The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-06 00:00:00

LITER AT URE.

Racktvood.—Although Maga is, this month,
more than ever political, and, therefore, consider-
mg the war and the consequent crisis, more than
Usually attractive, we can scarcely examine its
contents for April with any degree of unalloyed
pleasure or equanimity. We cannot turn over a
Page of it without thinking, painfully, because so
l'e,gretfully of the disappearance of that giant-spirit
Who was so long the glory of the chief of the ma-
gazines. The death of Professor Wilson will sadden
the hearts of the readers of Blackwood, readers
Who are to he numbered by thousands upon thou-
sands. They have not so soon forgotten the wit,
andi the eloquence, and the poetic enthusiasm, and
t
exquisite taste, and the sweet and wise philoso-
ty by which the golden pages of the N octes m-
osiance, were from the first to the last distin-
guished. Peace to the large heart, and the warm
!land, and the ample intellect from which mod, rn
Literature has received so many, and some of them
such priceless, benefactions. Peace to the manes of the
royal dead-Lto the solemn but gentle shade of King
Christopher
Turning our attention for a moment, perforce,
to the contents of the April number of Blackwood
We Would here at least constrain ourselves to glance
cutsorily over the nature of the eight contributions.
rour of these are political—each with its peculiar
excellence. "The Commercial Results of a War with
Russia"—penned, we cannot but conjecture, by
the hand of the European Annalist—impresses the
mind with a sense of the vast importance of the
great struggle upon which England, in union with
ranee' has just adventured. "The Reform Bills
of 1852 and 1554," interesting to the electors at
any other time, will be regarded as somewhat un-
attractive just now in the presence of events of such
Wonderfully larger importance. " The Blue Books
and the Eastern Question" is a paper penned by one
manifestly -in no way deterred from pottering over
those " Azure tomes," the examination of which
Was deprecated at the opening of the session by the
First Lord of the Admiralty. "Time Cost of the
Coalition Ministry," mot eover, is no other than au
analysis of the Secret and Confidential Correspon-
dence. A chapter on " Chronological Curi-
osities," is nothing else than a fine arts' criti-
cism. In auo her sketch from one of Maga's
reviewers we are introduced to " The Puppets
of all Nations," and in another are carried
pleasantly through a readable outline ttf " Life in
the aahart." he charm of the number, however,
like that of its four predecessors, is the fifth instal-
inent of " The Quiet Heart," as charming a tale as
Was ever penned by the hand of a Scottish romancist.
But close we the number with a sigh for the
memory of dear old Christopher North—the sage
of the octes, the Poet of the Isle of Palms, the
„.critio, the minstrel, the genial, the wise, the stal-
wart and gentle King Christopher !

Strategic Map of the Baltic. Gover. 1854.—A
conveniently arranged pocket map of the character
indicated has withiu the last few days been
published—a strategic map of the shores and islands
the Baltic. In it are luc;dly marked down
all, the fortified and important places, harbours,
Seaports, naval stations, and the like notable lo-
Zt.ttiee—with the names of many of which the
English public are likely before very long to become
'lreiliarised. The chart before us, it is but
Justice to observe, has been compiled with
especial reference to the Prussian and Danish
wdnance maps' with particular regard to the
military maps used by th€ late Sir George Murray,
and not without minute attention to the guidance
Colonel Jackson's Strategic Topography.

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen, attended by the Viscountess Canning,
Lord Charles Fitzroy, arid Lieut -Colonel F. H. Sey-
4leor visited the Duchess of Gmucester yesterday after-
Loon. at. Grimm. tr,er House.
'Prince A bert lift London yesterday morning at a
perter past nine o'clock by the South Western Railway
101 l Farnborough, to inspect the proposed site presented
°Y Mr. Gibson for the Wellington College.
The Priin a was accompanied by the Earl o Derby,
the Rev. Mr. Glens and the Hon. W. P. Talbot, and
attended by the Hon. Colonel Grey, and Lieut.-Culonel
-r.ll. Seymour.
His Royal Highness returned to Buckingham Palace
0.t•2 o'clock.
The Princesses Helena and Louisa visited the Zoolo-
tieal Gardens in the Regent's Park.
The Prince Victor of Hohenlohe Langenburg arrived
at Buckingham Palace yesterday from Portsmouth.
Her Majesty had a dinner party last evening at Buck-
'ngham Palace. The company included the Duchess of
gent, Prince Victor of Hohenlohe Langenburg, the
Archbishop of Canterbury and Miss Sumner, the Duchess
of .other land, Lady Anna Maria Dawson. Baroness de
11)etli, Earl and Countess Howe, Lord George Lennox,
Viscount Enfield, Lord and L tdy Ernest Bruce, Sir
James and Lady Graham, Major-General Sir George
lowles, and the Rev. H. G. Liddell.
The Viscountess Canning has succeeded the Countess
of Desart as Lady in Waitin2 to the Queen.
The Duchess of Kent, attended by Baroness de Speth,
'/lilted the Duke and Duchess d'Autnale yesterday at
Twickenham.

The Duke of Argyll (Lord Privy Seal) gave a dinner
to the Cabinet Ministers last evening.
he Uommi-sioners for the Reduction of the National
4-'e4 held a quarterly meeting on Tues:•ay, at the official
l'e'idence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in Do wning-
ttreet. There were present the Chancellor of the Ex-
Vlequer, and the Deputy-Governor of the Bank of Eng-
-4". Sir Alexander Spearman, Secretary and Comp-
troller-General to the C ,ininissioners, attended.
)q John Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inlaud
i„evrthe, had an interview with the Chancellor of the
er yestirday.
The Judicial Commdtee of the Privy Council sat y es-
gl.4aY. The appeal from the Admiralty Court, "The
eneral Steam Navigation Company v. Maim" (part
ard) was concluded, and an anpeal, "The General
Navigat;on Company V. Waker," was co nmenced.
The lords present were the Lord Justice Knight Bruce,
air John Dodson, and Sir E Ryan.
Vf.

Thrr. Thomas Baring, M.P. has consented to be no-
41111ted for the chairmanship of the Royal National
ttitutien for the Preservation of Life from Shitiwreck,
tieh has become vacAnt by the demise of Mr. Al-
-741611 Thompson, M.P.