The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-07 00:00:00

MAGAZINES, &c.—(CONTINUED.)

THE DUBLIN UNIVERSITY.
The number of this able periodical for the present
month, although containing many papers in its usuel
well-written style, does not evoke that hearty and
unqualified commendation which we have so fre-
quently been enabled to bestow on it. If, however,
the strong wing of our talented Contemporary has
appeared to flag for a moment, let us hope that it is
but a preparation for a bolder flight. " Our Spring
Crop of Novels" contains a review of " Rockingham ;
or the Younger Brother," from which some well-
written extracts are given, and which is described as
" a flower among the vernal weeds and fungi
of literature." There are also notices of
Mordaunt Hall ; or a September Night."
by the author of " Two Old Men's Tales," and of
"Lady Alice, or the New Una." "Ceylon and the
Cingalese" is continued, an I fully sustains the
interest its curious incidents and graphic observations
have hitherto excited. The most interesting paper in
the number is, however, the memoirs of one of the
greatest philanthropists of any age or country—of one
who has conferred more benefits on mankind than
any other living man—the Rev. Theobald Mathew,
the " Apostle of Temperance." The memoir is ably
and accurately written, and we fully concur in all
which has reference to the subject. We could, how-
ever, wish the writer had introduced less of the
acerbity of his political antipathies into the history of
the gentle and patriotic Mathew. This great and
good man all through his useful and laborious life
ever avoided the arena of political discord, and we
doubt if it would not pain his gentle nature to see the
name of his great countryman, now gone to his
account, placed in such disagree able contrast with his
OWO. The weed of political bitterness should have no
place in a chaplet intended to honour the benevolent
lathew, who, in the words of the author,
"Iles won at the same time the respect of the rich and
the affection of the poor."
And most sincerely do we join in the aspiration
"That his health may still be spared by Providence
to enable him to pursue his virtuous career.
" And when at some distant day he will be called to
receive the reward due to those who toil in their
apaker's service, may his example allure many to fol-
low in the footsteps of Mathew the philanthropist."
The continuation of " Irish Popular Superstitions"
is clever and amusing. " Poetry and its Substitutes :"
We most deeply sympathise with the luckless wight
Who had to wade through the " prose run mad," and
the rhyming nonsense on stilts, which form the dreary
subject of this long paper ; and we hope the reviewer
will make amends for this weary waste of time and
space by substituting in his next number something
approaching his own standard of excellence, worthy
of the magazine and the country. " Pictures in the
Dark :" we shall not " disturb the visions of the dreamer,
but leave him with his gentle " Una in the dark,"
and pass on to have a peep into " Eastern Rambles,"
which have been continued from the last number.
The rambler describes the incidents in his " Travel's
.i.r
-uistorY" with spirit and freshness. We regret our
space will not permit us to treat our readers to
a few extracts. " The Legoff Family" sustains
the fair fame of the preceding chapters. " Experiences
°f 'Union and Apprehensions of Repeal ;" this is a
political essay of great power and argument, and
ta",?ugh we do not quite agree in all the views of the
Die writer, yet he advances many sound principles
"'Pon the present melancholy state of Ireland well
Worthy the deep attention of British statesmen. Ile
av
civocates the extension of a rate for the support of
rlise poor to funded property, mortgagees, official sale-
s' &c.. Scce and we will confess we have not been
able to discover any just or sufficient reason for the
8 exemption of these classes from contributing to the
jiPPort of the poor. This number concludes with a
on but hearty tribute to the memory of Maria
Edgeworth, a name dear to Ireland, to England, and
to Literature, and as long as Truth, Genius, and Be-
nevolence hold:a place in our affections, this true-
hearted Irishwoman will not be forgotten.

THE BANKERS'.
Our talented contemporary fully sustains in the
Present
number 'the high reputation it has already
attained, As usual it abounds in information e?c-
valuableyvaluable to the banking and commercial
vin.terests, to which it is especially devoted. It opens
h a well written article on " The Unlimited
1.-114bility of Bank Shareholders," induced by Mr.
Jola eadlam's recent motion. We do not however quite
4,gree with the conclusion arrived at, that at present
the.
law may safely be left as it is." Thomas
_ ulhon continues his admirable " Letters to a Branch
411anager,, the subjects of the present paper are
(~,`larantee Bonds and Deposits of Deeds." The
n'ode of Instructions for the Guidance of the
NAcers at the Branches of a Joint-Stock Bank" are
also
continued, and many valuable hints are given to
help these gentlemen in the discharge of their
onerous and important duties. There are many
other articles on useful subjects, of which that on the
e-organization of our Savings' Bank System," is
Peculiarly worthy of notice.

THE MIRROR.
Mr. Percy St. John resumes his "Adventures of a
Tench Republican," and introduces us to the Fau-
bourg St. Germain, where we find the old nobility
Intriguing with the Republicans to upset the existing
order of things, for the purpose of bringing about a
restoration of the ancient regime of feudality and
priestcraft, an intrigue which they are still pursuing
with as great assiduity as ever. The feeling with
which these " porcelain of human society" regarded, and
still regard those whom they use as their tools (for the
Socialist outbreak in June was of Royalist concoction
and was supported with Royalist money), may be
gathered from the following conversation which took
Plane at a grand party in the Faubourg St. Germain :
" Monsieur Pierre de Gonfran !' announced the ser-
"ant.

" The two young men smiled : it was at the de as-
slimed by plain Peter Gonfran.
" The visitor was of middle age, dressed rather too
t'ehlY, with long hair, and a beard and moustache some-
What suspicious—at least so thought many of the guests.
s 'I am sure that monsieur is a citoyen,' observed a
sufficie n t
141;;: I ant sure he is a horrid Republican, replied an old
Never mind,' whispered a Jesuitical-looking indi-
N,711,41, who stood close by, these canaille will do the
:r4 ; they will overthrow the usurper, and then we
"sily crush them. All who are against him are our
."
for the while ; so I admire much the wisdom
sh e %In by the Marquis in admitting such people to his
John
Oxenford contributes a very agreeable paper
the subject of the " Mythology and Magic of Lap-
:734) and Miss Lacy continues her Lays from Shak-
The " History of Music" is continued, as
landhe "Biographical Sketches of the Kings of Eng-
tri • ' and we have, in addition, afrveral valuable con-
..butions in this, the June num her of the Mirror,
w
11101 completes the fifth volume of the new series.

HE
POTTLETON LEGACY. By Albert
-leeSmith.Parts IX. and X.
The parts complete the " Pottleton Legacy," a
legacy of
glorious fun, which Albert Smith leaves us
°r our
Christendom.us during his absence from
In his farewell address to his readers
he says--
" Eleven years of unceasing work—during which
exact third of my life I have never been away
time —have rothz
public for a longer period than six days at
Induced me to think that I might venture to take an ex-
tended holiday; and accordingly I hope that the gratift-
cation of a long-felt wi,h to vi iit the Mediterranean,
the East, and the northern coast of Africa, is about to
arrive.
" With the exception of the occasional means of in-
forming my immediate friends as to where I am, or
have been, I do not wish to see a pen and ink until I
r,,el urn."
That he who has contributed so much to the public
amusement and enjoyment may find equal enjoyment
and amusement during his projected tour, cannot but
be the wish of the many thousands to whom he has
addressed his farewell.

I'END.ENNIS. No. VIII. By W. M. Thackeray.
The scene of the present number continues in the
neighbourhood of Pendennis's place in the country,
and although the story does not make great progress,
yet our knowledge of the characters of the personages
jk°Tes• The character of Miss Blanche Amory, the
.„—`use, the Undine, the Naiad, the very sentimental
Pa ins lady who could " die of a rose in aromatic
Pain, is admirably developed, and the various
secondary strata of sentimentalism are carefully
erced through until we arrive at the primitive
selfishness which is the true foundation of all
_senti-
mentalism. At first Laura and Pendennis are greatly
Laolikeen with the Muse, but a desillusiotanent, to use
of the Muse's pet French phrases, at length
arrives, and Miss Blanche Amory is seen in her true
colours.

THE TEETH.—How often do we find the human
face divine disfigured by neglecting the chiefest of its
ornaments, and the breath made disagreeable to com-
panions by non-attention to the Tqeth! Though per-
fect in their structure and composition, to keep them in
a pure and healthy state requires some little trouble;
and it those who are blessed with well-formed teeth
knew how soon decay steals into the mouth, mn un-
sightly what otherwise are delightful to admire,aki andg de-
signating unhealthiness by the impurity of the breath,
they would spare no expense to chase away these fatal
blemishes. But although most ladies are careful, and
even particular in these delicate matters, yet few are suf-
ficiently aware of the imperative necessity of avoiding
all noxious or mineral substances of an acrid nature, and
of which the greater part of the cheap tooth-powders of
the present day are composed. It is highly satisfactory
to point out Messrs. Rowlands' Odonto, or Pearl Denti-
frice, as a preparation free from all injurious elements,
and eminently calculated to embellish NMI preserve the
dental structure, to impart a grateful fragrance to the
breath, and to embellish and perpetuate the graces of
.
the mouth.--. Sunday Paper.

LITERATURE.

ALISON'S HISTORY OF EUROPE. Illus

trated Edition. Vol.

Another volume of the library edition of " Alison,"
embellished with portraits, has just afforded us addi-
tional reason for congratulating the subscribers to
the present edition—the very best, without any ques-
tion, that has yet been published. We should ven-
ture to say the best that will be published, hut that
the historian and his publishers afford us no room for
prediction in this particular. Edition has followed
edition, evincing at once the eminent success of Mr.
Alison and the enterprise of the Messrs. Blackwood
—but so surely as edition followed edition so surely
did the latest surpass its predecessors. 'When a very
few months back the history appeared in twenty
volumes of a smaller size, and in every respect
adapted to the bookshelves of the middle classes, it
appeared that the work had at length reached the
limits of its popularity yet awhile as far as purchasers
were concerned. But no ; the compactor edi-
tion is scarcely completed when one more
ornate, arid, in every respect, more costly follows—
adorned with accurate likenesses of the many won-
derful personages whose genius and vicissitudes are
associated to the narrative, and accompanied by a
re-issue of the invaluable atlas produced under the
direction of Mr. A. K. Johnston. The third volume,
appearing simultaneously with the magazines for
June, contains the portraits of Edmund Burke and of
Maximilian Robespierre—the former copied from the
celebrated painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds, the
latter taken from a very curious original picture (a
sketch from which we never recollect to have seen

before) now in the possession of Mr. J. B. Jarman.
The likeness of Burke we never could fancy
to have done justice to that extraordinary man,
who must have betrayed more of the fire of
that great intellect which burnt so brightly
in his orations and in his writings.
Inasmuch, however, as he has given a faithful
transcript from the painting of Sir Joshua, Mr. W.
H. Egleton, the engraver, has been successful. Of
the two engravings we, nevertheless, greatly prefer
the one of Robespierre—giving as it does the most
agreeable portraiture of that terrible demagogue
which we can call to our remembrance. Even the
sinister reputation of the Terrorist cannot deprive the
countenance of charm (a ghastly charm, enough, we
grant it) which is inseparable from great weakness, a
weakness capable of being bent to good or evil,
accordingly as passion or circumstances might dictate,
accompanied by great decision towards the carrying
out of principles. That moral weakness and
intellectual decision are variously expressed in
the contour of the nose and in the com-
pression of the mouth. Lavater, reading
the history of the great revolution, would have ac-
cepted this as a correct effigy of the man who wrote
so eloquently in his youth against capital punishment,
and who yet in his riper manhood, for the sake, as
he fancied, of realising the utopian philosophy of
Rousseau, organized the despotism of the guillotine.
The face is the face of a man who could be madman
and fanatic enough to conceive the possibility of per-
fecting humanity according to the precepts of the
evangel by a cruelty not merely inhuman, but abso-
lutely diabolical. Every time the reign of Robes-
pierre is brought afresh to cur recollection, we begin
to marvel as to what might have happened supposing
Marat had survived the dagger-wound of the Angel of
Assassination. Remembering how every one of the
leaders of the revolution fell before the ruthless egotism
and resolve of Maximilian, how the axe descended upon
the necks of Gensonne, Barbaroux, Vergniaud, and the
rest of the Girondists, upon Anacharsis Clootz, on
Hebert and the rest of Anarchists, upon Danton,
Desmoulins, Poilipeaux and their companions, one is
disposed to marvel who would have been the victor
had Marat and Robespierre confronted each other at
last in the death struggle. 'Whether the man of will
or the man of audacity? The hand of Charlotte
Corday has left that possible struggle to our conjec-
tures. One murder has, perchance, prevented a
more awful and wholesale bloodshed than even that
which preceded the ninth of Thermidor. Who shall
say ? At least such thoughts are provoked by the
scrutiny of this novel and most characteristic portrait
of Robespierre. The third volume of this handsome
edition for the library recounts the events which
transpired between 1793 and 1795 inclusively. And
the third part of the illustrative atlas, contains plans
ranging inclusively from the battle of Rivoli to the
battle of Stockach. Henceforth the atlas by John
ston must prove an inseparable accompaniment to
the history by Alison.

FINE ARTS.
THE ART JOURNAL.

As the embellishments for the June number—we
find here two engravings from the original landscapes
in the Vernon Gallery, Cooper's " Cattle—Early
Morning," and Cslcott's " Waiting for the Boats"—
a representation of Wyatt's statue of " Penelope"—
and two illustrations from the poets, " Adonis," from
Spenser, and " Solitude," from Wordsworth. Be-
sides these larger engravings, there are a profusion
of smaller woodcuts of "Original Designs for Manu-
factures"—of " Ancient Ships"—of the works of
Thorvalsden—and a sketch of the Ruhmeshalle at
Munich. With these we must not forget to enu-
merate the three engraved portraits—that of the great
sculptor Thorvalsden—that of a venerable member
of the Royal Academy, James Ward—and that also
of " one of the most distinguished of our rising school
of painters," William Edward Frost, A.R.A. The
last mentioned cannot fail to be peculiarly attractive
to whomsoever has visited this year's exhi-
bition of the Academy. In that noble collec-
tion of paintings—with the attention drawn off
in many directions ; by Webster's most amusing and
inimitable " Slide ;" by the solemn and affecting
beauty of Herbert's " Outcast of the People ;" by El-
more's clever and attractive " Controversy;" by
Lance's luscious and gorgeous " Marriage Feast ;" by
Poole's fine and artistic composition from the Tempest;
by Stanfield's lovely " Moonlight off the Reculvers ;"
by Martin's fantastic illustration of Bulwer Lytton's
epic, " Arthur and .2Egle in the Happy Valley ;" by
Turner's extraordinary atmospheric illusion of the
"Wreck Buoy ;" by Roberts's equally extraordinary
and elaborate picture "The Destruction of Jerusa-
lem ;" by Baily's superb group of the " Graces,"—in
the midst of all these remarkable productions it is im-
possible not to be attracted by Mr. Frost's single con-
tribution for the present year, his exquisite and
fascinating " Sirens." Small as the picture is, it re-
veals enough grace, delicacy, symmetry, and imagina-
tion (as denoted :particulary in the dim luxuri-
ous background) to call to our recollection his
charming productions of the last two years—" Una"
and " Euphrosyne." "Mr. Frost," says his biogra-
pher in the Art Journal, " is indebted to no patron for
the rank he occupies; his success must be exclusively
referred to his own assiduous cultivation of those
artistic gifts wherewith nature has endowed him."
The remark is honourable to this rising and already
distinguished artist ; and everything affords promise
to him of an eminent and prosperous career.

ILLUSTRATED ATLAS. Parts 111. and IV.

Edited by R. .211. Martin.
This singular innovation in the production of maps
progresses favourably. The letter-press has the ad-
vantage of being edited by the author of the " History
of the British Colonies."