain by a party
of tourists. The " Psychologist" is a very singular
tale of the German school. The Aunt and
Niece," a continuation of " Mildred Arkell," is a
very interesting and melancholy tale, by the author
of "The Unholy Wish." The " Diary of a First
Winter at Rome " is continued, and gives a descrip-
tion of the Academia de San Luca. The " Illus-
trations of the Manners of the Eighteenth Cen-
tury " describes street fairs and servants, public
and private. In the latter department the watch-
men are included. The poetical contributions con,

sist of a simple ballad by J. E. Carpenter, and some
verses entitled "The Whisper in the Market-place,"
by G. W. Thornbury, who now usually contributes
to this magazine. The concluding article, " The
History of the Siege of Sebastopol," does not take
a very sanguine view of affairs. It says, in con-
clusion, that the Czar learns in a few hours, by
telegraph or newspaper, the whole amount of pre-
paration making in this country and the Continent,
and before they have left these shores he knows
the strength of every reinforcement, and has
nothing to do but to forward double the number,
and he utterly annihilates all advantages. The
writer seems to forget that on the page before this
cheering announcement lie has himself chronicled
the triumphant repulse of 60,000 Russians by
8,000 English, aided by 6,000 French, consequently
the well-informed Emperor must send more than
doul)le the number if lie wishes to " utterly anni-
hilate all advantages' from the reinforcements.

Colburn's United Service Magazine and Na-
val and Military Journal.—ln the "Editor's
Portfolio, or Naval and Military Register," a
general survey is taken of the affairs of the
war. It is observed that Lord Raglan emi-
nently merits the honours that have been
bestowed upon him, and that satisfaction has been
everywhere expressed at his services being acknow-
ledged. Further on it is energetically asserted
that reinforcements are needed without delay, and
that the country is willing to make any sacrifice to
support the war with vigour and spirit. After
some accounts of the actions of the troops, the
cavalry charge is referred to. It will be interest-
ing to consider the view that is here taken of the
affair. It will be seen that this opinion entirely
exonerates Captain Nolan from blame :

" THE CAVALRY CHARGE, CAPTAIN NOLAN, AND THE
TURKS.—llead men tell no tales, and a mistake having
been made in precipitating a handful of sabres on the whole
Russian army, in the fatal though brilliant affair of the
25th Oct., it is found convenient to lay the blame on Capt.
Nolan, who bore a written order to Lord Lucan to effect an
advance, and then, charging with the little band, was killed
with the first shot. But taking the tale for what it is
worth, as it is given in the Times, it utterly fails to esta-
blish the imputation. Supposing that Captain Nolan did
express himself to Lord Lucan in the manner reported,
Captain Nolan was not his lordship's superior officer, and
therefore it was not what he said, but what the written
.order commanded, that he was bound to obey. To say
that Lord Lucau was influenced by Nolan's interpretation
of this document only gets him further into the mire, and
we feel confident that his lordship himself, if called upon,
as ho yet may be, would indignantly reject such an ex-
cuse, and would rather acknowledge that he had committed
one of those mistakes which are inseparable from the hur-
ried incidents and excitements of war.

" In a letter addressed to the Times, Sir John Scott Lillie
has chosen to throw the blame of the charge on Lord Rag-
lan, although the correspondent of the same journal, writing
from the spot, distinctly states that Lord Raglan was an
amazed spectator of the catastrophe. Does Sir John con-
sider this a fair onslaught on an old companion in arms, to
whom no doubt he, in common with almost every British
officer, has been indebted, in time past, for more than ono
act of courtesy, if not of kindness ? To us, and to every
impartial eyo, it appears in the light of a deliberate per-
version of the facts. Nor can we speak more favourably
of his observations in reference to the detached outposts
manned by the Turks. There can be no doubt, notwith-
standing Sir John's assertion to the contrary, that had
these redoubts been occupied by English troops, they would
have been maintained till a sufficient force had arrived for
their relief ; and we believe that even the Turks would
have held their ground if they had been under the com-
mand. of English officers. The outwork at Silistria, so
gallantly maintained by Captain Butler, was not a stronger
defence, yet a handful of Turks there defied 60,000 Rus-
sians. The subsequent abandonment of the ground by Lord
Raglan proves nothing except, indeed, that ho had dis-
covered, in a most decided manner, that it could not be
kept by the Turks, and they were the only part of his force
available for the. purpose. We are sorry that the Turks
have been so openly derided in the camp, but we do not
apprehend, with Sir John, that the sarcasms and the vitu-
peration of their comrades will produce a bad effect. On
the contrary, if they possess any soldierly feeling, as we
are sure they do, they will seize the first opportunity to
retrieve' their character ; and meanwhile it is well to bear
in mind that their conduct is susceptible of considerable

palliation. At a distance from thei;posts, and threatened
by dense masses of the enemy, with no knowledge of the
science of war, and without any officer in whom they could
place confidence, they were not unnaturally seized with a
panic ; bat we may still have faith in the inherent bravery
of the Turk, and ultimately convert this -very raw material
into a tolerable soldier."

" The Siege of Sebastopol" carries on the detailed
account of the war which was given in the last
month's number. " The Campaign on the Da-
nube " refers to the Russo-Turkish operations on
the Danube in 1853-4. On the whole, therefore,
a considerable amount of information is afforded
to those desirous of studying the remarkable events
of the year. They will find the engrossing object
of interest at present considered in every possible
manner.

Bentley's Miscellany. —A paper on the "Events
of the Year" takes a brief retrospect of the chief
domestic occurrences of the last year. In its notice
of some of the most remarkable works we are pro-
mised that the Miscellany is to be more brilliant
and attractive than it has been since its commence-
ment. It is rumoured that the editorship of this
magazine is to be undertaken by Mr. Harrison
Ainsworth. The only article on the great question
which engrosses public attention is entitled " The
Attitude of Austria in the East," and shares the
general opinion on the subject. " Aspen Court"
is proceeded with as usual. A paper on " The
Lord Mayor's Show" takes a favourable view of
that ancient procession, but admits it to be capable
of improvement. A lively description of " Parisian
Life" gives us a Frenchman's reasons why Paris is
proverbially gay and London proverbially dull.
There is a Memoir of the late Charles Kemble,
which remarks that the last half-year has been pe-
culiarly fatal to the children of the drama, Mrs.
Edwin, Mrs. Liston, Madame Sontag, Mrs. War-
ner, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, and Charles Kemblo all
having departed in that period. An article on
" The Fate of Sir John Franklin" considers that
in all probability our unfortunate countrymen met
a violent death. There are, unhappily, many cir-
cumstances which would seem to give grounds for
this painful surmise. There are some pleasing
verses on " Regrets" by Mary Monck ; and Mrs.
Bushby .contributes some superior stanzas, entitled
" The War Fiend's Mission."

Ainstvortit.—The greatest portion of this maga-
zine is occupied by the story of the " Last of the
House," which is concluded. All the deserving
persons are happily disposed of. Merton becomes
a celebrated painter, whose productions aro ad-
mired throughout Europe. The body of Sir Luke
Mortimer was discovered in the cellar. The family
vault that had received the remains of his ancestors
received him, " The Last of the House." An
amusing paper is entitled " Ugliness," which some
may be pleased with. " The Quiet House" is a
melancholy record of an unfortunate lady, who
lived in retirement all her life in consequence of an
early disappointment. It is somewhat of the mys-
tical in style, as the point on which the story turns
is the fact ("her mother's spirit appearing at her
bedside the night before her union with au atheis-
tical character. Warned by this apparition, she
insisted on the engagement being dissolved, to the
astonishment of her friends, who were ignorant of
the cause of her strange conduct and its awful mo-
tive. " Nicholas Flamel" is also finished. It is
asserted that to such a length did credulity extend
concerning this man that some said he discovered
the philosopher's stone and the elixir of life, that
he lived for a century ; while others went further
yet, and declared that since the date of his death
in Paris 1w and his wife Pernelle had been seen in
India.

The Art-Journal.—Tho Art Journal has one
plate less than usual this month. The engravings
consist of a portrait of Fawcett, the comedian, and
the picture of Editha finding the body of Harold,
both from the Vernon Gallery. There are some
examples given of the works of German artists,
and a pleasing woodcut of Winter, by Mary Dear.
The prose contents are, as usual, artistic topics.

The English Cyclopedia.—This useful and valu-
abler work has reached the twenty-second part.
T name of Mr. Charles Knight is a sufficient
guarantee for its character. It is based upon the
Penny
Cyctovedia, which was commenced more
than 20 years ago. So much has been added to
our store of knowledge since that time, so many
discoveries, inventions, and improvements have
affected the study of the sciences, that Mr. Knight
rightly judged a work, ton years old, to be no
longer suitable as a medium of popular instruction.
At present Natural History and Geography are
appearing in its pages, and they will be succeeded
by Arts and Sciences, and Biography and History.
Each of these divisions will occupy four volumes ;
the work will consequently
.be completed in six-
teen. The incalculable utility of such a work of
reference, and the clear and careful method of its
arrangement, joined to the moderation of its price,
will no doubt excite a degree of attention that will
repay the compiler for the great labour and ex-
pense of his undertaking.

The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Review.
The Queens before the Conquest" is the first
subject met with ; it is said that a general interest
cannot attach itself to such a work, but some of
the most notable queens are spoken of. " Alex-
ander, the False Prophet," is a curious account of
a remarkable character who lived in the second
century. He was, first of all, a servant to a quack
doctor, but he soon determined to set up for him-
self, and when his confederate died he proceeded
to his native town, where he began his mysterious
labours. Afterwards he built a temple, in which
lie presided over an oracle, his fame spread far and
wide, and every day increased his disciples. He
had many enemies, but by his adroitness he ma-
naged to circumvent their designs in most instances,
and Lucian, the satirist, was nearly killed xn coil-

sequence of having offended the great man. "Ii
Gaiateo of Della Casa" is a very entertaining
sketch of manners and customs in Italy in the
sixteenth century. It is styled Galatea, from a
gentleman of that name celebrated for his courtesy
and elegant demeanour. It is stated that many of
the faults and follies here made mention of
still exist in continental society. However,
the rules and manners here inculcated would be of
essential service to any nation of the present day,
as the general rules of good breeding are the same
everywhere. Several other subjects worthy of
attention are met with, as " The Sequel of the
History of Sir Piers Crosbie," "Horse Racing in
the time of James the First." It is said the
sport was very prevalent in the reign of that mo-
narch, but that race courses were not regularly
established at that period, and it is exceed-
ingly doubtful if James introduced it from Scot-
land. In the " Obituary" there are the usual
biographical sketches to be seen of the celebrated
personages who have lately died.