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

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 4, 1854.

MAGAZINES FOR THE MONTH.

exactly concur in their opinions, but that it was
thought best to give them without further com-
ment, leaving the reader to draw his own conclu-
sions from the facts mentioned. " Adventures of a
First Season" are continued, but the heroine is not
likely to meet with much commiseration for her
misfortunes, owing to her forwardness and singular
conduct. " Arthur Arden," the medical student,
is also proceeded with, and does not introduce us
to very attractive acquaintances. " Random Re-
collections of Campaigns under the Duke of Wel-
lington" are concluded for the present. Grace
Greenwood gives another instalment of her " Tour
in Europe," in which she visits Ireland, and relates
some amusing anecdotes. Another of Mrs. Moodie's
impressive tales respecting "Practical Jokes" is
likely to restrain those mischievous persons who
delight in such cruel sport, by showing the danger
they incur to themselves. They have not sufficient
consideration for the feelings of others to make
their sufferings a threat, but perhaps self-preserva-
tion may be a check. " Aspen. Court" proceeds
this month, but does not forward the development
of the plot much. The poetical contributions con-
sist of some curious verses, entitled " The Watchet
Pitcher," and a sonnet to the memory of the late
lamented Justice Talfourd.

Fraser.—There are some interesting subjects
among the articles in this number. One of these
is the electric telegraph. An account is given of
the earliest discoveries and of the progressive im-
provements that have taken place. A description
is added of the entire apparatus, and of the method
of working it. It is asserted that " the full benefit
of telegraphic communication will not be attained
until arrangements shall have been made which
will enable a message, as delivered at the telegra-
phic office, to be passed through the instrument
without the necessity of its being translated into
signals by an operator." It is manifest that this
must be a loss of time, which, no doubt, some fresh
invention or discovery will obviate. "A Day at
Marathon" presents the reader with a short sketch
of the scenery and bandits of that renowned region.
A paper on Glaciers gives a considerable amount
of information on a subject which is certainly very
little studied. Some curious facts with respect to
glaciers are mentioned. " General Bounce" is
continued, in two chapters. A paper entitled
" Old Stores" contains notices of several works
which have appeared during the past year. Among
them are " Lord Holland's Memoirs of the Whig
Party," " Moore's Diary," and Knight's " Once
upon a Time." The series of articles called "Gallina-
cana" is not proceeded with. The number opens with
a memoir of Mr. Maurice, whose removalfrom King's
College lately excited so much attention. There
is a fourth instalment of " The Decline and Fall of
the Corporation of London," and a second of the
criticism on " Ruskin's Stones of Venice." Papers
on " International Law" and " The Reform Bill"
conclude the number.

Ainsworth.—Aing worth's Magazine commences
with Nicholas Flamel, which has reached the thirty-
first chapter, but does not appear to approach a
conclusion. A notice of Lady C. S. Wortley's re-
cent volume on Portugal and Madeira follows it.
Another tale of the Reign of Terror, that favourite
field for romancists, has recently commenced. A
Village Tale and Hereward of Brunne are both
continued. The usual tales are varied by an ac-
count of au emigrant ship, the incidents of a sea
voyage, and a glimpse at the old age of Camden,
the historian.

Dublin, University.—The first article is entitled
" The War," and is a very well-written and intel-
ligent paper. It presents us with some startling
facts, and shows forth some occurrences which have
been kept in the back ground hitherto. It is re-
marked at the conclusion that " Russia is more to
be feared for her policy than for her arms ;" that
the present war is to set the courts and people of all
Europe at variance with each other, and then make
them play into her hands. It is further urged that
all private or personal motives of mistrust and
jealousy should give way to the public exigencies,
and that now England should place all the great
minds she contains in the van of the battle. The
following passage affords a fair idea of the tempe-
rate spirit and earnest eloquence which charac-
terise this article :

The National Miscellany has articles on several
subjects of great interest. The chief among these
is an excellent paper on the weekly periodicals. To
the thoughtful and reflecting the number and cir-
culation of those which are worse than rubbish is,
indeed, an awful consideration. It is especially so
when we consider that it is impossible to calculate
their evil results, for we cannot judge of the effects
they produce upon minds whose only reading they
are, and whose reasoning powers have never been
cultivated. Who can tell the injury done by such
works as " Paul the Poacher" or " George Bar-
rington, the Gentleman Pickpocket," in which,
doubtless, felons and criminals are represented as
heroes of courage and daring to an excited imagi-
nation and a weak principled mind. But even
worse is a publication entitled " The Reasoner and
Secular Gazette," which is here described as " a
well-organised conspiracy for the spread of infi-
delity." What a disgrace to a Christian country
that such a production should meet with sufficient
encouragement to induce it to persevere. It is,
indeed, time for the missionaries and the reformers
to begin their work here. How can morality and
order, content and honesty, be spread among our
countrymen when their progress is opposed by such
fearful barriers ? Another, though a far slighter
evil, is exposed in this periodical in a paper entitled
" Saturday Night." It justly reprehends the plan
of paying wages at a late hour on the last day of
the week. It justly satirises the universal mania
of postponing the most trivial arrangements till
that unreasonable hour. It asks in reference to
this absurd custom, "If people aro in the dark,
why must they wait till hapless Saturday night to
purchase a penny box of Punch's Congreves ?" The
first part of " Medieval London" extends from the
conquest to the reign of Edward the First. Among
other subjects of interest in this number we may
mention, " The Labour Parliament," and " Sea
Life and Literature."

" We would say to our countrymen—Do not let past
error on the part of our statesmen irritate us into for-
getfulness of the national interests. We do net wish
to see any entire change of Ministry. Let the Cabinet
be remodelled—or remodel itself. Clarendon is a mere
echo, and therefore not much to be minded ; but we
cannot see how the Premier can remain in office, with-
out perilling that mainstay of all Governments—the '
confidence of the people. Let the Premier come out,
therefore ; and if there be any other " Russians" in
the camp, whether leaders or subalterns, let them come
out also. We roust, as the first necessity of our posi-
tion. have a Government possessing the confidence of
the country; and we must have one that perceives the
real nature of the contest, as on the eve of becoming
one between Absolutism and popular Government—be-
tween Russianism and civilisation. Palmerston knows
this, therefore let him be the chief. ile, moreover, is
trusted by the country—and that, at present, it is of prime
importance. We might mention Lord Stratford de Red-
cliffe as a suitable ally for such a Premier, and equally
well known for his anti-Russian sentiments—to super-
sede Clarendon in the Foreign-office. We are not de-
sirous of changes—we wish to avoid them ; nevertheless,
in war, the financial management of a country is every
whit as important as the actual guidance of its armies ;
and to our other proposed changes, therefore, we must
add the prescient Disraeli, vice the short-sighted and in-
competent Gladstone."
" A Third Visit to the Dramatic Gallery of the Gar-
rick Club" concludes this interesting subject. The
remarks here made have contributed materially to
increase the meagre amount of information pos-
sessed by many on histrionic topics. " Life and
Adventures of an Opium Eater" enters in some
degree into the nature of that remarkable produc-
tion, which it is truly observed by the reviewer
cannot be classed in the usual category of
publications. " A Fresh Start in the Gold
Fields of Discovery" possesses, in an eminent
degree, the charm of novelty. After several hints
on the why and wherefore of the plans proposed,
it is mentioned that the outfit is not costly or diffi-
cult to procure. The adventurer must take a
pickaxe in the shape of a sharp appetite for what is
out of the way. The shovel of perseverance is
requisite, and likewise the sieve of discrimination.
Let him not forget the banner of truth and a little
of that gunpowder which is necessary to explode
inveterate prejudices. Finally, the treasures of the
deep are alluded to, as being not lost for ever,
although gone below. " From the chariots of
Egypt, heaped under the Red. Sea, to the literary
proceeds of Sir Stamford Baffles, at the bottom of
the Eastern Straits, all ages have contributed to
enrich the shell caves of the unrefunding deep.
The sea may one day be obliged to pay its debts ;
at all events, whatever has been lodged in that
vast receptacle of a nature to resist the action of
water is there still safe and sound." These ideas,
incongruous as many will call them, are at any
rate amusing to dwell upon, and may perchance
lead to a useful discovery of some sort, in whatever
element chance directs. Several other subjects of
interest are met with in this month's number, but
doubtless its readers will miss " Sir Jasper Carew,"
which is omitted for some:unexplained. reason.

The GeWlem,an's Mayazin,; ani Historical,
view.—" The History of the Protestant Refugees
in France' is the first subject that occupies the
attention in this number. It contains a brief sum-
mary of the frightful sufferings and privations that
the unfortunate victims of intolerance had to
endure. " Traits of the Czars" is by far the most
interesting of the articles before us. It goes back
to the origin and foundation of the feuds and strifes
between Russia and Turkey. It commences by
stating that it is exactly a thousand years since
Runic, the Scandinavian chief, assisted by a pirati-
cal force, invaded the eastern shores of the Baltic.
After an epitome of the Emperors who ruled for
centuries, we come to an important account of
Peter the Great. An anecdote is mentioned worthy
of notice concerning an ancestor of Count Orloff.
A number of Strelitzes were condemned to death
for having espoused the cause of an enemy of the
Emperor. They were called to the block in
succession. When the turn of Orel came, " lie
boldly advanced, and.as the heads of his comrades
impeded the way to the block, he put them aside
with his feet, saying, Make room, comrades, lam
coming to join you.' " Peter, struck with admira-
tion of his courage and boldness, saved his life, and,
ennobling his name, conferred on him the dignity now
worn by,,,his descendant, Count Orloff. In a subse-
quent portion of this essay an account is given of
the expedition of the Czar Peter to Turkey, the
unfortunate results of which to himself and army
are well known ; and a hope is expressed that they
may yet be envied by his imitator, Nicholas. The
Czarina Catherine was a most extraordinary woman.
She was raised from a low rank to be the Empress
of all the Russias, and certainly courage and
constancy in dangers entitled her to hold a
high place. " She could neither read nor write,
but she had as much sense of the strong, common
sort as half-a-hundred princesses who could do
both." After perusing details of these singular
occurrences and remarkable persons, one is inclined
to coincide with the truth of the expression here
met with—" So strange are all things in the land
of the Czars."

- -
Colburn's United Service.—" A Ramble in the
Islands of the /Egean " is likely to be very accept-
able at the present time. We are informed that
" this article is not what it appears, a mere page
of ancient history and manners, but it is a careful
parallel between the ancient and modern Greeks,
and a closely reasoned examination of their character
and pretensions." After an analysis of the rival
claims set forth by Greeks and Turks, the decision
of the writer is in favour of the latter. His views
and opinions may be gathered from the subjoined
passage, in which he ably sums up the question :--
" No matter what may be the faults of a nation or of
an individual ; if they have an earnest desire for know-
ledge, they will at length find truth, and be corrected.
Europe cannot now assist the Greeks. Every states-
man has in turn abandoned their slippery cause—no
person can hear their pretensions mentioned with pa-
tience ; and let ' Demotes' say what he will, it is im-
possible, for the present, to change our opinion of them.
Had they been plain-dealing men instead of intriguers,
honest instead of dishonest, united instead of factious,
true men instead of false, they would long since have
been restored by the general voice and power of Europe
to the place of a great and free people. The cross would
have again glittered on the dome of St. Sophia, and the
flag of a Christian power would have been once more
whispering to the gales cf the Bosphorus, and floating
from the towers of beautiful Constantinople.
"As it is, if restored, they might be worse than the
Turks. Let us still hope, however, in the Greeks ; ear-
nestly hope in their patience and native wit, in their
marvellous talents and perseverance; but let us leave
time to correct them ; and let us beware of them !"
" The Siege of Syracuse" is concluded, and a great
deal of useful information is derived from its per-
usal. It is interesting to notice how it appears to
strike the mind of a traveller to contemplate the
scenes of any past celebrity. Time has not greatly
changed the place since the Athenians were there.
Some lines appear at the end in which the Athenians
lament their downfall, and the decadence of
" The fortune of those mighty deeds
By which th' Hellenic race of yore,
Victorious o'er th' invading Medes,
Their name to Glory's summit bore !"

Colburn's New Monthly 31agaz ine.—The most
conspicuous feature in Colburn'sis the re-appear-
ance, after so long an interval, of Mr. Harrison
Ainsworth's story of " The Flitch of Bacon ; or,
The Custom of Dunmow." The fifth part com-
mences, of which four chapters are given. It is to be
hoped that the readers retain a distinct recollection
of the relative positions of the different characters,
for some very important discoveries. and elucida-
tions take place. It is told. in the author's usual
entertaining style, and in his liveliest. manner, and
its readers will be glad to welcome it once more in
the pages of the New Monthly. A paper on the
late Justice Talfourd gives some recollections of
him by one with whom. he was personally ac-
quainted. At the close it is. observed, in refer-
ence to the frequent disappomtment of the ad-
mirers of well-known names, " Death has sealed
his high character. He has departed, having kept
up his reputation to the last. He cannot change
now, fall off, or forfeit our esteem. He cannot
cause a retractation of our opinions, lessen our
regard for his memory, or exhibit unkindly feeling,
so different to his former nature : action with him
is no more." It is, indeed, of few that it can be
said that they have preserved their fame without
wavering, or the esteem of others without a check.
No. XVIII. of " Literary Leaflets" recounts the
writings and characteristics of Isaac Taylor. At
the present season, when everything approaching
or relating to Russia or Turkey excites attention,
" A fortnight in Finland" will possess attractions.
An interesting treatise on " Art Prospects in Eng-
land" laments the little interest or knowledge on
the subject in this country. " The Cardinal's
Levee, and Midnight Mass in St. Peter's" is a
slight sketch of Italian customs. Of course, an
article on the war with Russia is among the con-
tents. The only poetical contribution is a song on
the same subject by J. E. Carpenter.

Bentley.—There are several articles on the great
topic of the day in this number ; for instance,
‘,‘ The War and its Policy," " A Future for Tur-
key," " The Baltic Fleet," and " Omer Pasha."
A note informs us that these several papers do not