The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-13 00:00:00

LIT

The Art-Journal.—The three plates in this num-
ber are " Job and his Friends," " The Summer
Gift," and " Morton, the Dramatist." The first of
these is from a picture by P. F. Poole, which ap-
peared in the exhibition of the Royal Academy in
1850. It is justly observed in the accompanying
remarks, that there is an originality of subject and
treatment in Mr. Poole's later works which must
strike all, and that he is one of the few painters
who break up untrodden ground. All who remem-
ber his beautiful picture of the "Troubadour Sing-
ing by Moonlight," in the exhibition of this year,
will not dispute these praises. The second plate is
from one of Lance's exquisite fruit-pieces in the
Vernon Gallery; and the third, also from the Ver-
non Gallery, is a portrait of the author of " Speed
the Plough," &c. Much entertainment may be
derived from the prose contents. Many of the
articles possess the attraction of illustrative wood-
cuts.

The Journal of Psychological Medicine and
Mental Pathology.—There are several articles of
interest in this number, referring principally to the
subject of mental diseases. It is most probable that
the " Recent Trials in Lunacy" will engage the at-
tention of the reader, as the case of Mrs. Brough
is discussed in detail, and the reasons are fully given
for her being supposed insane. The trial of the
Duchess of Manchester is also reported, which ex-
cited attention at the time it took place. There is
an article on " Non-Mechanical Restraint in the
Treatment of the Insane," in which the various
opinions of several coriapetent persons are given,
which are divided into classes—" Those who are for
a Qualified Use," and " Those who are for a Total
Abolition, &c." The majority appears in favour of
a qualified use of restraint. A very favourable
opinion is expressed upon Dr. Noble's "Lectures
on the co-Relation of Psychology and Physiology."
" Artistic Anatomy" contains some interesting re-
marks made on the subject of a work of Dr. Knox's
for the use of sculptors, painters, and amateurs. It
is observed that this work in question will be of
great service to the young artist, if he attend to
the practical details in the Manual ; but that there
are exaggerations and delusive ideas to be found in
it which will only hinder his progress instead of
accelerating it. In commenting upon the necessity
of exertion and study, it is said—" If the marble,
from its shapeless block, is to be chiselled into a
symmetrical, graceful, almost breathing statue, such
as might, like the fabled Pygmalion, descend from
her enchanted pedestal—if the blank and naked
canvass is to be made to glow with a living picture,
the visible impression of all that can be imagined,
beautiful in earth or sublime in Heaven—the
master hand that brings into palpable existence such
wondrous conceptions must know even mechanically
how to deal with the details. There is no Promethean
spark lying hidden in the unmodelled clay, waiting
to leap into life at the sculptor's touch ; there is no
magic power concealed, charm-like, in the pa-
lette upon which the poor artist must make up and
blend his colours, which are, of themselves, of the
earth, earthy; he must toil, toil, toil. No men
ever laboured harder in their vocation than the
great artists of antiquity."

The Journal of Agriculture, and the Transac
tions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of
Scotland.—" Peasant Life at Home and Abroad"
sets forward the grievances and defects of the social
condition of the rural population. It is observed
that, although the population of these islands has
doubled, the rural portion of it has been stationary,
and of late years has even declined. It is a fact
worthy of notice, that a far greater proportion of
emigrants has proceeded from the rural districts
than from any other. It is observed here, that in
all countries and times the best soldiers were to be
found among the peasants. Some years ago, when
thousands of operatives were out of work, hardly
one could be induced to enlist. It has been ascer-
tained, also, that, although more sharp-witted, the
town recruits do not turn out such good sol-
diers as those from the country. After some re-
marks on the advisability of the cottar system being
more generally established, an account is given
of the modes adopted abroad. This is very
interesting, as thereby the reader obtains a
great deal of knowledge of the subject in a
small compass, and can thus form an idea of the
merits and demerits of each peculiar style in the
different nations brought under notice. " Parlia-
mentary Reports on Road and Land Drainage"
conveys the result of the minutes relating to agri-
culture which have been forwarded to the Blue
Books. In the " Rural Economy of Scotland,"
Mr. Lavergne's work on the subject is spoken of ;
a favourable opinion of it is recorded. Mr. Lavergne
wisely remarks, in conclusion, that it would be very
undesirable to give up the preservation of hunting
grounds in Scotland. He argues that it is not the
same as when landlords have rich expanses of soil un-
cultivated in England. In the Highlands of Scotland
it could not make much difference in the loss. " A
few thousand sheep more or less would not add much
to the nation's good ; and thereby one would lose
the last refuge of savage nature in Great Britain."
" Tonjours de Mouton " is very monotonous ; it
would be a pity if the mania spread. To strip rural
life of all poetry, is not this going too far in behalf
even of cultivation ; and ought not people to dread
destroying the principal charm which draws the
rich from the cities ? " The Steam Engine : its
Application to Agriculture," is treated of at some
.ength, and it is illustrated by several diagrams.

Ths British Quarterly.—The readers of this
quarterly will be at once attracted by the chief
article in this number. It is on " Tasso: his Life and
Writings." It is written in a vigorous and brilliant
style, and traces the history of the poet, that ro-
mance of real life, through the vicissitudes of his
career. From his early passion for study, constantly
discouraged by the misfortunes produced by his
father's rashness—his forced pursuit of the law—
his sojourn 'at the court of Este, his devotion to
Leonora, that hapless affection which occasioned
all the miseries of his life; the terrible accusation of
madness, his hasty flight; his imprudent return,
the deprivation of his papers, his second flight, his
second return, his indignant remonstrances, the
terrible imprisonment as a madman, the imprison-
ment that lasted seven years, the tardy release, the
delays, deceits, and disappointments that attended
the publication of his works, the neglect and po-
verty of the poet whose poems filled the laud with
admiration to the change of fortune that came too
late, the pension, the honours, and the crown of
laurel that wreathed the brow of a corpse, where
shall we find a story so full of mournful and thril-
ling interest, a story which has occupied the pens
of poets and romancists, but remains to have jus-
tice rendered it ? It is remarked, in speaking of
Tasso's writings in his cell—" If John Bunyan
managed to write his immortal work in a parish
prison, it was not without the consolation of being
a martyr. If Raleigh, in a small chamber in the
Tower, reviewed all the great actions of the world
and wrote its history, he was not treated by his
royal mistress without the respect due to an illus-
trious prisoner. If Boothius contrived to write his
Consolations of Philosophy' in the dungeons of
Pavia, at least he was not unsupported by the sym-
pathies of an enthusiastic people. It is, however,
the peculiar merit of Tasso, that, without
any adventitious alleviation, in a cell in
which he could hardly stand upright, with the
shouts of maniacs ringing in his ears, lie succeeded
in writing lyrics equal to the best of Petrarch's,
and composing dialogues which might challenge
comparison with those of Plato." Although the
memoir is the longest article in the present number,
there are many subjects of interest considered.
One of these is " The Fine Arts in the Crystal
Palace," which commences with a brief comparison
and summary of the different styles of ancient art—
the Egyptian, the Assyrian, the Greek, the Roman,
and the Byzantine. It is to be regretted that, At the
conclusion of this able and eloquent article, the
writer promises to give us an article on the Sabbath
next number. He is violently in opposition to the
opening of the Crystal Palace on Sunday. It is
strange that the opponents of the measure cannot
see that, by shutting out the people from places of
recreation on the Sunday, they drive them not to
church, but to the tea-gardens and the ale-houses.
If the Crystal Palace were open free on Sunday,
none of those who go to church and keep the day
religiously at present would go. It would be con-
sidered vulgar, no doubt; for the classes that would
frequent it would be the workmen and labourersil,
who now, when released from their week's to
If
have no resource but drinking
and quarrelling._
Sunday', there
the sale of drink was prohibited on
would be every advantage by the removal of e
interest of
temp-
tation which everywhere else it ise tli
A paper on
some one to oiler and encoura
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Swift is given, and is very
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whose life as a man as we
is not the only one of the Eng ish humorists to
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and has attracted attention.
Espartero, treat of the
hester and St. Peters -
that occupy public atten-
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Two
author
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papersa c k e real
and on Spain
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" Social
" Agriculture in Old. Time," will
of attraction
tion at present, and two articles on
Ethics," and
L 1 interest the general reader.