The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-03 00:00:00

Colburn's United S ery ice—The critical state of our
relations with America brings forth an old contributor
(Portfire) who cautions John Bull on the danger of
underrating the Americans, whom, however, it is
admitted " we were never in a better condition to
whip." The " English in Mingrelia," describes
the recent campaign in that province and the causes
which led to its want of success. The difficulties
lying in the way of an amalgamation of " The
Royal and the Indian Army " are discussed seria-
tim, and pronounced insufficient objections to the
measure. Attention is drawn to the praiseworthy
efforts of the National Life-Boat Institution, and
Admiral Taylor's scheme for "The Preservation
of Life at Deal." The institution of " The Le-
gion of Honour " is traced " to its first little bub-
bling spring, in a conversation of the first consul
at Malmaison," and the feeble opposition it met
with described, the writer expressing approval of
the introduction of the practice of distributing de-
corative honours among our soldiers and sai-
lors, as being likely to be attended with
great advantages in both services. 14 T
Advance Guard" is a reminiscence of the
flank march on Balaklava, and, together with a
narrative of the proceedings of " Bonaparte in
Alexandria," will be read with interest by general
as well as military readers. To a descriptive paper
on " The Court of Prussia" succeeds an account of
" Central America" and its various States, suffi-
ciently acceptable at the present time. "Notes on
Military Science," " Leaves from Western Africa,"
and "Journals of the late Major Macready," are
continued, and afford a fund of instruction and
entertainment. The editor, in his portfolio, com-
plains of the neglect shown to the claims of Sir G.
Brown and other distinguished officers engaged in
the late war, and offers some well-deserved stric-
tures on " The Foreign Legion," whose cowardly
attacks on our soldiers he intimates will not be
submitted to. Having enumerated its delin-
quencies, "How long," he very properly asks,
" are the people of this great oountry to be thus
bearded, insulted, and dragooned by Lord Pan-
mure's precious auxiliaries ?" The number con-
tains the usual amount of military and naval

Bentley's Miscellany.—An opening paper called
" Current Events," takes a brief review of the
chief topics of the month—political, literary, and
dramatic, from the evacuation of the enemy's ter-
ritory by the allied armies, to the performance s of
Madame Ristori, notforgettiog to chronicle, among
the great events of the month, the publication of
the fortieth volume of " Bentley's Miscellany."
Dudley Costello's story of " The Joint-Stock
Banker" is continued, the 13th chapter bearing the
ominous title of "A Step in the Wrong Direc.i3n."
Mr. H. Ainsworth's romance of " The Spendthrift"
also progresses in a very surprising manner. Clare
Fairlie, the daughter, of the dishonest steward,
makes her father promise to pay his victim's
debts. Its readers will no doubt look forward with
curiosity to its continuance. The American diffi-
culty of course intrudes itself in the table of con-
tents. The present paper is enlivened by an ex-
tract from the Montreal Advertiser of May 31,
showing the light in which the Canadians regard
their mischief-making neighbours. Lord Cock-
burn's memorials furnish a subject for an agreeable
literary paper ; and a criticism on the recent
volume of the memoirs of Sir Robert Peel is not
without interest. - "Clara Elliot" is the title of a
story by the author who writes under the guise of
Miss Halliwell, an elderly schoolmistress, and
f ams a continuation of the last story of " The
Elopement," and also contrives to join together
the threads of several former tales. Monkshood's
article is, as usual, last, not least, in the magazine.
His " Pro,:ings about the Essayists and Reviewers,"
treats this month of one not unknown in the lite-
rary world, William Gifford, of whom he draws a
striking but most unpleasing portrait, as " a
waspish little gentleman."

Tait's Edinburgh.—The number for July con-
tains several interesting articles. The first as may
be guessed from its title, " Labour and Life," is
ou a subject of political economy, and takes into
consideration what is the amount of "a fair day's
work." . A paper on Meteorology is continued
from the June number, and gives an interesting
account of the nature and effects of hail and gla-
ciers, enterinz also on the important subject of
electricity. The electric light, it is suggested, most
probably only awaits the discovery of some cheaper
method of obtaining it, to be adopted in the place
of oil or gas for the purposes of domestic life.
Some surprising statistics of the descent of meteoro-
lites, or stones that fall from the sky, are given at
the conclusion of this instructive paper. "Tangled
Talk" has some striking thoughts skilfully expressed
on some of the common places of ordinary exist-
ence. it might profit by the wise suggestion
given in the division under the head of Principiis
Obsta. A sketch of the earnest and toilsome life
of the late Dr. Kitto is given, in the course cf
which there is a description of the plague awl in-
undations at Bagdad, during his residence there.
A critical article on Poets and Poetry brings
before the reader's notice several different classes
of poetical composition. Winifred Mowbray, or
Queen Mary's Maiden, is concluded in this month's
number, and there are several other articles of
general interest.

The o,cford and Cambridge is not less acceptable
for being less pretentious. Among its contents
may be noticed a review of " The Life and Charac-
ter of Marshal St. Arnaud," and " A Study in
Shakspere"—the latter being especially deserving
of perusal. "Timon of Athens" is the subject
selected ; and, in addition to some general light
thrown on the principal character, We have useful
morals deduced from the entire play—a thoughtful
reperusal of which, by the way, the essay is well
calculated to insure.

who ara not yet tired of "Itsvelations of the
War' may be attracted by a criticism on M. de
Bazancourt's recent work, and those who knd ,r,
amusement in the search for the humorous may
discover entertainment in the paper immediately
following it, which conveys "Information relative
to Mr. John Tubbs and certain Members of his
Family." The poetical contributions consist of
some verses by J. E. Carpenter, which scarcely
equal the average of this pleasant song writer's
compositions, and one of James Payn's spirited
ballads from English History. The present one is
in celebration or the burial of the Black Prince,
whom the minstrel describes as
" The fa'test friend to England,
The fiercest foe to France,
The kindest heart in Christendom,
And the most gallant lance."
A very interesting paper on Mrs. Browning's
poems concludes-the number. This notice ren-
ders full justice to the early productions of this
true poetess, whose writings deserve to be more
widely known and appreciated.