The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-06 00:00:00

life sixty years since,-
remarking—" It is to be feared that a slight leaven
of the same spirit which then wasted the resources
and paralysed the energies of this powerful nation
may still linger round the precincts of Whitehall
and St. James's." The second part of " Studies in
Animal Life" is as full of curious information as the
first. The wonders of nature displayed in the almost
invisible animalculee of a duck pond are enough to
teach the proudest philosopher humility. " Cui ions
if True "is the title .of a very amusing paper. The
writer, Richard Whittingham, an English traveller
in France, is belated in a forest. Seeing a lighted
chateau he approches and asks admittance. To his
surprise he finds his name obtains him a ready wel-
come. He is ushered into an antique drawing-
room where a large reception is being held, but
many singularities of manners and costume strike
his eye. The secret is cleverly kept, and it is
some time before the reader discovers that the party
assembled consists of our old friends the heroes and
heroines of Fairyland—Cinderella, Puss in Boots,
Toni Thumb, Beauty and the Beast, and a host of
others, all older, wiser, and we must add less indi-
vidually attractive than when we first made their
acquaintance. Tne scene closes by the appearance
of "Madame la Fee Marraine," and the charm is
broken. " Life among the Lighthouses," gives
some curious and interesting details respecting the
first establishment of these valuable institutions.
They were originally monopolised by the holders of
official sinecures, and when the private proprietors
were bought out the compensation offered them
proves what gains they must have made
from the dues they levied on passing vessels.
We read of £350,000 being offered for one ; to
which proposition the owner indignantly re-
joined that "If he must sell, it must be for
£550,000, and that would not pay him." A jury
being appealed to, £445,000 was fixed on. This,
of course, was an extreme case, but it shows the
abuse of the privilege. But, as the writer observes,
" bad lighting, private proprietorship, public debt,
and to a great extent, even surplus light dues,
have gone for ever, and lighthouses have got
back to what Queen Elizabeth meant them to be—
public trusts, in public hands, for public uses." Some
harrowing details of the sufferings of lighthouse-
keepers in earlier days, when storms cut them off
from the mainland, are given, and many interesting
particulars of the various modes of building and
lighting at present adopted. Among other anec-
dotes we are told that when Rudyerd's structure of
the Eddystone was building, Louis XIV. was at
War with us. A French privateer seized the men
at work on the rock, and took them to a French
prison. The Grand Monarque, however, with
more magnanimity than he commonly displayed,
ordered their immediate release, saying that though
he was at war with England, he was not at war
with mankind. We congratulate the editor on
the ability of his second number, whose success was
rendered the more difficult from the expectations
excited by the first.

Macmillan's Magazine.

The fourth number of this serial fully maintains
the reputation it has acquired for the pleasant
variety of its stores. The eminent historian who
has so recently departed from amongst us is the
subject of two papers, The first, a tribute from
the pen of the ROT. F. D. Maurice ; the second, a
very interesting article entitled, " Macaulay as a
boy," containing two letters from Hannah More to
his father. The reader will trace with interest in
these records of his early career, the evidenees of
those literary tastes and brilliant talents which
have since made his name so famous. The his-
torian's mother, it appears, had been a favourite
pupil of Hannah More, when she and her sister
kept a ladies' school at Bristol. She preserved an
intimate friendship with both his parents, and
always took a deep interest in the young scholar.
It is curious to read these letters by the light of his
after fame, and to reflect that the boy whose educa-
tion at Westminster school was matter of anxious
discussion, has so recently been consigned to his
last home in its Abbey. Even at the early age re-
ferred to, the peculiar powers of memory and the
extensive study which afterwards so wonderfully
enriched his style, appear to have manifested
themselves. Thus Hannah More alludes to a de-
bate on the rival merits of Eugene and Marl-
borough, and says :—" The quantity of reading
that Tom has poured in, and the quantity of
',Mini" he has poured out, is astonishing. It is
in vain I have tried to make him subscribe to Sir
Harry Savile's notion, that the poets are the best
writers next to those who write prose. We have
poetry for breakfast, dinner, and supper. Re re-
•ited all ' Palestine,' while we breakfasted, to Mr.
Whalley, and did it incomparably." "Tom Browa
at Oxford" keeps on his way with spirit. The
most remarkable incident in this instalment is the
account ef a " gown and town row." The author
thinks it necessary to preface it by the expression
of his disapproval, and the announcement that ,
his school of " Muscular Christianity" does
not include such use of bodily strength.
" Modern Pensee Writers" is the title of a curious
paper, which gives us some glimpses into the trea-
suries of thought collected by the Hares, Novalis,
and Joabert. The popular authoress of " John
Halifax" contributes one of her attractive papers,
bearing the fascinating title of " The Age of Gold."
It does not refer to our modern money-making or
any such tangible wealth. The age of gold alluded
to, is the fairy world of imagination and fancy
which developes itself in a love of Mother Hub-
bard, and shows a vivid appreciation of Robinson
Crusoe and the Arabian Nights. The paper in
question has much pleasant writing, and suggests
some important truths to those who have the charge
of the unfolding intellect. An account of "Harper 's
Ferry and old Captain Brown" will deeply inte-
rest the reader. A clear and succinct summary of
John Brown's antecedents is given, a sketch of his
plan of action shown to us, and the excellencies of
his character prominently displayed in his letters.
After giving the particulars of his death the writer
observes, " Thus ended the first American execu-
tion for treason, for, strangely enough, it is said
that this God-fearing Bible believing descendant of
the Pilgrim Fathers, was the first citizen of the
United States who has died a traitor's death." It
may add point to the fact if we remember that both
the grandfathers of this first "traitor" were officers
in the revolutionary army, and that he himself was
sixth in direst descent from one of the pilgrims
who landed from the Mayflower. The writer re-
marks " that such a man should thus die is a fact
-which has set men thinking. Here is a man, honest,
guileless, brave, Christian, both fearing God, and
fearless of man to an extent which men read of in
the deeds of the heroes and saints of old, but which
they feel in their own hearts it is rare enough to
see—and yet this brave man is hanged. Why ?
Because ho is an enthusiast; because while he lives
:moiety in Virginia is not safe. What then is this
social system, the peace whereof needs the hang-
ing of such a man? A dangerous question this last."
He concludes his able article by observing that
Brown has gained two pointsby his rash but heroic
effort. He has shown that there are still among
the farmers and backwoodsmen, men worthy of
their Puritan fathers ; and he has exposed the
-weakness of the slave system, since twenty-two
abolitionists and coloured men were enough to
throw the whole of Virginia into a panic.