The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-08 00:00:00

MAGAZINES, &c.—(CON TIN UED.)

NEW MONTHLY.

The New Monthly for 'March is of more than
usual excellence. It opens with a chapter of
" Soapey Sponge's Sporting Tour," which brings us
to the eve of the mozoervous fox-hunt. It is appro-
priately left for April Fools'-day to tell the result of
the expected trial or skill, The second paper of this
number of the New Monthly is the most interesting,
a brief but most graphic sketch of " A Hurricane
in Antigua," by Captain Mackinnon. The narrator
was on a visit to a friend at Dry Hill-house, in the
vicinity of St. John's, the capital of Antigua. The
day, thenceforward " memorable in the annals of that
unfortunate island," broke with unusual splendour,
and the stranger could hardly credit the prediction at
his host, rendered wise by thirty years' re-
sidence in the West Indies, that " a terrible
day was before them. There was a hurri-
cane in the air." The whole household was im-
mediately in violent commotion, one negro woman
almost turned pale with fear. A huge trap-
door was opened leading down to a spacious
cellar, contrived as a place of refuge during
hurricanes, into which all portable articles were at
conce transported. The barometer continued steadily
falling throughout the morning. After noon a light
breeze sprang up—by three o'clock a furious gale was
raging, which rapidly increased in violence. We
quote Captain Mackinnon's vivid description of what
followed :

" Darkness now closed upon us. The violence of the
tempest waxed stronger and stronger; the noise in-
creased to such an overwhelming roar, that the strongest
efforts of the human voice in closest proximity, became
totally uselt ss; they were as a whisper in the ears of
death, unheard.' Loud cracks now gave notice that the
house began to complain. The women and children
were immediately roused from their sitting position, and
by signs, desired to go below. This movement was
speedily effected, and the ground Boor was left in pos-
session of the manager and myself. Our attention was
now divided between the barometer, which fortunately
hung near the open trap-door (our last retreat), and the
perilous vibration of the building. The walls appeared
to bend and give before the raging blast.
" Suddenly, a violent shock was felt, sending a thrill
to our hearts. This was afterwards ascertained to be
caused by the demolition of the kitchen, stable, and out-
houses adjoining the dwelling, which, with all their
contents, had limn away on the wings of the wind. Not
a vestige was ever recovered or seen. Numerous smaller
shocks succeeded, like reports of cannon. Huge stones
hurtled through the air, battering and tearing away the
verandahs that surrounded the house.* *

"At this time, the barometer had fallen to 28.50. We
felt, or fancied we felt, the lrmse giving way. Taking a
farewell look at our faitloul monitor, we prepared to de-
scend into the cellar. To my intense astonishment, the
mercury suddenly fell a quarter of an inch. In the
excitement of the moment, I seiz Al hold of the manager,
roaring the information in his ear; but, as before, the
burnan voice was of no avail in such a turmoil. By
dumb show, I succeeded.

" On a sudden, we were aware of a marvellous change
in the state of things. Great heaven!' I ejaculated,
What can this mean?'

"There was a dead cahn—a profound silence, disturbed
Only by the low wailing sobs and incoherent prayers of
the women and chiliren in the cellar. We were in the
►ortex of the hurricane! It is impossible to describe
the horror of this period. A door was unbarred and
opened, and, with a lighted candle, I stepped out. The
flame took its upward course steadily. All around was
black, and calm, and

" But the stillness was of brief duration. In a short
time, a distant rumbling noise was heard, when I quickly
re-entered the house, drawing bolt and bar. A sligot
tremor shook the ground: au earthquake was added to
our ills. Again came the hurricane from the opposite
gleaner, overwhelming our senses with its fierce impetu
osity. The house, already shaken, now rocked to and
fro, threatening instant destruction. We immediately
descended into the cellar, fastening down the trap-door
With a strong lashing. Durinc, several dreary hours, we
r"-inattined in suspense, stunned by the hellish disturbance
aver head, our ft clings bLing occasionally varied by the
*horrible and sickening sensation of the earthquake.
borne bottles were thrown down by the agitation of the
ground, and the long rows of rum-casks heaved and fell.
" At four, A.M., there was a sensible diminution of the
,geile. We proceeded carefully to unfasten the trap-
qtoor. On its falling back, the moon was plainly visible,
throwing light on groups of dense, black clouds, driving
furiously across the heavens. Nothing was above us but
the sky! The upper part of the house was gone!"
well-deserved eulogium of "King Arthur" is
followed by the adventures of " Sir Wigolais of the
Wheel," one of the Knights of the Round Table,
Whose marvellous exploits are worthy of a stanza in
the epic. The first chapter has a somewhat unro-
mantic heading—" How Sir Wigolais set out for
Corotin, accompanied by a Sulky Damsel!" The
More important contributions to the New Monthly
are a continuation of " Men and Things in the New
World of Australia ;" " A Walk in the Landes of
Bordeaux," by Francis Ainsworth ; a well-written
article on " Colonies and Colonists," by W. H. G.
Kingston ; and' Beggars and Almsgivers," in which
the so-called charity of giving alms to street-beggars
?s severely, almost too severely, reprobated. ['here
18, nevertheless, a great deal of truth in the writer's
strictures.

AINSWORTH.
The encounter between Crichton and his invete-
terate enemy, Vincenzo de Gonzaga, is described in
the, present instalment of " Crichton," in Mr. Ains-
Worth's happiest manner. We are for the time
transported to the tournament field, and the admirable
Illustration of Hablot K. Browne is not required to
bring the combatants before our eyes. The " pro-
cession," by the same artist, is well designed, but is
Tendered somewhat indistinct in the engraving. "A
Trip to the Unknown Gold Mountain of California,"
Undertaken under the direction of "The Grand
Auriferous, Stultiferous, Assiniferous, Califor-
nian Bamboozle Company," is an amusing
eatire upon the present California mania, by
W. H. G. Kingston. " Pyrotechnics versus Elec-
tric Telegraphs" gives a report of a public meeting
(4pyrotechnics, which it seems was held the other
evening at the " Fireworks Manufactory," fur the
Purpose of getting up a society for the suppression of
electric telegraphs. The first speaker was " a young
fellow, who gave in his name as Gun Cotton." His
complexion was of a delicate tallowy white, and he
had the appearance of being " used up," as Charles
Mathews would say. Ladies also were present at
the meeting, Miss Catherine Wheel being one of the
speakers. During the confusion Gun Cotton got so
heated, that be suddenly exploded and went off in a
;white smoke. Shortly afterwards the meeting was
illuminated by a stream of light " from the opposi-
,tion shop over the way, where a mad fellow called
Electric Light was addressing the mob from the top
5 a pillar." " A Day's Adventures in Fatherland"
1: the title of a romantic tale by Thomas Roscoe.
The Countess of Rudolstadt," and the Homesteads
•°f Lower Britanny," are continued. " Cambrian
;tales" and " Jacob van der Nees" finish the cata-
'itue of the contents of Ainsworth.

TAIT.
t, There is a very agreeable diversity of subjects in
'no number for the blustering month of March. One
article—an intelligent one, meriting perusal—is colo-
ial, relating to our " Canadian Possessions.' Another,
geographical and entertaining, is an account of " Re •
cent Australian Discoveries.' A third is biographical,
being a criticism upon Mr. Foss's lately published
Volumes on the " Judges of England." A fourth is
monetary, being a retrospect of the " Railway and
Joint-Stock Business of the Month." A fifth is
fiuviese and discursive, being a continuation of
the description of the Dee among the number
of " Scottish Rivers." Besides these there are— a
rapid narrative of the succession of occurrences in
" Revolutionized Italy ;" an artistic celebration of the
" Royal Scottish Academy's Exhibition for 1849 ;"
:rid some additional chapters of Mr. Percy St.
John's enthralling tale of the great French Revolu-
tion, " Miranda. The last mentioned has long been,
and still continues to be, the principal attraction of
the
magazine. A few miscellaneous verses by several
of the letters of the alphabet, together with the
'Usual Literary and Political Registers, complete the
current number.

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY.
The present number fully sustains the well-earned
fame which this periodical has won amongst its con-
:ernPoraries. The first paper, a notice of Mr. Dennis's
Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria," is a very able and
Just criticism on that gentleman's most interesting
110rk, and will be read with pleasure by all of classic
tlaste and learning. " The Massacre of St. Bartho-
lomew" is a full and graphic account of that horrible
tragedy, collated from the " Correspondence of the
ereech Ambassadors in England with their own
°fart," and several other authentic sources. 4, Waren ;
(11. the Oracular Afflatus of the Hindoos:" these
%ketches contain a detail of very extraordinary facts,
rid will prove intensely interesting to the inquirers
nt? physical and psychological phenomena, and may
;:maps throw some new light upon the great modern
`l4lstery, animal magnetism. The biographical sketch
0
ill Mr. Whiteside, the eminent Irish barrister, does
6nite credit to the biographer. It is graceful
With
tad. out flattery, ample and truthful without being
v, Pus ; and most fully can we concur with the
ter in the regret he expresses, when he exclaims,
th:(Clfuin, too often, in this unhappy country do we set
9arnest, hones: man, who has spent his life in unre-
1, tlng toil, who has worked his own way, by his own
"lons who has never stooped to unseemly acts, nor
eon, ,
promised the character of his profession by trading
ttoPnlities—who has never deviated from the straight,
staugil rugged path which leads to fame, although he
is ri'sforemost in the rack of his profession, though he
for admired. for his ability cud scquirements, and esteemed
,us private worth—how often do we see such a one
parveted by those who are the dispensers of official
adir„()naget while the political charlatan, the dishonest
bad muter, the o )-citre practitioner, who hat
recose to acts to which no man of honour
1114 stoop,—his inferior in every acquirement