The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-07 00:00:00

EVENING,

MONDAY

MAGAZINES-(CONTINUED).
THE DUBLIN UNIVERSITY.

a'l'e miss the usual political article on the state and
conalition of Ireland, which is replaced in the present
numl ier by the criticism on Dr. Madden's -" History
of the Penal Laws," to which we shall hereafter
allude. Although we are generally opposed to the
politica 1 views put forward in the pages of our
talented contemporary, we gladly acknowledge the
zeal and ability with which it advocates its favourite
doctrines, and could have better spared papers more
in unison with our own opinions. It is always
desirable o understand every bearing of an important
question, to consider coolly the arguments that may
be advanced in support of general principles, and the
Dublin University seldom overlooks any important
points that may be urged in favour of the party it
supports. The cause of the Irish landlords is more
especially guarded with the utmost vigilance and
energy, and every mitigating circumstance is urged
on their behalf, to protect them from being reproached
for an insufficient discharge of the duties incidental
to their positions. With this exception, the number
possesses more than ordinary interest, and
includes many papers, both in prose and
poetry, worthy of its well-established reputation.
" Seditious Literature in Ireland " contains a severe
attack on Dr. Madden for his "History of the Penal
Laws." He is (according to our contemporary) the
Dr. Madden who wrote the " Lives of the United
Irishmen ;" not by any means the Mr. Madden whose
pleasant " Revelations of Ireland" was reviewed in
the last number. We are not surprised at the anger
with which this subject is regarded. It forms, in-
deed, a dark page in the history of the country,
which reflects the deepest disgrace on those by whom
such a system could be conceived, and those by whom
it was so long and so unnecessarily maintained. It
would be well if it could indeed be erased from the
records of the past. "A Merry Christmas " is, in-
deed, a merry production, worthy the pen of Carleton,
although its very humour occasions sad reflections on
the melancholy condition of the country where any-
thing approaching to that which is so graphically
represented could have even the slightest vraisetn-
blame. The writer (Phil Fowler) is reminded of a
promise to spend the holidays with an uncle who
resides at Thrashers hill, in the heart of Tipperary.
The alacrity with which he responds to the invitation
so cordially given may be judged from his " prepara-
tions for merry-making," which are as follow :---
"Imprimis-lake my will, and leave my death pro-
visionally on Uncle \Vat.
"Secondly—Get two pistol pockets inserted in the
breast of my paletot.
"Thirdly—Dry half a pound of Davey's powder be-
tween a couple of warm plates; and
" Fourthly—Pay the washerwoman's bill. Serious
thoughts of becoming a reformed character if I come
back alive, and joining the " Go-to-Church-three-times
of-a-Sunday-Society."
From the hour of his departure from Dublin on
the 24th, until his return on the 30th, his perplexities
are most humourously described. The happy reci-
pient of the " Tipperary legacy" is not more struck
with what he sees and her.rs, whether at the obliging
offer of the navvie who wishes for the small guerdon
of 6d. to conduct him to he place where a servant of
the railway company had his brains dashed out with
spades and pickaxes a month ago for not hiring three
hundred men to make a hundred yards of road, " a
striking proof (as a Holycross farmer said, who had
been cumpagnon de voyage by the railway) of the
eagerness of the poor people of the country to get
employment;" or at the naive observations of the
driver of the car on which he proceeds to Thrashers-
hill, who " points out several interesting situations,
such as the spot where Carker Wright kilt three rob •
hers; the heap of stones by the wayside, where
Maher was waylaid and murdered by, the Ryans, ' a
nate spot for a surprise of the soart ; the large ferny
field where Brennan was run into by the Peelers;"
and the farm " that nobody dare take since the last
occupier was burned to death in the house with all
his family." A chase after a supposed outlaw is
most admirably told, the peasantry enjoying it
with all the zest which the keenest sports-
man would feel at a first-rate fox hunt.
At length the capture is effected, when it turns out to
have been nothing but a drage, the parish fool having
been dressed up to resemble the desired criminal and
lead her Majesty's forces, civil and criminal, far away
from the real object of pursuit, on a foul's errand."
Poor Phil Fowler does not, however, get Scot free,
for joining in the pursuit with more ardour than dis-
cretion, he is plundered of his gun by the real Simon
Pure, " a civil, honest looking man," who escapes
with his booty, while the unfortunate loser is exposed
to ridicule from every quarter. " The Apothecary's
Wife" is concluded; all the former feelings of affec-
tion are revived in the Baron's heart, while poor 1,
Charlotte, although driven to acknowledge the inten-
sity of the love he had disregarded, carefully avoids
any dishonourable concession, and at length sends her
husband to implore him to depart, with which he
complies, under the influence of better feelings. On
passing through the town twelve months after he
learns that the apothecary had left the town, where
his wife had died four months before, having been
attacked with consumption immediately on the
Barou7s departure. " Our Portrait Gallery" con-
tains an excellent likeness of Dr. Litton, who
although , not a native of Ireland, had for so
many years made it the land of his adoption, as
to merit admission amongst the illustrious Irish-
men whose likenesses have from time to time
been presented to the public. It is accompanied by
an excellent account of the lamented subject of the
engraving. There are able reviews on Reeves's
" Ecclessiastical Antiquities," Dr. Wilson's "Lands
of the Bible," and Mrs. R. Lees's " African Wan-
derers." " Thor waldsen," from the Danish of H. C.
Andersen, is concluded ; " The Croppy's Fingers "
is an ower true tale, the name of the culprit, the
locality of his crime, and the providential preservation
of his intended victim, whose name only varies by a
single letter from what it really was, and every cir-
cumstance connected with the case, are most accu-
rately detailed. There is but one omission, and
that is the stern fidelity of the convict to his guilty
associates, which made him refuse to give even the
slightest information respecting their designs, al-
though the remission cf the extreme penalty would
have followed a full revelation. J. C. M. has several
able coadjutors in the poetical department this month,
all of whom possess c onsiderable merit. J. C. M.
has himself :given three Itanslations,.two from the
Irish, and one from the Husigarian,•of whioh,vve pre-
" Hush a by baby."
fer the first,

TLIE,BANKERS'.
Our contemporary opens with " The Commercial
History of the Past Year," during which more ex-
traordinary commercial and financial events took
place than probably could be found to have occurred
in any similar period. The fluctuations in the prices
of the domestic and foreign funds and railways, the
returns of the Bank of England on the first,,day of the
present year, and the 2d Jan., 1847, and the progressive
increase of bullion since the 23d of October last,
showing an increase of more than four millions and a
half within twelve weeks, which has since amounted
to more than five millions, which are correctly given,
will clearly show the violent changes that_ have taken
place in the money market, and the severity of the
monetary. cri▪
sis through which we have passed. The
comparative prices of our staple productions and prin-
cipal articles of import are also given. Thus we have
the variations in the value of cotton, of colonial pro.
duce, of tea,
.coffee, animal food, bread, &c. &c. "A
Chronological History of the Panic" contains a me-
lancholy list of the firms that have been compelled to
suspend thei▪ r payments, with the dates of their re-
spective stoppages, and (wherever it could he
correctly ascertained) the amount of their liabilities
and assets- Balance-sheets of the firms that have
failed are continued, and it is said that they are
nearly completed, and that those remaining over will
be given next month. The article on "Banking and
Commercial Law" relates to the liabilities of share-
holders, and of parties who have been shareholders, in
joint-stock banks,
to the creditors of the bank. This
subject is peculiarly interesting to every person who
either has invested, or contemplates investing his
money on such securiti▪
es, or who- may have had any
dealings with such banks. The remainder consist of
reports and communications of the-usual class. We have
already extracted, for the information of our readers,
the able "Review„ of
is
Money Market for the
month of January, whi▪
ch s included amongst them.

THE FAILTIERS%
This organ of the agricultural interest contains
two plates, representing a" Devon Bull," which ob-
tainedsov,e,reigns, at the Northamp-
ton
me theetln
meeting,
prize
do
af fifty
--oar, of the large breed, which
gained fifteen sovereigns at the same exhibitions.
There are more than the usual number of articles on
subjects deeply ,interestingthe
to farmers, among which
w,e Potato Crop of 1848," and
, Te may
heeffinecetnotfion‘ Common Salt on the Wire-worm," as
well worthy of notice. That "On Agricultural
Chemistry" also conveys much sound practical in-
struction of a very valuable character.

----_,
SURREY TnßATll}!•—There can be no question
that every part of this house will be filled to-night,
because so rare an attraction is offered to the public.
Miss Cushman inAppears her famous character of
Romeo, and the Daughter of the Regiment will be
played as the last piece—while the celebrated Czartoris
Ri family give their extraordinary entertainment between
the two.
DEATIr Of NE. N. P. • llArNEs.—This gentle-
man, so well known for his oratorical powers, and his
well r. 3 for his literary abilities,
advocacy of all liberal measures, whether referring to
religion or polities, as
died suddenly, yesterday afternoon, at his lodgings in
Drury-lane. It appears that deceased went out, about
two o'clock, for some medicine, with which he returned,
and retired to his bed-chamber. Shortly afterwards the
servant went to his room,. and found him in the agonies
of death. Although no Arne elapsed before medical as•
sistance was obtained, the deceased expired before a
physician arriyod.