The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-03 00:00:00

THE PALLADIUM.

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Latterly we have observed a growing vigour in this
young but brilliant aspirant for public favour among the
magazines. Several et the contributions printed in the
last few numbers of the Palladium have displayed an
ability sufficient to elevate the publication to a level
with some of the most distinguished among its contem-
poraries. One article, especially relating to the great
poem, " Mystery of Prometheus," reveals, to our think-
ing, a grasp of thought, a depth of criticism and a com-
mand of language, such as are now-a-days but seldom
combined in a reviewer. The paper is evidently from the
hand of a writer worthy of his subject—the sublime
subject celebrated in ancient days by ./E3chylus,l and in
modern days by Shelley. The subsequent number con-
tains an unusual variety of Effusions relating to mes-
merism is Edinburgh, and to Napoleon crossing the
Alps, to an argument for Education and a history of
Cardinals, to a tale about the Jesuits and a story of
Mrs. Crowe; with reviews of such books as Gilfillan's
" Bath of the Bible," and of Miss Strickland's " Queens
of Scotland." For many reasons, therefore, we look
upon the Palladium as entitled to very large and earnest
commendation.

551; or, 7HE ADVENTURES OF MR. AND
MRS. SANDBOY S. Parts 11. and 111.

, Henry Mayhew, with his droll narrative of the for-
tuuts, or rather the misfortunes, of the Sandboys Fa-
mily, has supplied George Cruikshauk with a theme
congenial to that master of the humorous. Who that
has once glanced at his sketches of London and Manches-
ter during the year of the Great Exhibition can ever
forget them? Or, again, in the number for April, his
comic cartoon of the Opera Boxes during the same in-
dustrial demonstration? Lionardo never drew more
laughter-moving visages than many of those visible in
these same opera boxes. As they say in the Adelphi
bills, the whole entertainment is a screamer. Prosperity
then, say we, to the celebrants of the Sandboys, but es-
pecially to George Cruikshank.

GENTLEMAN'S.
All honour to Peter Cunningham for his elaborate,
genial, kind-hearted, and yet most just appreciation of
the character of Charles 11., the Merry Monarch, par
excellence, who with all his faults was the best Stuart
that ever occupied the English throne, and, indeed, was
the only one of his family who was English in feeling, or
who understood the English character. The fourth chap-
ter of the story of Nell Gwynne, which is devoted
to the personal character of Charles IL is a
delightful piece of historical writing, and proves that
Mr. Peter Cunningham is capable of great things. We
would suggest to him as a subject the Life of Charles 11.
We have no good biography of him, while perhaps there
are more materials extant for the preparation of such a
work than for that of the biography of any other of our
monarchs. In connexior with the history of the Stuarts
we have some most interesting anecdotes from the
Day-Books of Dr. Henry Sampson, who having been
a preacher under the Commonwealth, adopted the
profession of a Physician at the Restoration, and attended
in hat capacityong
theta
all the notabilities of the Puritan
party,
Oliver St. John, Solicitor- General to
tam
Charles 1., and afterwards Oliver Cromwell's Chief Jus-
tice of Common Pleas. Sampson was in the habit of
noting down in his day-books, among his prescriptions
and his accounts of expenditure, any anecdotes he had
heard during the day, appending to them his authority.
Many of these da)7books are unfortunately lost, but
, and it is to be hoped
they will be
given
to the public. As a
tshoamtea ere relo in
long
the British Museum
specimen of the information contained in these day-
tHwou reading
was accused
accused of
day-
books, and of the wisdom of the great Protector, we give
,O,
keeping
observations to
Mr
a nt
Exeter who
meetings
constantlythe Common Prayer, and causing a great confluence of the
gentry with their coaches and other citizens that way
Gunter
disposed." "As for your meetings, said Oliver to Mr.
Gunning, "it is tlsiust my principle to persecute any