The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-09 00:00:00

THE STUDENT.

A serious, sober, honest serial. Partially scientific,
partially critical, partially devoted to light literature.
In this number there are —" A Legend of Ancient
Mexico," a " Life of John Ronge," a botanical account of
" Hemlock and its prop trties, with other miscellaneous
contributions. And as the whole is devoted to the "In-
terests of Trade," it is surely to the interest of trade
that it should be supported.

PICTORIAL GALLERY OF ARTS.
Mr. Knight here brings the first volume of this spi-
rited series to a conclusion; and, considering its exceed-
ing cheapness, it may number among the many marvels of
typographical and illustrative art that have issued from
the press of late years. It is an undertaking deserving
of all praiso and all encouragement, as one like;y to foster
a love for the higher descriptions of art among the mul-
titude : it forms in itself a kind of moveable " National
Gallery." The frontispiece is a curiosity ;itis a copy
from a piece of tapestry in the possesion of Lord
Brougham, taken from the renowned " Virgin in the
Chair," of Raphael. The colouring of this plate is
brilliant; it is a good example of chromatic effect, at
once dazzling and subdued.

OLD ENGLAND'S WORTHIES.
James I. (that choice bard-prisoner, in the dungeon
at Windsor Castle), Henry VI. (that weak and feeble
monarch, familiar more with rosaries than sceptres),
Welsey (that problem of party-feeling, by one regarded
as the Cardinal-virtue, by another as the Cardinal-vice
of his age)—these and others, afford excellent materials
for the Second Part of Old England's Worthies. The
biographical condensations are. judiciously managed, and
the tone of narration is admirably impartial. When
completed, the volume will be an invaluable companion
to our native history.

CFIUI?TOIV'S LITERARY REGISTER.
A fantastic assortment of queer things is the opening
article of this number, not inaptly styled " The New
Curiosities of Literature." It groups together nearly
every superstition and "legende hoary" in connexion
with the month of February : it offers us some bits of
antiquarian and scholarly information of the blood
baths" used by the ancient Romans for purifying the
victims of Elephantiasis, or, as it is commonly called, the
white leprosy. It submits to our notice some fragments
from Dekker, descriptive of " moon-men," or half-
witted persons, with sundry other eccentric gleanings
from old folios, breathing of dust and cobwebs—smelling
anciently and wormeaten—a resuscitation of Sir Cor-
nelius Agrippa. In the after portion of the miscellany
there is scarcely a single publication that has appeared
within the past four weeks but what is mentioned in
some sort critically. The literature altogether is su-
perior, and the Register deserves patronage.

THE PEOPLE'S JOURNAL.
Though but the preliminary jump of a new ad-
venturer among our monthly publications, the People's
Journal bears about it an impress of health and stability,
which at first is so:newhat enigmatical, until we re-
member that its literary and artistic contributors are
equally experienced in the requisites for similar pub-
lication. What appears to be the most decided charac-
teristics about this serial is its fervid, and earnest, and
paramount advocacy of the populace. Nor is this tone
of earnestness, an affectation ; it bursts forth in bosom
gushes, it beats with the beating of an unseen but eloquent
heart ; it utters its bold ban upon oppression, it breaths a
soul sigh for the noes of poverty, it points to the on-
comings of better and brighter things ; its general
spirit is not that of morbid grumbling, but rather of a
heaven-born hopefulness. These qualities, however,
from their very sacredness, are restricted of course, to
the serious portion of each number; the lighter littera
tare abstains from the profanation of such themes—the
anomalous mingling together of grand truths and flip-
pant jokes. William Howitt gives two rather milk-and-
watery estimates of Charles Dickens and William
Wordsworth—men whose eulogy should not be sounded
forth in staid and formal periods, but in warm, and im-
petuous, and unstudied tones of love. We say advisedly
of love—for is that not a recompense well merited ?
Have they not severally attempted to excite within our
hearts affection for the Unseen and for the Seen ? And
have they not succeeded triumphantly in that beautiful
endeavour ?—have not their simple utterances stirred up
the waters of our inner-spirit ?—and are they not each
absolutely in some measure, what Shelley calls
" The silver key of the fountain of tears!"
by moving our dearest sympathies " up from our heart
unto our eyes,"—and after this shall we not speak of
them boldly, plainly, lovingly, and cordially ? For
this quietude of style, William Howitt is the very anti-
thesis of George Gilfillan, who estimates passionately,
and yet discriminatingly. Some metrical morceaux of
Ebenezer Elliott ; two smart sketches from London So-
ciety, by Angus B. Reach, with capital illustrations, by
Kenny Meadows, (the couple of waiters in the tavern
scene being the very extravagance of drollery) ; with a
plentiful supply of other very en'ertaing matter, form
altogether a valuable and amusing magazine of more
than ordinary merit, for the surprising small sum of
eightpence halfpenny. So much enterprise, so much
ability, so much benevolence of purposo will not surely
go unrewarded or unnoticed.