The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-07 00:00:00

SHARPE'S LONDON MAGAZINE.

The variety, quantity, and cheapness of this publica-
tion are remarkable. And, though the embellishments
are capable of improvement, the literary matter can-
not be objected to either in regard to interest or compo-
sition. Whatever contrioutions are not original are
choice cullings from our greatest poetical and prose
writers, and this latter circumstance we may particu-
larise as the chief excellence of Mr. Sharpe's periodical.
The whole is carefully edited; and perhaps the best con-
tribution in the present number is " The History of
Gardening;" we wonder the subject is so seldom treated
in a popular manner.

THE BEROIIVES OF SHAKSPERE. Part HI.

A very beautiful book this will form when completed,
and one which will redound much to the credit of both
artists and engravers. A companion volume of the
heroes of the great dramatist would, we are assured,
prove a glorious and acceptable successor to the present
publication. No book-lover would disdain to enshrine
uch works in his library ; they would embellish his
studies and assist his imagination. " Juliet" is scarcely
worthy of that most etherial ideal of love ever con-
jured up by poet ; but what pencil, indeed, save possibly
that or " the divine Raphael," could picture Juliet
worthily ?

OLD ENGLAAII.N WORTHIES. Part VI.
Already has this serial received our commendation as
t work likely to afford considerable instruction to the
:nultitude. We can now only subjoin to that commen-
lation, that it is worthy of its clever and spirited pub-
lisher, Mr. Charles Knight.

THE FAMILY IiEItALD. Part XXX VII.
Among the penny peri‘idicals this stands undoubtedly
at the very head, both for the quantity, merit, and pro-
priety- of its literary contents. It is quite a microc-Jam
it tales, legends, and essays.

THE KNIGHT OF G WYNNE. No. WI. By
Charles Lever.

If this is not the pleasantest fiction ever written by
m • Ha, Lorrequer, it unquestionably contains the
pleasantest character ever drawn by that redoutable
-cribe. Bagenal Daly is beautifully conceived, and no
less beautitully described ; the mixture of conviviality,
generosity, eccentricity, daring, and independence in
this " fine old Irish gentleman" (whose dis osition, we
are afraid, is solely "one of the olden time,") is most
happily managed. Bagenal Daly, for a travelling com-
panion and auy road, would prove agreeable. In
Number VII., the story is rather at a stand-
still ; it is almost entirely composed of preparations
f,,r the removal of the Knight's family to a queer little
domain belonging to Bagenal, on the Antrim coast ; in
this said domain Daly's sister is tirst introduced to the
reader. Towards the conclusion of the last chapter,
when :Maurice returns home to Gwynne Abbey, in the
midst of carousing, a capital contretemps is introduced,
and is cleverly illustrated by Hablot Browne.

THE FORTUNES OF TORLOGH O'BRIEN.

No. IV.

Whoever is the author of the tale of the wars of King
James IL, he will, in it. produce a better work than his
former novel of " The Cock and Anchor." The present
number is immeasurably superior to any that has
hitherto appeara d ; the incidents are more startling,
colloquies more spirited, and the composition altogether
Of a higher character. Ti,dal's interview with the black
guest of Drumgannial is horribly well described, and
horribly wtll etched by Phiz ; the rather questionable
preservation of Glindarragh Castle from the Irish in-
,urgents is brilliantly told ; and as Colonel Torlogh
O'Brien the hero, is brought more into the society of the
heroine, we may expect the interest of the narrative to
increase.