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

LITBRATUBE.

THE MAGAZINES.
Blackwood.—Professor Johnston indulges the
readers of Maga, this month, with a seconthinstal-
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-
mistry 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
11S, 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-
ing Napoleon." Everywhere, for the last half-year,
have we been haunted by that grim spectre of the
artist lying stark deadbefore the easel sustaining the
commencement of hiS last historical composition.
The reviewer in Blackwood enters upon the some-
*lst 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
examined "Haydon's Autobiography" in the pageklif
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
notice on account of the celebrity of the editorial
accoucheur, or the former reputation of the
party to whom they more particularly refer."
Illustrations 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
Holland's Reminiscences." Nay, observes Maga
--"even in the domain of poetry, fustian has been
iniataken 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 al 11 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." " From henceforth," he
exclaims in conclusion, " From henceforth our
glove is perpetually in the ring against all comers,
as champion a l'outrance 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-
perties" is -evidently the utterance of one not less
refined 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
first describes a stormy scene at Mr. Wilmslow's
house, at which a partie carree, consisting of Lord
Rookbury, Mr. and Mrs. Wilmslow, and Bernard
Cartyon, 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 I" 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 taking 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
dog, 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
on 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. The poetical contribu-
tions consist of a sonnet to the cypress, and some
agreeable verses called " Pleasant Days."

CoUntrres New Monthly.—Col burn'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 sup&or 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
his son, a little boy of five, suffered him to set
himself 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
/nay be, and there doubtless are, exceptions of
great cruelty and crime, but certainly a refinement
of barbarity, to which a rapid murder would seem
trifling, 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-
West Passage." "Chronicles of a Country Town"
are continued, and all we can say in pity for the
misfortunes and domestic misery of its hero is, that
if sincere and sensible men are so easily deceived
and imposed on by heartless and designing women,
they deserve to suffer for it. We miss from the
Poetical pages this month the pleasing verses of
d • E. Carpenter, and the talented and melodious
*les of N. Michell.

Ainsivorth's.—The lovers of the marvellous may
Jere find much to please them in the romantic and
awful stories presented to their notice. "Is he a
poctor ?" is• an exception to the usual style ; it i s
merely amusing. A young gentleman introduces
Litaself into the house under pretence of being a
doctor, and played his part exceedingly well.
l'rancoise de Foix" contains some serious reflec-
tions on the wretched fate of that young and lovely
7 (3)nall. She was singularly unfortunate. De-
ceived into believing that her husband wished for
her iu Paris, upon hastening thither he treated her
with
her coldness and harshness, which, by arousing
yride,
hurried on her ruin. " A Dark Re-
1,
irnscence of my First Curacy," is a most painful
; t contains the adventures of a man for
a,."1 no interest can be felt. He entered all
"'" of bad company, then enlisted, twice de-