The Sun.
London, England, 1840-11-02 00:00:00

FRASER'S MAGAZINE.

It is rather late in the day to discuss the question
of Phrenology, as is done at considerable length in
the first article of this Number, for the public, we
believe, have pretty well made up their minds on
the subject, and pay no more attention to it than it
is worth. The science of bumps is, indeed—so far
as we arc entitled to give an opinion—one of the
greatest humbugs that ever was palmed on a think-
ing or unthinking community ; for if we are to place
any faith in it, we must infer, as an inevitable con-
sequence, that Shakspeare's genius originated solely
in the fact that lie had a couple of huge humps on
either side his forehead, indicative of his intellectual
idiosyncrasy ; and that Howard's philanthropy
was, in like manner, the result of his having
the organ of benevolence swelling out, like
a hillock, on the top of his cranium I
We should like to see an Irishman's skull sub-
mitted to the inspection of a phrenologist, after a
" skrimmage" at Donnybrook Fair. The astute
professor would, no doubt be in exstacies with the
amazing variety of bumps Pat would exhibit, all
presumed to betoken rare intellectual and physical
qualities, yet all conjured up by that magic wand, a
shillelagh. " Scenes in the Desert" are introduced
by a lively letter to Oliver Yorke. They contain
several spirited incidents, some of which are of a
highly melodramatic character. " The Three
Great Epochs" is a capital story illustrative of
the great political changes that have taken
place in this country since the year 1829. It
is to be continued, we see ; and we shall look
forward to its continuation with interest. The
sketch of the old Tory Lord's baronial residence in
the north, and the descriptions of his infinite hor-
ror and consternation at the bare rumour that Peel
and the Duke were about to rat on the question of
Catholic Emancipation, are full of truth and vigor
of colouring. " The Condemned Cells" convey us
into the interior of Newgate, and introduce us to
some convicted felons who are made to relate their
own histories. These autobiographical sketches
are, we doubt not, founded on fact, and have this
special recommendation--that they are not dis-
figured byany disgusting flash language. his unusual
to see tales of this sort untainted by ribald vulgarity.
The essay on the character of Macbeth, like a
thrice told tale, is somewhat flat, but this rather from
the subject, than the mode in which it is discussed.
The author displays considerable ingenuity, but it
is thrown away ; for we already know all we care
to know about Macbeth. Surely a theme that has
employed the pens of such writers as Johnson,
Hazlitt, Coleridge, Schlegel, Wilson, Maginn, and
a host of stellfe minores, may now be considered
exhausted ! " Conversations at Weimar upon
Lord Byron," are dreary twaddle. It is quite
a mercy that they are so short. " The Greater
and Lesser Stars in Old Pall Mall are a collec-
tion of anecdotes relative to the different tenants of
the Duke of Schomberg's house in Pall Mall. The
anecdotes are passable enough—nothing more.
The following is among the best we can find. It
regards the well-known painter, Jervas :
Jervas translated " Don Quixote," which was pub-
lished by Bernard Linton, in a quarto volume, and il-
lustrated by a series of line engravings from the de-
signs of Coypel. So extensive was his connexion, that
this edition had a rapid sale, and the author obtained
great reputation for his translation. Jervas is said to
have possessed elegant manners, and an engaging ad-
dress. He was a great favourite with the ladies, many
of whom were persons who figured in high life ; and he
was honoured with the esteem of Lady Mary Wortley
Montague ; though she privately admitted to her friend
Pope that he was a good-tempered coxcomb, and the
greatest egotist of the age. It was to this enlightened
but very satirical lady that he played off that memora-
ble instance of his vanity, the exhibiting his own ear, by
way of illustration of the beauty of that member of the
head. He had maintained that few persons possessed
a well-formed car; and in a conversation upon this
subject, in which he was, as usual, rather dogmatic, her
Ladyship, humouring his vanity, demanded, Theo, as
you are known to be a high authority on the proportions
of the human figure, you will perhaps teach me how to
discover the perfection of its form ' He was then seated
at his easel, when, turning aside his velvet skull-cap, he
presented his own ; and, smiling with self-complacency,
he continued, That, madam, is an ear pronounced to
bo singularly perfect !' Mr. Pope held him in great re-
gard ; and congeniality of pursuit confirmed the attach-
ment that subsisted between them. Jervas encouraged
him in his love for painting, and rendered him his best
services ; and Pope copied some few of the choicest
pictures in his collection, particularly a Madonna by
Raffael, which was considered to be a successful effort
of his art, particularly as the work of an amateur. One
of the three pictures of Dean Swift, by the pencil of
Pope, was •touched by the superior hand of Jervas, and
was, it appears, presented to Stella. One of the best
portraits that he painted—and that rather below medi-
ocrity—was given to the first Earl of Mansfield, and
still exists as a curiosity at his Lordship's mansion at
Caen Wood, near Hampstead.

NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
The Editor's tale of " Fathers and Sons" runs
its course with spirit ; and the worldly, intriguing
character of Mrs. Srnylar, Colonel Bruff's house-
keeper, which is skilfully developed in the present
chapter, bids fair to become one of Mr. Hooke's
most successful efforts. W 2 would advise him,
however, to have as little to do with sentiment—
especially where young ladies are concerned—as
possible, for he has no more turn that way, than
Liston had for tragedy. " Suppositions about
Shakspeare" amount to just little or nothing. The
Young Pretender" is a document never before
published, which supplies many particulars in the
life of Prince Charles Edward—who, it may be re-
membered, is one of the heroes of" Waverley" and
" Redgauntlet"—from the termination of the
decisive battle of Culloden, to his escape
from Scotland into France, This document
abounds in details of the hair-breadth escapes of the
Prince from the Royal forces sent out every where
throughout the north in pursuit of him, and gives
al insight into his private habits which will be