The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-03 00:00:00

THE SU N, LONDON. MONDAY EVENING MARCH 3 !956.

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THE MAGAZINES.

ever done, step by step, across the broad pains f Eu-
rope, till from their last refuge, that rock of Vie Atlai-Ntic
to which they have clung lovingly, trustingly, at last
despairingly, during two thousand years, the old race
must be rent and severed to make room fur their tri, m-
phant succ,-isAor, the conquering Scythian. Yet, though
kings, pi ince, and' races perish, though a nation may
be obliterated, still the singular and beautiful literature
of that ancient people, the literature of two thousand
years ago, will live for ever in Ireland, to interest and
instruct the poet, the historian, and the antiquary—the
records of a people more ancient than the pyramids."

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Blackwood.—Although Maga still pursues her
course without the attraction of a serial story, in
pages hitherto glorified by talcs like Margaret
Oliphant's "Zaidee," or Bulwer Lytton's
tons," or Thomas Barharn's "Cousin Nicholas," or
Samuel Warren's " Ten Thousand a Year"—she is
yet, to the very last, wonderfully alluring, lively,
and vigorous. Look at one criticism alone in the
present number, as affording conclusive testimony
of this. Read it, chuckle over it, rub your hands
with very glee as you turn the leaves—and then
close it, when read, without a hearty roar of
laughter. We defy you—that is supposing you to
have a genuine appreciation of the ridiculous. It
is a paper not to be perused with a grave
eye, or a stirless lip—but to be exulted
over as a bit of rare fun. Another flourish
of the crutch of King Christopher ! More
magical than the wand of harlequin; and more
formidable than the most gnarled and knotty
shillelah twirled between a thumb and forefinger on
the green of Donnybrook ! "Biography gone
Mad"—to wit, the biographies recently published
at New York, of two American journalists, Horace
Greeley of the New York Tribune, and James
Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald. Mr.
Parton, the biographer of the former person, has
nomercyfrom the humorous reviewer in Blackwood.
Speaking of the hero of his big volume, Parton
says—absurdly enough—" If Horace Greeley were
a flower, botanists would call him single and ex-
amine him with interest," adding, "He is what
Germans sometimes style ' a nature.'" [Mr.
Parton has said, by the way, elsewhere, of his
hero—" he is a born legislator."] To which sub-
joins the very explicit and outspoken critic in Maga
—" And if J. P. also were a flower, botanists
would inevitably pronounce him a tulip.' He is
what in Scotland we sometimes call a natural'—
otherwise known as a baffling ;' or, in vernacular
English, a born fool !'" As for James Gordon
Bennett, of the New York Herald, more than sus-
pected to be the " Mr. So and So" of American
Notes—of whom quoth Ho is a public
nuisance, is he not? Yes, sir. A convicted liar?
Yes, sir. He has b.en kicked and cuffed, and
caned? Yes, sir. And lie is utterly dishonourable,
debased, and profligate ? Yes, sir. In the name
of wonder, then, what is his merit? Well, sir, he
is a smart man !" As for James Gordon Bennett,
of whom O'Connell said once on a public plat-
form " He is one of the conductors of cne
of the vilest Gazettes ever published by in•
famous publishers !" As for him what does
the Blackwood Reviewer not say ? h.e calls him
plainly and point blank, just to begin with—" the
Jack Ketch of Editors." He calls him "redoubt-
able and happily unparalleled." He speaks of him
as " a notorious blackguard." He speaks of his
"Memoirs" as forming a sort of companion work
to the Netvgate Calendar, or to Defoe's " Autobio-
graphy of an Unfortunate Female." He dilates in
uttermost scorn upon his "third-rate mediocrity
of thought and style," upon his "audacious schem-
ing," his "impenetrability to shame," and his
" invincible enduranc3 of chastisement." He
speaks of one of his blasphemous allusions as—
" worthy of a Couthon or a Marat"—likens him to
a vampire and a cobra-de-capella—talks in fine of
his successes as the results of the union of
" the minimum of literary ability, and the
maximum of moral worthlessness." Never, in all
his many cow-hidings, never, we undertake to say
in all his fleshly experiences of the welts and weals
of a rattan or the swinges and thuds of a horse-
whip—never before has James Gordon Bennett
been subjected to so tremendous a castigation .as
this in Blackwood. After it, in more senses than
one, we guess—Mr. Bennett will feel himself " a
smart man" and no mistake ! It is morally, to all
intents and purposes, like having his nose slit, and
his ears cropped, and his cheeks and forehead
branded, and riding through Coventry on the back
of a jackass with his face turned tailwards ! Enough
of this, however—Paugh ! The subjecttreated of is
in itself sufficiently revolting. And gladly do we
turn from it to the sweetening influence of a most
genial and in every way charming notice of " Syd-
ney Smith"—the Jove of Pallas Athenw, otherwise
the originator and first editor of the Edinburgh
Review—earliest and greatest Of all the Quarterlies !
The tribute offered to the shade of Sydney by
Blackwood is, from beginning to end, thoroughly
delightful. It will be examined with interest, and
with hardly more interest than admiration.
" Liddell's History of Rome" is the theme of the
opening paper of the March number, and must
be regarded as in all respects rather favour-
alde. " Monteil" is the brief title of the
second contribution proving, on inquiry, to
be an eulogistic mention of the obscure and
laborious life, followed by the posthumous cele-
brity of poor old Amans Alexis Monteil, the gifted
author of the history of the French of Various
Conditions. An absurd little treatise on the
"Greek Church," its doctrine, ceremonial, and
government, is chiefly remarkable for its swarming
prejudices, and its abundant evidence of a sort of
microscopic narro x-mindedness. An article on
" Nicaragua and the Filibusters," and another on
" The Scottish Fisheries," the latter suggested
apparently by a paper on the same subject in the
recently published ninth volume of the En
cyclopwdia Britannica, are followed by the
kinliy notice cf Sydney Smith, already
mentioned. This biographical and critic:ll
chapter on the witty canon of St. Paul's
and writer of " Peter Plymley's Letters,"
being succeeded by—a rather unusual circumstance
with Maga, as she- herself acknowledges—two
articles on one subject, one by an English lawyer,
headed " Peerages for Life," the other by a Scotch
lawyer, entitled the " Wensleydale Creation."
Both earnestly directed. against what Blackwood
designates " the unhappy and singularly
attempt to destroy the hereditary character of one
branch of the Legislature." We look in vain in
the present number for what was promised in the
last, namely, Tickler's Autobiography. He
pledged himself to it in February. But we grieve
to observe, in regard to so gentlemanly a dog, that
he has not by any means fulfilled' his—bow-wow !

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Colburn's United Service opens with a sketch of
the career of the late Prince Paskiewitch, written
in a spirit of generous appreciation. The "Lull in
the Storm" of war is taken advantage of by " Port-
lire " to look about and see what has been done
and remains to be done. The result is encouraging,
the Allies on his showing having little to fear and
everything to hope from a vigorous and judicious
prosecution of the war. Their tactics in under-
taking the reduction of Sebastopol are in his opinion
fully justified by the results. "In fighting Rus-
sia," he asserts, "you cannot go in and win. Try
it and you're done, as Charles and Napoleon were.
No. The only way of flooring Russia is to attack
her at her extremities." How lucky, if this be
true, that we blundered into that way ! " Leaves
from Western Africa" are still attractive, singly
and by their variety. "A. Visit to Scott Russell's
Dockyard," though highly seasoned with admira-
tion, does ne more than justice to that mammoth
establishment, in which alone that forthcoming
prodigy of shipbuilding, the Great Eastern, iron
steamer (25,000 tons burden !) could have been
constructed. " The prevailing impression'," it is
truly remarked, " which the visitor receives and
retainQ, in despite of others no less significant, is
that of vastness. Bulk, size, bigness is.the uncon-
trollable feeling which weighs upon the spectator."
"Gossip about our Ferry," ix other words, " the,
narrow sea between England and France," de-
scribed by Napoleon I. as "the most important ferry
in the world," is of national interest, and adds amus-
ing anecdote to noteworthyhistorical reminiscences.
The Irishman who did not know whether he could
play the violin or not, because he had never tried,
is outdone by a touter who knocks the bargain of a
rival the proprietor of a " bran new bye-channel
boat " on the head, by turning the newness of his
boat into an argument against embarking in her
after this fashion—" That's all again her, for she's
never been tried, and, in course, its doubtful,
quite uncertain, I should say, whether she'll sink
or swim." " Good gracious," gasps the green-
horn, " what an escape. Of course, it is. I'll
have no experiments tried on me." " Sketches of
Mercenaries" are continued—" Scots in French
Service" being the subject of the sketch for
Mar Ch. " The War in the Peloponnesus in 1820,"
a graphic and stirring narrative throughout, is con-
eluded in the present number. The editor, in his
Portfolio, directs a rattling fusillade against Lord
Panmure, for endeavouring to tarnish the prestige
of the illustrious Order of the Bith, by admitting
into its ranks men who have no pretensions to such
a distinction, such as Benjamin Hawes, the Twit-
dam soap-boiler at Lambeth, and passing over others
such as General Freeth, whose claims are indisput-
able. Knowing what we know, this is a little
amusing. Less exceptional is his recommendation.
of Commissary-General Filder to an equal share
of attention with the other C.B.'s, or Crimean
blunderers. One passage from the Portfolio ought
not to he omitted. "It has already transpired that
Lord Hardinge is not so black as he is painted, and
the public may one day learn with surprise how
much it owes to his zeal, his energy, and his untir-
ing devotion." Hibernian decidedly.

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The New Monthly.—The New Monthly opens
with a paper on the much-disputed Mosquito Ter-
ritory, which has lately excited so much attention.
According to the description given by Mr. Bard,
an American visitor to the Mosquito shore, it is
scarcely deserving of the jealousy and vexation it
has occasioned. It is true that the soil will pro-
duce rice, cotton, coffee, sugar, and indigo, but as
no European settlement can ever prosper on ac-
count of its unhealthiness, these advantages are
comparatively useless. The English, French, and
Germans have successively founded colonies, but
a few years generally extirpates all the inhabitanTs.
Some of the extracts from Mr. Bard's travels fur-
nish' us with interestinf details on this suhject.
"The Political Future of England" is a criticism
eui the recent French work of that title, and gives
a modente share of praise to M. de Montaleni-
bert's
production. It is followed by an article on
" The Siege of Kars," founded on the narrative of
Dr. Sandwith. No additional details can add to
the sympathy and indignation 'which the recital of
the sufferings of those deerted heroes has already
excited, but, if further confirmation were needed,
the testimony of Dr. Sandwith affords a mournful
corroboration. The author of "The Unholy
Wish" furnishes us with a continuation of the
story of Adela Chenevix under the title of "The
Merchant and his Wife." It is written with his
usual skill in tracing character and depicting do
mestic details, and seems to promise a conclu-ion
of properly melodramatic interest. The "
lilas-
trations of the Manners and Customs of tLe
Eighteenth Century " terminate in this number,
awl gives some curious details on the pe-
culiarities of style and orthography then in
use. The writer of these papers scarcely
does justice to his labours, in his final remarks,
for if his'' illustrations" have given us nothing new
in the way of historical instruction he has certainly
collected a large assortment of miscellaneous and
entertaining information. The history of Stoke
Dotterel], it appears, is not yet concluded, nor is.
it likely to end, as something strange remains to
ho told in the story of its hero. The de s Tiption
of a pilgrimage to the French Palaces, by Floren-
tia, is agreeably written, and promises to be highly
beneficial to i n tendi ug travellers, as the fair voyager
proposes faithfully to record all that she meets
with on her way. She complains of the inaccuracy
with which travellers' tales are generally told, and
sets out on her narrative by a too faithful picture
of the miseries of a stormy passage 'across the
Channel. The present pilgrimage only extends to
the Tuileries, respecting which there is so much
to be said that we cannot wonder that the traveller
loves to linger in recollections of Mario Antoinette
and the First Napoleon. " Literary Leaflets,"
by Sir Nathaniel, has this month a criticism of
liohn's new edition of the works of Addison. The
first part of an amusing story is translated from
the Dahish by Mrs. Bush by, and entitled " Cousin
Carl." We fear the next instalment, however,
will bring its adventurous hero into disgrace and
difficulty. We must not omit to mention an ar-
ticle on the Danes and Swedes, which gives a full
account of their land and sea forces.

Dublin, University.—This number presents va-
rious sketches of an entertaining nature. The first
paper concludes the account of "Potemkin, the
Crimea," &c., which was commenced last mouth.
It imparts information regarding Russia iu the last
century likely to meet with attention. The amus•
ing story of "Love in Curl Papers" is continued.
It becomes more intricate in this portion, as the
scene of action is removed to Munich, and the calm
serenity of the village is alundoned for the intrigues
of the city. " The Amber Mouthpiece" is a chro-
nicle of an adventure in Constantinople, which is
very interesting. The hero of the tale, in wishing
to be too clever, nearly lost his life, and met with
many misfortunes. By presence of mind, however,
he contrived to elude his enemies, and to bring
the cheats and impostors he met with before jus-
tice the next day. He was afterwards held up as
an example to others, as sustaining the rights of
travellers in distress. "The Cavalier and the
Puritan" is a singular tale, not devoid of interest,
but possessing some painful features. " The Dra-
matic Writers of Ireland" is concluded this month.
It has consisted of eleven numbers, and "has em-
braced eighty-seven names—a goodly number, and
an illustrious brotherhood." It is observed that
some may have been omitted through ignorance or
inadvertence, but if so the error shall be rectified
when made known. A valuable summary has been
presented from time to time to those desirous of
obtaining an account of the dramas of Ireland, as
they have thus had brought under itrmediate no-
tice what is difficult at all times to discover. " A.
Handful of Jacobite Songs" contains some spirited
pieces. The most deserving of notice is entitled
" The White Rose over the Water." The article
" Novels and Novelists" continues the descriptions
commenced in a former portion. Some of the
anecdotes mentioned are very curious. " Mar-
ryat's Sea Stories" form the subject of a paper. It
is said that "Peter Simple " was the work that
made Marryat famous. It was the most successful
naval fiction published in England. Some remarks
are made on Mr. qrilbert's work, " History of the
City of Dublin." In the course of the'article a
description is given of the views and purposes of
the author. In tracing the idiosyncrasy of the in-
habitants he goes back to a period of remote anti-
quity. It is observed in the concluding passage
that the ancient race is fast disappearing from Ire-
land, from famine and pestilence, but above all
from the numerous emigrations.
"From the Atlantic to the Pacific, where the rocky
mountains bar like a portal the land of gold—through
the islands of the Southern Ocean to the great desolate
world of Australia, seeking as it were the last home of
their fathers, and doomed to make the circuit of the
earth—still onward flows the tide of human life—that
inexhaustible race who have cleared the forests of Canada,
who have built cities and made all the railroads of the
state, who have given thousands to the red plains of the
Crimea, who have overcome California and peopled
Australia—the race whose 'destiny has made then& the
instruments of all civilisation though they have never
reaped its benefits.
"No colonies recross the Atlantic. Immutable as
the path of the planet is the destined cycle of human
progression, never ending, never ceasing, until perhaps
the ancient race, after its weary wanderings, will arrive
once more at 'the partings of the ways' in the far eastern
land of Paradise and the dispersion. It is but a sombre
vaticination, yet it is evident that from Ireland the old
people will soon pass away. The old language will be-
come a tradition. The Scythian races, with their free
spirit, and purer faith, will pour in to repeople the de-
solate lands, and to build up the waste. plains ; and the
ancient children of the south, of Tyre, of Carthage, of
the Telco of the Sea, moat leo before thew, aa they have

Tait's Edinlntrgh.—An article on the " Peace
Conferences" leads the way. The writer enters
on a consideration of the proposed terms of peace,
and points out the dangers to be obviated by the
exercise of due precaution on our pait. What
hope ho entertains on this head may be gathered
from the remark—" The peace, if it be concluded,
is a truce of years, five or ten." " Goethe : His
Life and Character," are reviewed iu a readable
paper. " Grace Dorrien," a tale, is continued,
and gives promise of greater interest. A second
notice of Alexandre Dumas is far from flattering
to " the improvisatore of the age," as he de-
lights to be considered ; his style is described
as " loose and verbose," his characters "undefined,'
his philosophy of life "shallow," his sentiment
" mere frail," his picturess "lacking consistency,"
his creed "too daringly impious to contemplate
calmly," and the morality of his writings in accord
with his professions. "Tangled Talk," by the
author of " Reading Raids," is sufficiently enter-
taining to be Worth unravelling. Mortimer Collins
contributes " Lily," an amusing legend of Guern-
sey, done into Ingolsby verse. " M'Neil and
Tulloch's Crimean Report" is reviewed with con-
siderable candour and judgment. One fact is new
to us—viz., the existence of a law-suit between
Government and Sir Harry Smith, involving the
payment of a large sum of money on account of the
issue of camp stores during the Kafir war. Among
the remaining contents the principal is a paper on
" Commercial Felonies," in which the public are
read some useful lessons.

Bentley's Miscellany.—The American question
seems likely to occupy as large a share of
the magazine articles as the Turkish question
did some months ago. Instead of epitomes
of. Russian history, accounts of the Tartar and
Cossack races, sketches of Circassian life, and
pictures of Constantinople, we are now likely
to hear a little too much of Nicaragua, and
its dependencies, the Mosquito country, and
similar imposing titles. The present number of
Bentley furnishes us with two papers on this topic,
entitled, " The Differences with the United
Stites," and, "Central America." It does not,
however, desert old friends entirely, for a little
further on we meet with an article headed, " A
Week in Constantinople." The editor's story of
" The Spendthrift" is continued, and the present
instalment brings the climax of the masked ball
adventures. It is a tale of the last century, and
Mr. Ainsworth's admirers will find in it all those
peculiarities of style and incident for which ha is
remarkable. Dudley Costello concludes his story
of " The Dock Warrants." An announcement is
made to the readers of Bentley that in the
April number a new tale of the times will
be commenced, by the same author, entitled
"The Joint-Stock Banker," and designed for the
very laudable and limited -purpose of putting a stop
to speculation. If it accomplishes this object it wilt
indeed rowajd its readers for the trouble of perusal,