The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-21 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Irish Quarterly Review.—The first article
in this number is on a national subject—." The En-
dowed Schools of Ireland." It suggests several
alterations in their management, and especially
advocates a re-organisation of the Board of Com-
missioners. " The Second Era of the Historical
Society of Trinity College, Dublin" relates the
membership of several celebrities, among them
Moore, J. W. Croker, and Sheil. Two papers
on important and comprehensive subjects ar•
given—" Prisons and Prison Discipline," and
" The Dublin Hospitals." A very interesting
account of English songs and English music ad-
vocates the supremacy of the fine old English airs
over more modern favourites, and especially la-
ments, what all persons of taste must regret, the
nonsensical words to which much good music is
joined in the present day. The " Biography of John
Banim" is continued, and the number concludes
with an article on the " Reformatory Schools in
France and England."

The History of Russia. By Alphonse Rabbe, J.
Duncan, B.A. 2 vols. Ingram and Cooke.
Among the numerous works
nrkeswvinhriochshathe have appeared
st
respecting Russia and its
number will be found to refer to the present time.
None have hitherto appeared which recorded the
rise of the nation as a European power, the origin
of the different races, and its history up to the
IptreissetnrtandsalayiedTahoims
Rark
bsboup,sple Hiissttoh defi
ciency.
It of Russia,"
originally, published in the " French Historical
Library," An introductory chapter on the origin
of the Russians is contributed by the translator.
The whole of the second volume is his work, which
thus renders the history complete, bringing it
down to the close of the Hungarian war. Both
the authors have written with conciseness and im-
partiality ; and as, notwithstanding the curiosity
with which that country has been regarded during
the last eighteen months, comparatively little is
generally known of its real history these volumes
will be found useful and interesting' They possess
numerous illustrations of the chief towns, forts,
&c., and two maps of the Russian. dominions' .

_Robespierre : a Tragedy. By Henry Bliss. B.
Kimptan.

It is a somewhat adventurous attempt to write a
tragedy, and a still more daring exploit to write a
tragedy in rhyme. The author appears to be con-
vinced of this, for he observes, in. a letter to his
friend Mr. eile, the author of "Philip the
Second," that he fears that they are the only ones
" to whom the fitness of such verse for such sub-
jects is apparent." In his opinion, however, its
superiority is proved " in marking the termination
of lines, in distinguishing their rhythm and em-
phasis, in giving principal ideas a strong relief, and
in admitting and enforcing those elliptical and
antithetical modes of expression which are con-
genial to brevity of diction, to energy of thought
and passion, and to the genius of our language.".
He further remarks that if it is less suitable for
acting, in the present decadence of the drama the
perusal of plays is becoming more general, and for
that it is well calculated. It is, however, very ill
calculated for reading aloud. Fancy such lines as
the following, where the introduction of the names
being out of the question the hearers would cer-
tainly be bewildered :

Aro not your names now noted in his book,
With mine and many more, to slaughter due ?

" ROBESPIE BRE.

'Tis false !

" BIRRERE.

Peace !
"ROBESPIERRE.
Hear me.
" BARRERE.

In yoar turn.
"D'ANGLAS.

'Tie true !

" BARBERE.

Hear D'Anglaa !

" DEPUTIES.
D'Anglas !

"D'ANQLAS.
Notes he lost were found,
And names, this morning, blown as blight around.
We doubt very much if the present attempt will
change the general opinion on this point. Doubt-
less it has interfered with the success of the tragedy
before us, which has at least the merit of a striking
scene, events of universal interest, and for dramatis
personce the well-known names of Robespierre, St.
Just, Couthon, Tallien, and their companions.

The Fall of the Crimea. By Captain Spencer.
Routledge.

This volume is from the pen of an author whose
recent work of travels in " Turkey, Russia, the
Black Sea, and Circassia," is favourably known to
the public. It is not a new work, having appeared
some time since under a different title, and it does
not refer to the present position of affairs, being ra-
ther of an historical character. The following ac-
count of it is from the preface :—" Having been
solicited by our publishers to write a history of the
war between the Russians and the Tatars, more
especially of that eventful period when Catherine
11. obtained possession of the Crimea, we found we
could not do better than re-issue a work which ap-
peared some• years ago, under the title of ' The
Prophet of the Caucasus,' embodying, as it dees,
all the reliable information that could be obtained
from the writings of contemporary historians. The
work was then very favourably received by the
public press, and extensively read, which, we trust,
may be again its fate in its present revised, and,
we hope, improved form ; it was translated into
the Turkish and several European languages, and
dramatised both in England and on the Continent."
The author subsequently imorms us that it was
written shortly after an extensive tour in the Cri-
mea and Steppes of Southern Russia, some parts of
which are still inhabited by scattered remnants of
the Tatar race. It will be seen, from the fact of
its having been dramatised, that it possesses some
of the attractions of romance, an idea which will
be strengthened by the frontispiece, a portrait of
" lanthe," a lady whose adventures occupy a por-
tion of the narrative. There are numerous other
illustrations, and the volume will afford much en-
tertainment to the general reader.

The Fossil Spirit : a Boy's Dream of Geology. By

J. Mill, M.D. Darton and Co.

This little work is published with a highly laud-
able motive, namely, to interest the young in
the pursuit of scientific knowledge. This is
especially desirable in the instance of Geology,
which most young people look on as hope-
lessly dry and unattractive. The present work
hardly attempts to teach the rudiments, its great
object being to awaken curiosity, and a desire for
further study in the reader's mind. In
this it is successful ; for certainly the account
given of some of the wonderful discoveries recently
made, and the skilful introduction of a study
al ways more interesting to boys, that of
Natural History, will be likely to lead to
a further pursuit of so wonderful a science. A.
vocabulary of the geological terms is introduced at
the conclusion, and the pupil is recommended to
study the works of Professor Ansted, which are
now easily obtained in " Orr's Circle of the Sciences."
Those who wish to excite an interest in the mind
of the student will find this little work a valu-
able assistant in attaining this great object, which
is often the chief difficulty in the way of the
instructor.

Tours in Ulster.