The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-02 00:00:00

VIII.

" In peasant guise my love I won,
Nor knew she whom she wedded ;
In peasant cot our truth we tried,
And no disunion dreaded.
Twelve months' assurance proves our faith
On firmest base is steadied."

Joy reigned within those Convent walls
When the glad news was known ;
Joy reigned within Fitzwalter's halls
When there his bride was shown.
No lady in the land such sweet
Simplicity could own ;
A natural grace had she, that all
Art's graces far outshone :
Beauty and worth for want of birth
Abundantly atone.

V.EINVOY.
Hence the Custom.
What need of more ? That Loving Pair
Lived long and truly so ;
Nor ever disunited were ;
For one death laid them low
And hence arose that Custom old—
The Custom of Dunmow. .
Assuredly never before did the dear old legend of
the Dunmow Flitch receive so likely or so charming
an elucidation. Another song is sung in the course
of the story—this time by one of the new characters,
Jack Juddock. It is a song about "My Old Com-
plaint "—sung by a right good wine-bibber--giving
a history of the cause and the cure of this "Old
Complaint "—the cause being thirst, and the cure,
we fear, intoxication I It is a capital bacchanalian.
We have reason now to, congratulate the readers of
the New Monthly, not only upon the return to
them of Mr. Ainsworth in his capacity as a " Story-
Teller," but also upon his beginning once more for
their pleasure, to interlard his romance with ballads
like those which some time hack imparted so much
zest to " Crichton" and to " Rookwood." Nume-
rous articles of a very diversified character, impart
the charm of variety to the number of the magazine
for February. By-the-7oye, there is among them
one most surpiising, and astounding, and porten-
tous, and preternatural, quite as surprising, as-
tounding, portentous, and preternatural as even.
Madame de Sevigne's grand news about the mar-
riage of the Great Madmnoiselle ! The contribution
is entitled " A Word to England !" A word-
-what about ? Can the French be coming Is
the Emperor Napoleon 111. about to descend upon
our shores ? Are we all going to be swallowed up by
an earthquake ? No ; it is only another rattle of the
bones by some dear old Pell of Exeter-hall. Eng-
land is doomed, or rather, no, the writer says
England is threatened, with a very different kind
of conquest and subjugation. It is a lifting
up again of the " raw head and bloody bones "
hobgoblin of—Popery. They were trying to
frighten us the other da.y about Boney. The trick
howbeit failed. Even in the night of our ignor-
ance we saw shining through the ghost—moon-
shine. Now the country is about, it would seem,
to be horrified into convulsions by a new set of
alarmists. Well—in truth—if all that is said by
the writer of this article in the New Monthly be
accurate, Father Ignatius may rub his hands with
self-confident satisfaction--there can be no escape
from a religious conspi racy so gigantic and in-
domitable.

Ainsworth.—Several familiar names are still
in the list of the contributors to Ainsworth's
Magazine—for among them we find Mrs. Edward
Thomas, writing in poetry about the " Ship-
wrecked," and in prose about the "Two Christ-
mas Eves ;" we find Margaret Casson giving us,
in the shape of a story, some more small, decidely
small " Change ;" we find Julia Addison continu-
ing her tale about " Florence Hamilton;" and.
Nicholas Michell descrying the " Public Amuse-
ments of the Greeks and Romans." This month,
between them, the writers in Ainsworth give us
altogether thirteen contributions. From a charm-
ing poetic meditation by E. E. M. K., entitled.
"An Autumn Reveries" we must extract its elo-
quent and pensive conclusion

" Oh ! wondrous issue of so weird a way !
Sad was my soul when. first this rugged song
Born of thy gloom, oh snd—sad Autumn day !
Rose in rude chaunt from my untutored tongue.
Sad was my soul—though with such softened woe
As, tells of sympathy, grief's lealest friend.
Such as affliction's weary children know,
Whom kindred spirits in sweet pity tend.
Sad was my soul—for gaming on the earth,
Strewn with the plum age of Time's hastening wings.
The sleeping echoes of rogret took birth
Afre3h—and murmured of departed things.
The red-bright lerves that drifted at my feet,
So ripe with news of Nature's green decay,
Stirred the still ghosts in. memory's hushed retreat,
And set me weeping with the Autumn day.
The stricken flowers, too, smiling 'mid the strife,
(As holy thoughts oft wrestle with despair),
Looked like those Angels who in early life
Trod this cold world with me, and made it fair.
The change—the chill—the breathless awe around ' •
The spectral woods—the earth so wan and dumb
In her great fear—the glades without a sound
Of life, save from the sobbing lips of some
Poor stream whose banks the blue-bells once had nestled

round ;
These with their mute, mysterious language, spoke
Of sympathy to my o'erswelling heart.
I was alone no more ! .My voice then awoke
To bless thee, Autumn, joyless as thou art !
Then ope'd tho storm like some most precious book,
With wond'rous words to soothe my spirit's woe ;
In every phase I solemn comfort took,
And paused to hear th' orchestral'anthem flow.
Grand were those dirges round the dead earth's bier,
O'er which the ashen clouds so pall-like hung,
Sweeter mothought that death-hymn of the year,
Than•songs of jubilee in spring-time sung.
For, alt ! when leaves put on their green array,
Where are our sympathies ?—heart—ansWers, Where ?
Since life is ever like an Autumu day,

Strewn with dead blooms—dead joys that once were
fair—

Sad was my soul till yonder ray's caress—
So Mars's waters 'mid tho pilgrim land,
Touched by the " rod," forgot their bitterness,
And flowed in honey e'er the desert sand.
Sad was my soul, but now 'mid yonder light
sing with thee, gird minstrel of the sphere !
Sweet is thy summons—wise thine upward flight,
With wings for glory, who should linger here ?"
There are among the other papers, not yet men-
tioned, further continuations of " The Confede-
rates" by the author of " Nicholaq Prole'," and
of " Nicholas Flarael" by the author of " The
Confederates."

The Dublin University Magazine.—ln " Heroes
Ancient and Modern," the subjects chosen for this
month are Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte.
A most diligent comparison is instituted concern-
ing their respective achievements, and a general
epitome of their various chefs d'ceuvres presented.
It must be observed that the writer is devoid of
enthusiastic predilections in favour of the great
men whose careers he describes and whose charac-
ters he descants upon. If there is a difference,
however, he inclines to the side of the .Roman
Emperor. The article entitled " The Ducal
Houses of Urbino and Milan," contains a great
deal of information concerning Italy and the
various changes that have taken place in the arts.
There is only one chapter of the story of Sir
Jasper Carew, called "Circumstantial Evidence,"
which leaves off at a most critical juncture. In the
first part of this magazine, there is " Another
Night with the Mystics," which contains many
clever things. The following verses, from a " Song
of Labour," are very good :---
" If to labour on in sorrow, still renewed each coming
morrow,

Be the curse that God awarded, and our first trangression
bore ;
Labour is man's best obeying—Toil is man's just tribute
_paying. _

He tbaclaboureth still is praying, this is deep and holy
lore,
' Laborare est orare,' man doth most the Lord adore
____

When he laboureth evermore.
" Labour on, thy grief repressing, God's decree as just
confessing,
And the curse will turn a blessing, as the seer declared of
yore :
He that diligently traiueth hand and heart while life re-
maineth,
To observe what God ordaineth, shall be blessed more and
more,

In the field and in the city, and his basket and his store,
Shall be blessed evermore.

"Labour with thy spirit willing—labour with thy soul's
best feeling—
With thy whole heart do whatever finds thy hand to labour
o'er,
For thy bOdy, soul, and spirit they are God's, and all they
merit
Is, with thankful patient courage, still to labour evermore.
'Laborare est orare,' grave this legend in the core
Of thy heart for evermore."

Bentley's Miscellany.—" Aspen. Court" is the com-
mencement of this number. There are three chap-
ters, and in the last a great deal of mysticism oc-
curs. It is called " What Tenant Waited in Aspen
Court." " Seated in a chair, in an attitude of
grim jauntiness, is the pictorial death—a skeleton."
There is a chapter by Professor Creasy on the impe-
rial Four—Alexander, Ceasar, Charlemagne, and
Napoleon. A very long account is given of " the
Cobra di Capello," which will prove of great ser-
vice to those unacquainted with the nature and
peculiaritieS of the serpent. " Near and Dear
Ones, a Romance of the Pocket," is a very amusing
little sketch. A widow of reputed wealth, and a
bachelor of supposed fortune, were on the
point of contracting a marriage, when each
determined to be sure of the other's resources.
They meet at Doctor's Commons, and the
confusion that ensued may be- imagined.
Eventually it appeared that both were rich; but
the affair terminated, as it had commenced, in
nothing. There are some interesting lines on
"The old old Woman of Elton," who died on the
sth of last month, at the age of 122. Her picture
was taken, but it did not appear at the Fxhibition
as was proposed. It is strange, as here remarked,
that they did not exhibit the " oldest dame in
Britain's isle." In the last verses it is said :
" Not in vain did Mary live,
To link with these the times gone by,
And to life its duties give,
Calmly waiting here to die.
Not in vain, perchance, the cause—
To show the mighty power of God,
Who, unbound by Nature's laws,
Can reverse them with a nod,
And bid the scorner apprehend
How He could, in serener climes,
To ages human life extend,
To people earth in early times."

The Colonial and Asiatic Review.—ln the first
article, "Is India to have Railways ?" it is stated
that the construction of a railway between Madras
and Bangalore attracted attention so long ago
as the year 1832. It also mentions that for twenty
years we have been talking of railroads for India,
and the wonders they would achieve, but as yet
not one line is in working order, while in America,
in the same time, 10,000 miles have been opened,
and as many more are in course of construction.
The next subject is the electric telegraph in India.
Dr. O'Shaughnessy introduced it to that country.
The following description of its construction in that
region is interesting :--
•" The overground lines differ totally from those in
use in England and America, or -any other country in
this important respect ; no wire is used. Instead of wire
a thick iron rod, three-eighths inch diameter, weighing
one ton to the mile, is adopted—the heaviest wire else-
where used being only one cwt. to a mile. The advan-
tages of these substantial rods are these—they possess a
complete immunity from gusts of wind, or ordinary me-
chanical violence, if accidentally thrown down they are
not injured, though passengers, bullocks, buffaloes, and
elephants may trample on them ; they are not easily
broken or bent ; owing to the mass of metal, they give
so free a passage to the electric currents, that no insula-
tion is necessary; they are attached from bamboo to
bamboo, without any protection, and they work without
interruption through deluges of rain ; the thickness of
of the wire allows of their being placed on the post, with-
out any occasion for the straining and winding appara-
tus, whereas the tension of wires exposes them to frac-
ture, occasions expense in construction, and much diffi-
culty in repairs. The thick rods also admit of rusting
to take place without danger, to an extent which would
be fatal to a wire ; and, lastly, the rods are no more
costly than thin wire, and the welding occasions no diffi-
culty. The rods, moreover, are not likely to be injured
by crows or monkeys. Swarms of kites and crows
perch on the lines through swamps, but they cause no
harm—the correspondence flies through their claws with-
out interruption, though on one occasion a flash of light-
ning struck the wet rod, and killed some scores of them.
The importance of this discovery of the superiority of
rods over wire will be fully appreciated in a country like
India, where the line must often run through a howling
wilderness, tenanted by savage beasts, or more savage
men. The lines must therefore protect themselves, and
this is secured by thick rods."

There is also an article on " The Australian
Colony of Victoria ; " and a notice of a work of
M. Leon Faucher on " The Precious Metals."

The Gentleman's Magazine and _Historical Re-
view.—We here meet with " Memorials of John
Home, the author of Douglas." It is remarked
that the zeal of the Scotch in his behalf amounted
to extravagance, and the man who called out at
the theatre, on the play being applauded, " Ay,
ay, whare's ye're Willie Shakspere noo ?" only
represented the general feeling. The opinions of
several critics are given concerning the merits and
demerits of the tragedy. " The Roman Wall,"
refers to the works of iVIr. Bruce, which has recently
reached a second edition. There are several cuts
which contain very interesting subjects for examina-
tion. It appears that by excavation many inscrip-
tions have been discovered, and they are very
elaborately explained here. Two are at the station,
Bremenium, now High Rochester, and some others
at Houseteads and Bucdoswald. In the article on
" The Baroness Oberkirch and Citizen Mercier,"
a comparison is instituted between these two,
differing so widely in rank and character ; but both
were writing in their peculiar ways at the same
time. It is declared here that " the evidence of
two such opposite witnesses is worth comparing,
but the book of the lady will be ten fathoms deep in
Lethe when men will be still addressing themselves
with pleasure to the pages of Citizen Mercier." In
the diary of the Countess she gives an epitome of
the vices and follies of the Court. Mercier, on the
contrary, describes the feelings of the people of
Paris—the deep sentiments of disgust prevailing
against all in authority. It is truly observed that
in both the works the scenes and subjects are so
objects around us
fromra dlike
thee
romances every-day vrYe
-dayof a far-off land. The
remarks on " Giordano Bruno" are perhaps
that differentthey
e the
most admirable portiop of the contents. They con-
cern one of whom little certain is known in many
respects, while in others he
is famous. He is thus
introduced to our attention - • "It is as a martyr
of thought, not as the •
setter forth of any peculiar
opinions
op in philosophy, or as a man of vast, various,
and fertile genius that we would pre sent Giordano
Bruno to the veneration of true English minds. It
was the man in him whichmade the philosopher,
the p osopher,
the orator, the prophet interesting, an iron per-
tinacity of will whose onset was irresistible—an
intrepidity nothing which could daunt. These
were what seized the ear and the eye, before his
manifold mental faculties and resources came into
full play." After many vicissitudes in various
nations, in an evil hour he returned to Italy. He
was arrested, and, after six years in a dungeon,
given up to the Inquisition, his death was instantly--
decided on. "On the 17th February, with osten-
tatious pomp he was led forth to glut the greedy

1(!--rYwwv
flames, which were less cruel than the c A e-9,r( 9;;57,
priestly eyes that were gazing with fiendish •
7,5
tion on a spectacle at once so infamous
glorious. Neither priestly liate.nor torturiug4wa
could wring from him a groan, convulse his heroic
face, or, shatter his adamantine will. His spirit
passed to the Mighty Father's bosom with a saintly
calm that left its stamp on a forehead radiant with
inflexibility and with genius."

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Eclectic Review opens with an article on the
important subject of national education. Two of
the most interesting subjects are the notices of the
" Memoirs of Thomas Moore" and the "Colloquies
of Edward Osborne."—The Farmers' Magazine has
a portrait of Copenhagen, the favourite charger of
the Duke of Wellington. The " Agricultural Biogra-
phy" is continued. There is a paper on the "Effects
of the heavy rains of 1852 upon landlord and tenant
in 1853," and " The Details of an Experiment on
Raising Potatoes in the year 1852."—The first en-
graving of The Sportsman is of Irish Birdcatcher,
who was thought by many to be the fastest horse
that ever run in Ireland ; the second is entitled
" The Forester," and represents a wild boar attacked
by dogs, while one huntsman is coming forward
with his spear, and another summons assistance.
The scene is laid in Le Morvan. "My Life and
by Harry giver, is continued, and
Adventures,"
there is a variety of papers on topics of sporting in-
terest.—Newton's London Journal gives us, among
other descriptions, the recent patents of W. and A.
Smith and G. Little, for improvements in electric
telegraph apparatus, and A. Siebe, for manufactur-
ing paper. There is also a patent for preventing
smoky chimneys, which, if efficacious, must prove
of the greatest service. The Belle Assemblee,
which is now incorporated with the Ladies' Com-
panion, presents us with its usual variety of tales
and verses. The " Memoir of Madame de Grapigny,"
by the late Countess of Blessington, is continued.
The " Work Table" and " Child's Corner" occupy
their usual places.—The Church of England Maga-
zine contains several sermons and ecclesiastical and
theological articles.—The first number of The
Illustrated Magazine of Art promises well for the
future. It gives no fewer than twenty-one illustra-
tions, among which are portraits of William the
Third entering Exeter, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and
Lord William Russell. There are also engravings
of a patent express engine, and the New Houses of
Parliament. It contains descriptions or accounts
of all these subjects, and, at the low price of one
shilling, offers entertainment and information of a
superior kind.