The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-03 00:00:00

MAGAZIY

MONTH.

Blackwood. As the principal attraction of '
Mega, we must still continue to speak first of all,
of " The Quiet Heart ;" that charming and beau-
tiful tale of domestic ife, penned, as every line
indicates, by a warm-hearted, clear-minded, ani-
mated, gifted, Scottish gentlewoman. The lover
of travel will find in the number of Blackwood,
the number for February, materials calcu-
lated to exercise over their fancy a scarcely
resistible fascination. They will find them-
selves carried far into the African regions by one
article relating to "Abyssinian Aberrations"—
and far into Ceylon, by another paper following in
the track of " A Sporting Settler"—and far into
the Ottoman Empire (a theme of enthralling
interest just now !) by a third contribution,
affording, us an acceptable " Glance at Turkish
History"—and by a fourth chapter of a kindred
kind pretty well over the whole surface of the
globe, a chapter (this last) entitled " Fifty Years
in both Hemispheres." Besides the articles already
mentioned, each of which will be found most read-
able, and fraught with instruction as well as with
sources of amusement. We may mention, as to our
mind, abominably hypercritical, a chapter on
" Gray's Poetry and Letters," and as rather spite-
I ful, and, to our thinking, undeservedly severe, a
review of " Macaulay's Speeches." In addition to
all which, Maga for the present month contains a
clever chapter on art, relating to the "National
Gallery" and its organisation.

Fraser.—lt is observable that in the new number
of Fraser two of our younger poets—Coventry Pat-
more and Frederick Tennyson present to the
public two very graceful poetic contributions. Pat-
more's being " Night and Sleep," and Tennyson's
" The Bridal." Another young poet of our gene-
ration receives this month every attention from one
of the most able reviewers in Regina. The criticism
referred to being entitled, "Poems by Matthew
Arnold." Two new serials are commenced—one by
a First Paper on 6 6 Ruskin's Stones of Venice,"
the other by No. I. of " Researches in Dutch
Literature." Two others are continued—by a
second paper on " The Decline and Fall of the
Corporation of London," and by another instal-
ment of " General Bounce, or the Lady and the
Locusts." Besides those we have had leisure and
space to particularise, there are in Fraser for Feb-
ruary several other amusing and intelligent contri-
butions.

Colburn's New Monthly.—The admirers of Ger-
man literature will find the first article in this
number attractive. It is a criticism on the writings
of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. It appears that one
of Coleridge's unfulfilled literary designs was an
elaborate biography of this author. " Annabel
Annesley's First Valentine" is a lively and amus-
ing tale, by the author of " The Unholy Wish,"
and presents a moral which many young ladies
would do well to consider. A notice of " Moore's
Diary" gives several extracts, and contradicts the
assertion that the memoirs were not intended for
publication in their present state. " Mick Cassidy's
Boots" is a lively Irish tale, by Dudley Costello.
No. XI. of "American Authorship" is devoted to the
historian Wm. H. Prescott. A letter from the Ame-
rican land of gold gives a picture of the Californian
Indians. Another of the singular " Tales of my
Dragoman" describes how Mahomet was induced to
turn prophet. " Further Extracts from the Com-
mon place Book of a Late Author" are in no way
remarkable. There are papers on the " Glaciers
of Norway" and the " Pass of Spleughen." The
only poetical contribution is a love song from the
pen of J. E. Carpenter, possessing no great ori-
ginality.

Colburn's United Service.—The United Service
opens with a paper on " The Shrapnel." It is
about fifty years since this instrument of destruc-
tion was invented by Henry Shrapnel, a captain of
artillery, from whom it derived its name. The
idea is a very simple one. It consists in plac-
ing within a spherical shell as many bullets
as it will contain, and adding just sufficient
powder to burst the shell. During the late
war they were only used by the British, but the
secret has been discovered, and most of the conti-
nental nations now use them. A memoir of Ra-
detsky will attract attention at this season. " Fitz-
Gubin ; a Sketch of Life at Sea," is, as its name im-
plies, of a comic description. " A Treatise on
Small Arms," is continued from page 119, and
there is another instalment of the " Memoirs of
the late Major Macready." There are also papers
on the " Military Colleges in France," and the
late " War in Mexico."

Bentley's 111 iscellany .—A paper on the unfortu-
nate Dauphin Louis XVII. commences this num-
ber. It is accompanied by a pgrtrait of its subject.
The writer justly observes that most other State
crimes, such as the murder of Prince Arthur or
the sons of Edward IV., are attributable to some
direct motive, or were acts of private vengeance or
fear. Bnt the ill-usage and death of Louis XVII.
offers no extenuating circumstance, or even the
excuse of expediency. " Aspen Court" progresses,
though the events are limited to the rehearsal and
appearance of the drama of Bernard Carlyon, and
the discovery of Angela Livingstone's parentage.
The hero and heroine appear likely to misunder-
stand each other. " Arthur Arden" is continued,
with some curious events. At the present moment
many will peruse with interest an account of the
" Campaign of the Turks on the Danube 80 Years
ago." " Random Recollections of Campaigns
under the Duke of Wellington" promises an excit-
ing scene next month, in the storming of Badajos.
An entertaining sketch of " Margaret of Navarre,"
the sister of Francis 1., takes a very favourable view
of her character. The first part of " Haps and
Mishaps of a Tour in Europe in 1853," by an Ameri-
can authoress, Grace Greenwood, presents the attrac-
tion of a description of M. Otto Goldschmidt, about
whom so much curiosity was excited.

Dublin University.—There are two chapters of
" Sir Jasper Carew" this month, which are very
melancholy. The hero meets with his old friend
of childhood, Margot, and she introduces him to
all her acquaintances and friends. Of the latter,
however, she had not many, and her enemies used
every means to destroy her. We leave her in de•
feat and disgrace, her rival performing the part
that had been her masterpiece. In " A Second
Peep at the Garrick Club," the interesting accounts
of its departed celebrities are continued. " The
Dismal Mute" is a most lugubrious affair. It is
rather obscure also, and no one can fail to echo
the wish expressed in the last verse, " that the
mute may never draw near to onr funeral bier, nor
walk in our burial train." " The Spirit of the
Snow," by Denis Florence Macarthy, is a very
pleasing composition. "My Third Flight, or a
Visit to the great Anthropophagus and his Domi-
nions," continues the account of the excursions
into hobby land. It is on the subject of Russia ;
and the anger of the beholder is great on seeing
represented the two united fleets riding at anchor
drinking the healths of their friends and protegees,
while the guns of the Anthropophagus were blow-
ing them to atoms. The attendant spirit observed
he was sorry to distress him, but the flag of one of
the allies was known to hi.n. The latter indig-
nantly exclaimed—" This cannot be the flag of
England ; this cannot be the flag that has 'braved
a thousand years the battle and the breeze.

Ainsworth.—" Nicholas Flamel" proceeds as
usual. The " Seven Ages of Poverty and Crime"
conclude tragically. It is a dismal tale, pointing no
very distinct moral, as it is not very clear how the
wretched criminal could have been arrested in his
career of vice and misery. The present instalment
of the series of " Queer People" treats of a very
disagreeable class, the "candid friend" of famous
memory. A notice of the recent work of " FoThe
rest
Life in Ceylon" is enlivened by extracts.
" Skeleton in the House" is a similar idea to that
introduced by Thackeray in his last number of the
" Newcomes. It is not so impressive here.
" Wherein was Wellington great ?" is a question
which it israther late to ask, but the writer answers
it satisfactorily. The romantic tale of " Hereward
of Brunne" is continued. There are two entertain-
ing papers on " German Popular Literature," and
46 Royal Amusements in Lava." There is no poetry
this month.

Cricikshank's.—As brilliant as the first num-
ber of this new favourite led us to hope
it would be—is its continuation. February
does not, of course, bring us _ another glo-
rious comet like that of January as a frontis-
piece. But it spreads out before us a wonderful
folding illustration by our immortal George—a
marvel of fun, what the Adelphi play-bills would
call "a regular screamer"—entitled " Elephantine
Performances." Fancy an elephant-beadle ! and
an elephant-clown ! and an elephant-harlequin !
and a Scotch reel of elephants ! and an elephant-
tight-rope dancer ! and an elephant-manager bow-
ing before the ,footlights !—all pencilled by the
hand of George Cruikshank. Fancy—besides
this another folding illustration (a grand
political squib fired off by the same arch-
incendiary, one who would long since have
set the Thames on fire if its waters had been
capable of ignition, the Spring of Caricaturists), a
plate portraying the European plenipotentiaries
" Trying to Cure a Bear of a Sore Head "
one with British sticking-plaster ! another
with Plaster of Paris ! another with Prus-
sian Plaster ! another with Austrian salve
Baron Brunow in the background telling