The Sun.
London, England, 1840-04-01 00:00:00

FRASER'S MAGAZINE.

the clever tales of Boz torm the subject of the
first article in the current Number of this Maga-
zine. The Reviewer speaks of them frankly and
boldly, pointing out their defects, while at the
same time he does justice to their beauties. One
of his principal charges against Dickens is,
that his characters are not maintained with suffi-
cient consistency, and, in proof of this, he adduces
the well-known Mr. Pickwick. There is certainly
some slovenly and incorrect drawing in this portrait,
but its leading traits, namely, bonhontazie and simplicity
of character, arc kept fu:ly in view throughout, and
it is only in some of the minor details that we find
it wanting. When, however, we bear in mind the
necessarily hasty manner in which it was sketched,
we can make every allowance for these trivial blemishes.
With far more show of justice, the Reviewer urges
against the orphan parish boy, Oliver Twist, that
his acute sensibility and innate refinement of nature
are over-drawn; end that one, reared as he was, and
surrounded daily by such associates as Fagin, Sykes,
and Co., could never, by any possibility, hare been
such a paragon of grace and innocence. We made the
same objection ourselves to this character some months
since in The Sun, and are glad to find our opinion
backed by such an authority as Oliver Yorke. " Blue-
Friar Pleasantries" treats slily and humourously on a
very delicate and difficult question—viz., how to " pop
the question " to a young lady ; and the author illus-
trates his theme by a variety of apt anecdotes. Here
is a brace of them for the edification of the inexperi-
enced suitor :

We forget where we met with the following laconic
example of " popping the question :"
" Pray, madam, do you like buttered toast ?"
Yes, Sir."
Buttered on both sides ?"
" Yes, Sir."

Will you marry me ?"
The mode adopted by a certain eccentric physician is
almost as condensed. A lady came to consult him. He
prescribed and took his guinea. " Madam," said he, " I
wish to see 3ou again this time tomorrow. In the interval,
take the medicine here prescribed, and ere we meet again,
make up your mind to give a plain " yes," or " no," to
the question I now put to you. lam inclined to wed, but
have no time to woo. Will you allow me to lay out my
fee in the purchase of your wedding-ring ?"
The severely logical character of the first of these
two anecdotes cannot be too warmly applauded. Con-
ceive a gentleman prefacing a proposal of marriage by
an allusion to buttered toast ! How appropriate the in-
troduction ! How natural—nay, how inevitable—the
sequel ! " Specimens of Persian Poetry" may, or
may not be, genuine ; at any rat^ they are readable,
which is nearly all that is looked for in an article of this
far :fetched nature. " On Manners, Fashions, and
Things in General" is a smart, desultory series of con-
tinental sketches, chiefly of Germany. " Scenes in the
Desert" is the continuation of a clever, descriptive
paper, the first part of which appeared last month in
Fraser. The scene is laid among the vast range of de-
sert on the borders of the Euphrates. "Who are
You ? or the Modern Salathiel," is a story whose ex-
travagance is not redeemed by its humour. It is, in
truth, but a mediocre affair. " On, Stanley, on," are
three laughable sonnets from the pen of that eminent
wag, O'Doherty. " What's What" is an agreeable
trifle, from which we quote this characteristic anecdote
of Napoleon :
His imperial Majesty had given instructions for altering
the Salle de Spectacles at the Tuileries ; and one day he
took Telma with him to see the improvements he had sug-
gested. They were alone in a dint theatrical light, when
Napoleon thus addressed the tragedian :—" Do you know
that there is many an Englishman who would give a good
round sum to be in your place ? If one of their emissaries
could surprise me here, he would find it a good opportunity
for getting rid of me." " Ah, Sire I" exclaimed Talma,
" you make metremble—should any one lie here concealed."
" Don't be alarmed," returned the Emperor, tapping
Talma familiarly on the shoulder, " history respects itself
too much to let me die in a trap like a hero of mclodrame.
I am persuaded she has something better in store for me.'