The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-01 00:00:00

MAGAZINE DAY.
BLA CKWO OD.
Thanks to the untiring industry of the poet-novelist,
Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, we may now always feel
assured of listening to the accents of genius in Black-
wood. While North is lying dormant in the folds of his
shooting jacket, while Warren is forgetful of the seduc-
tions of romance, and is paying reverential homage ex-
clusively to the austere phantom of the law, while the
Noctes are assuming to themselves month after month
More of the semblance of antiquity, while the contri-
butions of Jerrold and of Barham are remembered only
his
a select few, while Simmons neglects the chords of
nis teolian lyre, and W. E. A. is scarcely ever
audible for eight weeks consecutively—it is more
than a consolation, it is an exquisite and ample
compensation to meet with the effusions of such
a mind as that which has recently celebrated
the glories of the Saxon Harold and of the Cymrian
Arthur. " The Caxtons" continues to be the grand
feature in Ebony. It recounts in this (the tenth) in-
stalment the removal of Pisistratus to Cambridge ; and
those who cherish the recollections of Alma Mater will
revert with joy to the revival of old and pleasant remi-
niscences. Of the rest of the master-magazine we may
speak in general terms of commendation. Among other
excellences it certainly possesses that of being singularly
miscellaneous. From the first article to the last it con-
trives to be attractive, even in the very head-
ings—from the " Cossacks in the Caucasus" to
the " Carlists in Catalonia," Tho latter will be
Perused with profound interest by every one whose
heart beats with sympathy for the nationality of
the Peninsula, no matter whether the reader be of the
party of Isabella or of Montemolin. Thcse who bear in
recollection the frequent and picturesque commemora-
tions of the Carlist hero Zemelacarregui, which have
appeared in the pages of Maga, will turn with a cer-
tainty of entertainment, at the very least, to the present
narrative, in the came organ, of the adventures and
aicissitudes of the renowned leader of the Montemo-
linists—Cabrera. In a paper relating to " Modern
Biography," we have a very rational estimate of the
merits and demerits of Beattie's Life of poor Tom Camp-
bell. Delta chauuts, as Delta only could chaunt, the
" Covenanter's Night Hymn ;" and all who have lingered
over the mention of the cruel persecution of those
sectaries among the moors and mountains of Caledonia,
in the History of England by Mr. Macaulay, will appre-
ciate to the fullest extent the earnest passion breathed
into every syllable of this song of secluded adoration.
Dalmatia and Montenegro" are delineated in a clever
contribution, in which—be sure of that--we hear some-
what of the eccentric magistrate, half-bishop, half-prince
—the Vladika. In " American Thoughts on European
Revolutions," we can detect, or we are much mistaken,
the cunning band that fired the petard among the
literary pirates of the United States by contributing an
article to Blackwood, and retaining the American copy-
right of the contribution. The " Poetry of Sacred and
Legendary Art" affords the magazine a graceful theme
for criticism on a recent work by Mr. Jameson,
and does not, as might at first be con-
jectured, present an opportunity for passing an
eulogium upon William Edmonstoune Aytoun, the gifted
Professor of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres in the Univer-
sity of Edinburgh, who has created for himself
many admirers through the poetic fragmenti
adorned with his initials. " Statistical Accounts
of Scotland" contain agreeable stores of information, and
stores that are not exclusively valuable to the habitants
of the " land o' cakes," but in a particular manner to
every subject, English, Irish, Scotch, or colonial, of our
Sovereign Lady Victoria. A severe and searching com-
ment upon our "English Universities and their Re-
forms completes the contents of the number for
February-_a number which is memorable as the four
hundredth of this celebrated publication.

BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.
One of the most capital articles in Bentley's Aliecellany
--and the number for Ftbruary contains a variety—is
from the pen of Alfred Crowquill, and tells of a "King
who became young again." The astonishing metamor-
Phosis of King Humdrum is rendered peculiarly
striking by the inimitable manner in which it
is related. We ha.ve read nothing like it since
good's mourner "went and told the s -xton, and the sex•
ton tolled the bell;" or since Madame Mantalini " wrung
her hands with grief and rung the bell for her hu'band,
and fell into a chair and afit of hysterics simulta-
r°llslY." As an example of the felicitous and telling
(inner of this narrative, let us quote one singularly
effeceffective observation. Speaking of King Humdrurn's
tive
propensities, his historian remarks en
Pasant, that " Rulers are all very well, but they should
nbe always drawing lines for • other people to
fantastic tale Another very interesting paper, " a
tale of feeling," by Horace Mayhew,
Isn entitled "The Headstron-4 Phrenologist." It is a hu-
morous but well nigh lamentable history of one Karl Von
beriefeirng
ruell the hapless victim of a master passion—
. firer% °logical science. Innumerable and some-
timesirremediable are the misfortunes which this sci-
ence entails upon its votary. On one occasion he re-
fuses an eligible situation because his phrenological ob-
t.seewrvaotions assure him that the individual under whom
h uld have to act is an evil- disposed man. Again he em-
broils himself in a serious quarrel with an officer, a stranger
t.,0 him, because he volunteers to inform him that he has
the most perfect monkey's head that, in all his experi-
ence, he ever recollected seeing." But the crowning
e
atastroplte is Karl's phrenelogical examination of the
bead of his lady-love—an examination which, in spite
of. his devoted affection; comFels the unhappy philoso-
pher_ to insist upon on immediate separation—his lifewould not be safe with her. For the very marvellous denoue-
ment of this very marvellous tale, we would refer our
eaders to theMiscellany,pat54. The magazine abounds
this month in these light and agreeable articles, which
tre undoubtedly the most pleasant description of ma-
Razine papers. Nevertheless, more serious tastes are
hot unprovided for, as Charles Whitehead's interesting
Sketch of Schiller"
(accompanied with a very beauti-
fun
-ey-( ngraved portrait of the great German) may
testify. Christian Andersen has written a pleasing
account of the " Visit of. the Swedes to Funen, in
1848," which, in many respects, reminds us of the recant
visit of the French National Guards to Eng-
land. Leech's terrible illustration, " The discovery of
Ilafforde's body," greatly increases the gloomy interest
of the " Coroner's Clerk," the eventful narrative now
emanating from the pen of the author of "Experiences
of a Gaol Chaplain." We have not space sufficient to
do more than enumerate the remaining contents of
this agreeable number of Bentley—they consist of a
tale by the author of the famous " Stories of Waterloo,
" Wayside Pictures through France, Belgium, and Ger-
many," " The Bye Lanes and Downs of England," by
Sylvanus; " A Day's Gunning in New Jersey," &c. &e.
Among the poetical contributions the most meritorious
are " The Watchmen," by Lord Maidstone, end " The
Annus Mirabilis, 1848," of which it is said—
" Convulsion rock'd thy cradle, and thy toys
Were thrones on fire, and sceptres wrench'd from kings."

LITERATURE.
REMARKABLE AND ECCENTRIC CHA-

RACTERS.
ry.
" Variety is charming," say s the adage, and so, it
bra
Bnla, " thinks the compiler of " Bentley's Cabinet L.l-
- " What I saw in
California:,
The interesting narrative of .
which we noticed the other day, is now
bY a volumeby Mr. .
Fairholt, the author of
"The
0 some •
" re-
f ---en'a of Shakespere " which contains the history
observes
e eight or ten individuals justly designated
Markable and eccentric." Mr. Fairholt very truthfully
in his preface, that " the biography of the
aimplest individual, if well and truly told, has a fuel-
Ilati"*" If a simple biography, well told, be thus
Itittera ;
h °Lye how great must be the charm odf
t„ the
most extraordinary biographies, narrate
t};_`"eY are in the most interesting manner. Among
trw.t, characters here portrayed are the Chevalier
0,0001
zllia: Peter the Wild Boy, and John Elwes, the_
80 0,0001. who, after a life of penury, died possessed 91
Some of the an' ecd-ites to be
found in this
_latter history are of a very amusing, albeit a somewhat
mir jiancholy character. Among others, we read a three
hilserlY baronets, disputing over the reckoning at an
1") when a wag. passing by, called out to a friend,
here ur 'leaven's sake, step up stairs, and assist the poor I
are three baronets, worth a million of mo
I;,eailng about a farthing." ney, guar.
Hudson,portra
are nontihneg; , charactersjeffrY Count Ankastrom, Elizabeth
, eadn
vAntoniove re
ing anfrom quOt-
agliabechi,
yof the interesting 3 anecdotes with which the
volume abounds • - fraiMn
perused together , they will be better appreciated when
The little with the narratives to which they refer.
volume
tonal embellishmenis also bountifully adorned with Pic-
ts. y

"Costly thy habit, as thy purse can buy,
But not expressed in fancy, rich, not gaudy ;
For the apparel ofr proclaims the man."
THE POPULAR COSTUME now generally recognised
_as belonging to that period alluded to by the B-ard of
that
iTsaY perhaps be considered sufficiently becoming. Be that °lay, the spirit and meaning of the quotation may with
Jt;sltice be applied to THE NICOLL, for this is the distinctive
taei now given to a Patented Paletot, which is expressly
adapted for changeable weather, and should, moreover, be
Neer in all such climates where the atmosphere is subject to
much variation is its temperature, especially
at ere rapid changes are not only eccentric in result, but also
in this country,
..., Imes highly prejudicial to the health of those persons
"',,,!.? do not properly regulate their out-door covering.
(a -Now as this same outer-coat, or over-coat, or great-coat,
toPcoat, or in more modern phrase, Paletot, will in future
ao called THE NICOLL, it might be necessary to say.
-Tne.thicg about the motives that have induced the creation
e 1 this new ROlll4 was it not obvious to all that the patentees
have a peculiar protection from imitations in this their
Peculiar title ; suffice it to say, that THE NICOLL, the
Peculiar in question, possesses the valuable advantages of
being instantly convertible (at the wearer's option, however)
from a warm to a light coat, or vice versa, and that, too, in a
Manner simple but ingenious, which should be seen and worn
to be fairly appreciated ; which should
all this, it has two
other high claims for recommendation—tlae first being that
in form, appearance, and durability, it is
tleman can desire with this necessary itemevoefrhyiTiwnagrlrgobene;
and the second consists in the moderate price charg I alike
by the patentees in London, as by their agents in:the e(o
try
sad abroad ; but it should, be borne in mind, -chat iunuthe
metropolis it can only be purchased at those spacious ware-
rootns in Regent-street, which are formed by the union of
opposite the Royal
the three houses numbered 114, 116, and 120, Regent-street,
as also of the City depot, 22, Corniiill,
Exchange.— Globe.
THE FIRE IN Liricomi's-INN.—Many documents
of great value and importance have been rescued from the
aebris of this fire; and one which is said to involve the re-
ceipt of upwards of 70,0001. a year has been preserved intact.
There are many others, however, still missing, and
and_their ltohses
recovery of which there exists now no hopes, Must entail the most serious consequences upon those on-
celled. A contemporary, in alluding
these frightful calamities,_ calls attention to a patented la. oc:).-
to the frequencyr
_ess of hlessrs. Fox and Barrett, of Leicester-square, which
ti applied with the most marked success to the er
tl°° ef buildings perfectly fire-proof, at a cost no greatert
an by the ordinary means. The new lunatic asylum at
trY
'pie ap-
C°lneY Hatch is to be thus built, and as the principle
.* eminently calculated for the praiseworthy objects it
. ill Tiew, to much publicity MAO be afforded to it'