The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-02 00:00:00

31AGAZINES.

Blackwood.—The readers of this magazine will
soon miss from its pages its chief attraction in the
brilliant work of " What will he do with it." The
interest becomes more intense ; and it is most pro-
bable that in the next and final number the author
will achieve as great a success as in any of his
previous novels. In this portion we meet with
some striking passages, the chief of which may be
cited that in which the ardent preacher, GeOrge
Morley, endeavours, with all the, force of his
powerful mind, and all the fire of his glowing
eloquence, to influence and direct the proud anti
inflexible Darrell. A higher aim the loftiest ambi-
tion could not aspire to than that which animated
the man who dared to assail the unapproachable
stronghold of the mighty recluse. He addressed
himself to his arduous undertaking in the only
spirit which could render it practicable. He re-
garded things in their relative value, showed how
good qualities and glorious gifts may be perverted,
and, finally, for the sake of argument, supposed
a character similar to the one he then beheld, and,
in this fictitious form, contrived to express opinions
and urge claims that had otherwise been impossible.
He pointed out no worldly advantage accruing
from such actions as he extolled; but he dwelt on
the blessings that wait on the true sacrifice of self
—the mind at peace, the heart at rest. He attacked
the greatest enemy of Darrell's life, pride, in
the right way, by showing how insignificant an
attribute it was to a character so exalted. " What
an heir to train through the brief school of earth
for due place in the ages that roll on for ever !" he
exclaimed, in allusion to the noble nature he illus-
trated. The result of his appeal has yet to be made
manifest. An interesting scene is that which re-
cords the vindication of " Waife." His old friends
restored to him, exerted themselves to make his in-
nocence clear before the eyes of men, and they suc-
ceeded without implicating the offending son, to
maintain whose apparent innocence the father had
paid so heavy -a penalty. Those who, in most
romances, are the most prominent on the scene—
the young, whose fate has to be decided in the
dangerous lottery of love—seem here in a manner
eclipsed by the striking peculiarities of the more
developed characters. There may remain some,
however, who fix their attention, and centre their
interest, in the gentle Sophy, and the daring Lionel,
whose horizon is now so overcast. A very able
article is that entitled " Bright Absurdities," in
which the writer exposes the fallacies of hisargu•
ments, the errors of his assertions, and the mistake
he has committed in substituting bombast for inde-
pendence of spirit. It is said that, " even in his
calmest days, the sight of a peer, a bishop, or a
general in uniform, used to act on the Quaker tem-
perament of Mr. Bright very much as the sight of
scarlet irritates the horned leader of the herd."
There is great truth in the remarks addressed to
Mr. Bright regarding his infatuation for the model
republic of the West. It is asked how the
freedom can be perfect where one half of the
country is covered with slavery ? It is also
suggested to Mr. Bright that he should
proceed to the country of his choice, and see what
reception it will give to the abuse of its errors. In
conclusion, there is an analysis of some of the most
glaring inconsistencies that strike the attentive
reader in the orations at Birmingham :

" In executing this oratorical legerdemain, he had to
perpetrate a hundred inconsistencies, but he never flinched.
What are we to think of a man who denounces are aristo-
cracy as the promoters of a war policy, yet quotes as on
his side Fox, Walpole, Grey, and Aberdeen (four of the
most aristocratic statesmen of the last hundred years, and
each of whom was strongly supported by the great houses)
—leaving the great commoners, Cromwell and the two
Pitts, to be quoted against him ? What are we to think of
a man who says that forty thousand officers and soldiers
perished in the late war, yet the next moment asked, ' who
have gained from it, but the military ?' What can we say
of one who justifies the costly and menacing fortifications
of Cherbourg, yet is furious at the proposal to add a single
man, gun, or gunboat to our own defences? What are we
to think of one who asserts that the people' are all for
neace, yet himself scolds the working-classes for having
'given their voice for the war r Can he be honest or fair
who ridicules the balance of power' in Europe, yet eulo-
gises the people who sport the doctrine of 'manifest destiny'
on the other side of the Atlantic ? Is the man sane who,
as a proof of the injustice done to the lower classes, points
to the enormous amount of poor-rates, yet holds up as his
idol countries where there are no poor-rates at all, and
where paupers are left to shift for themselves P With
what effrontery does he complain of the slow triumph of
free trade, as a proof that the franchise is too limited and
the people not adequately represented, when in France and
the United States free trade is scouted under a regime of
universal suffrage ? In fine, what discernment is there in
a man who regards the reign of the people as synonymous
with peace, freedom, and free trade, when universal suf-
frage, in the only two countries where it exists, has pre-
cisely the opposite effects—in France supporting protection
and a military despotism ; in the United States supporting
slavery and protection, countenancing filibusterism, and
clamouring for annexation ?"
There is an amusing tale, called " Cousin John's

Property," which is well worthy of perusal. The
point turns on a somewhat novel idea, on an old
subject. A wealthy kinsman is supposed dead by
his heirs, and the cause of the mistake was, that in
announcing his marriage, a foreign paper bad
omitted half of the paragraph, and consequently it
was inserted among the deaths, and copied into
the home publications. Besides this striking
climax, there is a great deal of humorous descrip-
tion met with in the course of the story, which
renders it agreeable and amusing. "A Pleasant
French Book" is the title of a paper that discusses
the merits of M. Biot's work on scientific and lite-
rary topics. It is interesting, from the talent dis-
played in criticising and descanting on the sugges-
tive subjects. " A Cruise in Japanese Waters" is
the first part of some accounts of that empire,
which will, no doubt, be interesting. There is a
very well written article on the " Sermons" of Mr.
Caird, which are admirable in their intrinsic excel-
lence, and well deserve the tribute which is here
rendered to them. It is satisfactory that such wis-
dom and eloquence are disseminated among the
public generally, and not confined to the limits of
one congregation.

Fraser's Magazine—A paper on Carlyle's Frede-
rick the Great opens the present number of Fraser.
It is by the author of the " Life of Goethe," and
displays a cordial admiration of Mr. Carlyle's abili-
ties, and a lenient judgment of his eccentricities.
" Our New Treaty with Japan," finds a place
among the subjects treated of, and affords a very
interesting article. The writer evidently knows
something of the peculiarities of this extraordinary
people, and cautions the authorities to be careful in the
commencement of their dealin gs with them. Amongst
other recommendations, he tells us that every
European ought to appear before the Japanese in
some military character, it he desire to be regarded
with respect. The soldiers occupy the fourth rank
among the eight classes of Japan, while the mer-
chants are only the sixth. Another important
requisite is an acquaintance with the Dutch lan-
guage,as the inhabitants of the Empire are mostly
familiar with it, and it therefore prevents
the necessity of employing an interpreter, whose
intervention is always to be deprecated. Dutch,
being the language of the sciences in Japan, an
ignorance of it implies to the people an ignorance
of science, which would be very disadvantageous to
our repute. They appear to be an intelligent
people and eager for knowledge, if we may judge
from the questions they put to the Dutch merchant.
An interesting paper on Snake Birds continues the
zoological series, which displays both information
and ability in the writer. The story of " Han-
worth" is brought to a conclusion somewhat
abruptly ; however, as all parties are happily
settled, the reader must not complain. Another
story, " Hector Garret, of Otter" is also brought
to a conclusion with the year. It is striking and
original in style like most of the tales by the.
author of " Meg of Elibank." The young simple
girl, transported to the lonely dwelling of the
'middle-aged student, discovers the secret of her
husband's early love for the fair Alice Boswell, and
is overwhelmed with sorrow and dismay. In this
part, however. we are told how time and trouble
brought a happier state of things, and replaced the
dead by the living. Shirley gives us a lay-sermon
on " People -who are not Respectable," which con•
tains some just and sensible remarks. We
demur, however, to his placing Lola Montes
and the Abbe Domenich in the same category.
There may be some bigoted and narrow
minds who would regard with the same
aversion the Bavarian dancerand heroic mis-
sionary,
~ but we should hope in these days of
advancing toleration, they are not sufficientlyThenu-
merous writer evi•
dently possesses an elevated mind and extended
sympathies which pass beyond the narrow bounds
of sectarian creed and race. " India in a Mess,"
by the author of " India in Mourning," draws an
effective picture of the general uncertainty result-
ing from the late catastrophes. A memorial paper
on the Dean of Ely traces his active and brilliant
career, and an article on M. de Montalembert con-
cludes an interesting number.

Bentley's lifiseellany.—The journal of a week's
shooting in Ceylon, will entertain sportsmen and
afford some amusement to the general reader by
showing him the fatigue and inconveniences which
lovers of sport willingly undergo for the pleasure of
putting a few harmless creatures, out of the world.
The writer appears to have been particularly
adventurous and successful in his exploits. The
German almanaeks for 1859 furnish a very amusing
paper, showingthe
original and ingenious manner in
which some of them record the remarkable events.
The specimens of the jokes given do not say, much
for Allemanian wit. " Died in a Fit" is the
somewhat alarming title of the continuation of the
190
history of Mr. Canterbury's family. AS