The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-03 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

Dub/in.—One of the most interesting subjects
here met with is an able article on "Lord Macau-
lay," in which, while ample justice is rendered to
that eminent man, his writings are criticised in a
fair spirit, and with a deliberate judgment. While
not particularly admiring historical essays in
themselves, the writer remlrks that Micaulay
has brought them aim st io perfection, and had he
never written arrytimg else they would nave se-
cured him a name in Eitgl.sh literature. This final
passage will illustrate the tone of the article :

" In conclusion, we nave but t) express a hope that
Lord Macaulay may yet achieve many intellectual tri-
umphs. We can scarcely expect , that he will ever
resume the lyre of the poet, or the pen of the critic and
essayist ; but we trust that in that senate to wbich be
has been raised •o worthily, he may be heard upon the
recent crisis of India in accents which, it they be not so
leep as these of Burke, n•ir so interpenetrated with
imaginative power, will reveal a mind more keenly
logical, an equal fancy and splendour of diction, a
sounder judgment, and a riper experience. We trust
that on many questions which may require profound
historical and constitutional learning, civil prudence,
and parliamentary reputation, England may long possess
the advantage of his powers. And we hope that if the
enormous research required for his great work precludes
him from the possibility of accomplishing his original
design, 'of writing the 134itory of England from the
accession of Bing James the Second down to a tittie
which is within the memory of men still living,' he may
be spared at least to complete that kreat drama of the
Revolution, which was cl)sed by the accession of George
the First, and secured for England that Parliamentary
government in which, in his own generation, he has taken
a conspicuous part."

"Gerald Fitzgerald" is continued. This por-
tion of the story is a very sad one, for
the youth whose fitful career is here traced,
wanders away from the new horns which
is f.rmed for him, and, in an unhealthy
situation, surrounded by lawless outcasts, we leave
him in a position little calculated to conduce to
his mental and physical welfare. A pleasing tale
is entitled, " The Ericssons," which does not
however, contain any striking incidents, but is a
simple domestic chronicle. " Pope and his Bio-
graphers" contains some just reflections ; it is said
that fame depends sometimes on circumstance as
well as talent, and from this combination Pope
stands forth between the English revolution and
the French the representative of the Muses
and the embodiment of English genius. " Brial-
mont's Duke of Wellington" is proceeded with,
and gives a summary of that illustrious general's
campaigns, which is well worthy of perusal. An ela
borate criticism appears on Ma'thew Arnold and
Macarthy, which will he agret-able to those who en ter
into such things. It is not written in that style in
which so many indulge, when descanting on the
literary merits of the authors before them, nu
judiciously dispenses approval and blame. Tlr
following pleasing verses are among the poetica
contributions to this number :
SPEAK ! SMILE! SING !
Speak !—and as melodious winds, agreeing,
Flutter some .iE )lian harp above,
All the sentient fibres of my being
Tremble to those thrilling tones of love.
Smile !—and as the by arcs of morning render
Iridescent violets brimmed with dew ;
So thy joyous glance responsive splendour
Wakes in tearful eyes that turn to you.
Sing !----and ah, my fancy, spreading pinions,
Floats above the sweet seraphic air :
Even as the soul to heaven's dominions
Soars upon the incense of a prayer.

W. C. K.

The New Monthly Magazine. —A paper on Lord
John Russell's character and career is one of the
most prominent in the .New Monthly. It scarcely,
however, does the veteran reformer justice.
"Al n wic k Cottage," by the author of Ashley, is
the continuation of the story that appeared last
month, under another name. It is a painful story,
and this part winds up with a tragedy which will
gratify the lovers of the horrible. It is written in
its author's usual agreeable and natural manner,
pourtraying domestic life very skilfully, but it is to
be regretted that an accomplished writer should so
often resort to the extravag int or frightful to
arouse the interest of his readers. " The Old
Chateaux of France," furnish the subj.ct for an
interesting article, which brings up some of the dark
old legends that haunt their sta'ely rooms. Ano-
ther paper concerning our continental neighbours,
is contributed by Sir Nathaniel, who continues his
series of Notes on Literature in France, and devotes
this part to the consideration of Emile de Bonne-
chose's History of England. Mr. William Bushby,
who appears as interested in the Scandinavian re-
gions as the lady of that name, gives us a pleasant
account of a trip to Iceland. The first part only is
given in this number, and as its conclusion leaves
him just coming in sight of Heel'. and the Geysers,
we presume the next instilment of the narrative
will be more interesting than the present. A
paper on the Civil Service competitors has an
amusing satire on the presumptuous ignorance of
some of the candidates. This we can scarcely con-
sider overdrawn when we remember that the ex-
aminers at a public competition sometime back
expressed their surprise at the ignorance of the
most ordinary knowledge displayed in some of the
answers ; one sage replying to a question about
Napoleon BJnaparte, that he had re-established
the dynasty of the Bourbons on the throne of
France. "Field Sports in Africa, India, and at
Home" gives a pleasant resume of three sporting
works, very attractive to sportsmen and lovers of
adventure. " A Romance of the Landes" gives us
the plot of a new novel by M. Edward About, and
numerous extracts. A political article from the
pen of the indefatigable Cyrus 11,dding concludes
the number.

Titan.—Titan, progress. .s with a healthy tone of
cren-g,th and fremhnes9. The original of this maga-
zin-, known as ilogils Instructor, alway 3 elicited
our approval as Leiug a giocl specimen of floating
literature and we are glad to see that, in its
more ambitious form as a monthly publication,
under the above title, it is thoroughly esiablished.
The present number contims varied and excell-nt
papers, among which two or three are worthy of
express euligy. The first. of a series of articles,
entitled "Alw Mitres," gives a highly amusing
sketch of university society in England, France,
and Germany. The writer's anecdote of his first
introduction at the University of Bonn, on the
Rhine, may possess a little gossippirig interest at
this. particular moment-, since the subject of it has
so recently played PI prominent part before our
own immediate vision :

I had an introduction to Professor B--, whose po•
sition gave him the lead among the members of the
univ.rAty. One day a note (in English) was put into
my bands and ran thus: 'Mrs B-- has the pleasure
to invite Mr. -- (the student) for this evening, half-
past five, to a small coffee dancing party•' The short-
ness of the invitation and the early hour did not lead m•
to expect much, but being new to the Cont,nent, I did
not make my appearance till half-past six. I found a
large party assembled in a pretty but very small draw-
ing-room, and afterwards *earned that, aciording to
German etiquette, they had been waiting to begin both
coffee and dancing till I arrived. Mrs. B-- came up,
and at once led me by the band round the room, intro
during me separately to every 1- dy and gentleman
present. I was quite weary of bowing, when at last
she presented him to a young man who differed in
nothing from the rest, except that he stood somewhat
apart, and as I knew too little of German to catch the
names, I had no idea that he was in any way dis-
tingui-hed. .

The gentlemen, with the exception of two or three
professors, were all students, and certainly their appear-
ance was by no means recherche. The coffee was handed,
the cups set down, a_ piano struck up in the opposite
room, and immediately each young man made
his way, to a young lady, bowed, gave her his hand,
and conducted her in silent pantomime to the dance.
As I knew very little of German and nothing of
Teutonic manners, I slipped out at once when the dance
was over, and led my partner back to her seat. This I
repeated atter each dance, and I was not long in dis-
covering that I was the object of some animadversion.
At length the cotillon came, and I was fortunat- enough
to be introduced to a Scotch young lady, the only
foreigner in the room besides myself. During the cotil-
lon I observed that the ordinary-looking young man of
whom I have spoken received from the rest. a peculiar
deference. Whenever a young lady was led into the
middle of the room to throw up her handkerchief, it was
sure to be so managed that this youth should catch it,
and thus secure the .4 alts with the owner. At la.t a
young lady, with whom I had danoed once already, and
whose pretty face and excellent waltzing had caused a
palpitation in my juvenile heirt, was led to the centre of
the room. Being the prettiest girl there, there was
somet o eßatch
t c eagernesshth the
hanadbkoeur
handkerchief;
ht
iheef ; youngcaug
caught
teint
and i
pwaserdetermined
waltz. When I returned to my place
my partner said
tome.

" Do you know what you have done ?"
"Nothing very 'hocking, I hope."
"A terrible breach of manners, here. You should
have allowed the prince to catch that young lady's
handkerchief. Did you not see how eager he was to
dance with her ?"
" The prince ? What prince ?" I asked, in surprise
"The young Prince of Prussia."
" You don't say so. Is he here ? Which is the
young hopeful ?"
She then p ‘inted out the rung man I have men-
tioned, and added : " I am afraid you have offended him
more than otice this evening,"
" How so ?"

"In lea;:ng the room before him."
I was much annoyed at offending royalty, but soothed
myself by taking an inventory of they itith and develop-
ing the conviction that no acuteness' on say part would
have enabled me to discover royal blood within him, H.
*as then very young and very different, from what be
was when I saw him at Oxford, two years ago
He was tall, slight, and pile and plain in face,
with amootb-chetke and chin, and remarkably abort

dust-coloured hair He wore a coat, by no means a
n. -w , bottor,d ur. acr,.ss th hr-as . and a some-
what s abby bisrk satin st.ck. His 4-xpre-s,on, however,
was honest and good.naturect, and I saw that his Royal
Highness was more amused than annoyed at the
gaucherie of the republican Englishman, when on leaving
he leave me a kind but significant smile.

"The Romance of Ice Fields" gives an epitomised
chronicle of Dr. Elisha. Kane's " Second Expedi-
tion in Search of Sir JJlin . Franklin," and cleverly
coniieusei rite sr4v,-ls and sufferings of the bold
adecntwers. " Pwidock's Green" is a very read-
able Wiltshire story, and " Shamrock Lore, with
a Postscript on the Scotch Thistle," will prove
peculiarly acceptable to the lovers of research
touching national emblems. The number is alto-
gether° a very welcome one on our literary table.

The Art Union, Journal.—We always look into
this Journal with considerable interest, being cer-
tain to meet with much to gratify the most refined
and eleva• t-d taste. The two chief engravings this
nmnth, from the Royal collection, are horn David
Wilkie's picture of "George the Fourth's reception
at Holyrood," and R. Jutsoni's " Noonday Walk."
The first is not a fair specimen of Wilkie's exquisite
genius, being stiff in composition, heterogenously
crowded wish figures, and incongruous in colouring—
the subject was not in Wilkie's style—the artificiality
of kings, courtiers, and royal castles were not
adapted to his natural and graphic pencil; more-
over, when we consider that the painter was
cramped by the dictation of " the finest
gentlemen in Europe," whose ability would
have been more suitably displayed in making
up a betting-book, or improving the cut of his satin
stock, we cannot wonder that the picture stands
far out of the glorious halo shed by the great
master's name attached to it. The second plate is an
exquisite bit of olden sylvan romance, with tho gal-
lant swain, the " ladye fair," the sportive hound,
the embowered pleasaunce and mossy slopes, redo-
lent of the days of Dorothy Vernon and Haddon
Hall. It is a charming scene, and carefully treated
under the manipulation of Brandred. The statue
of Campbell by W. Calder Marshall is finely ren-
dered, representing the poet under the seldom-
united aspect of natural ease and classical dignity.
The letterpress yields its usual attractive matter.
Mrs. S. C. 111.11's "Book of the Thames," with
charming illustrations, being continued in her moat
pleasing and fluent style.