The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-03 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Eclectic Review has several interesting sub-
jects among its contents this month. The first of
these is the life of Dr. Kitto, of whose career a
very interesting account is given. His last illness
was brought cn by overwork of the brain. Though
originally possessed of an excellent constitution,
lie destroyed it by excessive and unremitting
mental exertion. At one time his hours for work
extended from four in the morning till nine at
night. The biographer renders full justice to his
literary abilities and earnest piety. " The Arts
of the Middle Ages" is a criticism on a recently
published work on mediwval art, translated from
the French. It is of course a mere outline of the
subject, which is a most extensive one, with a
long catalogue of eminent names. Setting altoge-
ther aside the great painters and sculptors of those
gifted epochs in the lower walks of art,
B3nvenuto Cellini, Bernard Palissy, and many
other followers of what are termed " useful arts,"
are not to be forgotten. There are, as the writer
hero remarks, ample materials for a history of these
arts and their artists. There aro some papers on
theological subjects, which are usually to be found
in this review.—Tait's Edinburgh Magazine opens
with some just remarks on the Treaty of Paris. It
is followed by " An Ode to Sunshine," a somewhat
ambitious performance, which is not very success-
ful. " Grace Dorrien," a love story, is continued.
A paper on " Pets, and What they Cost," falls
into the very old mistake of supnosinv that those
who patronise the animal tribes must of necessity
be unfeeling the towards their fellow-ctures, and
vice versa. There are articles on Ameri
Government and the Syrian Land, and also the
first part of an old English story.— Sharpe's London
Magazine presents its usual variety of light and.
agreeable reading. The chief features in the nura.
ber before us are thecontinuations of Silverpen's tale
of " The Holy _Homes," and of A. W. Cole's " History
of the Adventures of Lorimer Littlegood.,, The
latter is illustrated by the skilful pencil of George
Cruikshank. Three new serials have recently made
their appearance, under the titles of The Oxford
and Cambridge Review, The Train, and The Idler.
The first of these generally presents a most attrac-
tive title of contents, but the articles do not always
come up to the reader's expectations. However,
it will, no doubt, improve with time, and mean-
while is quite equal to many older serials. The
Train and The Idler, as their names imply, are of
a very similar character. Designed. merely to
amuse a passing hour, they only seek to give a va-
riety of entertainment, among which the generality
of readers may find something to their taste.
Of the two, The Idler appears to be the
best. Newton's London Journal, and the
Mechanic's Magazine, are both entirely de-
voted to practical purposes. Patentees and
those interested in the progress of scientific inven-
tions will find Newton's Journal of them much
information, while the Mechanic's Magazine is of a
more elaborate character, giving articles on elec-
tricityand mechanical locomotion, with illustrative
woodcuts. It is published weekly And monthly,

M acphail's Edinburgh Journal and the Church-
man's Magazine are both of a serious character.
The former is a long-established serial of the Scotch
Church. The Churchman's Magazine has many
generally interesting topics, among them a paper
on the recent astronomical controversy. Le Folict
offers its usual attractions to all the devotees of
fashion. A double sheet of spring walking cos-
tumes accompanies the ordinary plates.