The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-03 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

Blackwood's Magaine.

With several readable articles there is not one of
especial mark in this month's number. The consi-
deration of " Wellington's Career" is brought to a
conclusion, and, though the subject is now well
nigh threadbare, it must be allowed that in this
instance some interest is imparted to it by the
spirited style in which it is written. Without
going so far as the writer of these pages in suppos-
ing the career of Wellington to be an excellent
subject for an epic, " hereafter when ages shall
have done their hallowing work, and when the
present generation of men shall have become as re-
mote as the early Greeks or the founders of Rome
are to us," it is certain that this present juncture is
not the time to depreciate the services or deprecate
the character of one who, whatever might have
been his peculiarities in private or his prejudices
in public life, was a true patriot, a gallant soldier,
and a zealous defender of his country. England
had no more successful vindicator of her rights than
he who so often led her sons to victory, and who
finally made them vanquish the conqueror of Europe.
Some of the remarks at the conclusion are very
well made in a terse and reflective manner. It is
said that the warm regard entertained for him by
his countrymen rests on sure grounds.

"They knew that he was a good and a great man. They
were proud of his deeds and his virtues. They loved his
personal dignity, his manliness, his simplicity and strength.
Their confidence in his judgment and sagacity was pro-
found, and they were assured that those pre-eminent qua-
lities were absolutely, without reservation, at the service of
the State, unbiassed by the hope of popular applause, or the
fear of popular censure. He had thus become a kind of
court of appeal of the people from their own impulses. In
him, too, they believed they saw an embodiment of the na-
tional spirit in its best aspect--the spirit which, in its most
practical aims, is directed still by the noblest influences.
His most remarkable characteristic was the union of com-
mon sense with lofty feeling—of matter-of-fact and chi-
valry. He was a man of great actions, but small profes-
sions—a knighterrant without extravagance ; a man of
business whose career was a romance. Recalling the me-
mory of mighty contests and of great successes, that good
grey head, with its halo of. former glories, stood amid the
' later times like the peak of a submerged world. Yet his
was not the dignity which lives apart, and calls exclusive-
. ness to its aid. He was by sight, as well as by reputation,
the best known man in England."

Further on it is stated that " the spontaneous
mourning of a people lent solemnity to his funeral
splendours, and that while with him seemed to
"vanish some of the force and majesty of England,''
he left to his country a rich inheritance—the in-
crease of reputation abroad which sprang from his
achievements and his policy, and the gain at home
which a people derives from noble examples and a
great name. Another excellent article is on " The
Mill on the Floss," and those who have read the
work in question will readily accord their corrobo-
rating testimony to the general accuracy of the
opinions here expressed concerning that remark-
able production. There is a short epitome of the
story here given without trenching on the more
thrilling passages, which need no comment, and can
only be fairly considered by perusal. One passage
in this article is most veritable. It is that which
refers to the superior attractions of a softer, weaker
character, to enlist our sympathies, rather than a
cold, severe one, who is upright.
"Those who read the volumes before us with vivid recol-
lections of Adam Bede (as who will not ?) may notice how
much mare strongly our sympathies are roused by imper-
fect characters. In that story the author designed, we may
suppose, that we should be most interested (of the male
characters) in Adam. And certainly, if a noble portrait of
all that we profess to admire and love in the manly charac
ter, yet not too perfect to be human, could have effected
this, we found it there. Yet it will scarcely be denied that,
to most readers, the heart all along went with the weaker
brother, Seth. That Dinah cannot love him—though we
know it to be impossible, and do not wish it—yet strikes
the tenderest chord, we have always thought, in the whole
story. In the Mill on the Floss' none of the characters
approach perfection ; the heroine as little as any ; yet we
venture to assert that Maggie's passionate and rebel-
lions weakness has more interest for us, however undeser-
vedly, than Adam's enduring strength. The true heroic
struggles, which are silent and successful, are a spectacle
for gods, not men. The indications of weakness and peril
must be patent, to gain any deep sympathy from mortal
lookers-on."
Many will believe that a difficult task has been
successfully accomplished in this criticism of a
work which demands some skill on the part of
those who sit in judgment on its elaborate struc-
ture. These brilliant volumes will doubtless for
some time furnish the theme for essayists and re-
viewers, and this inaugurative notice in this periodi-
cal is worthy alike of the work under consideration
and of the publication in which it appears. " A
Feuilleton" is a most amusing sketch of life abroad.
The adventures of Labure Mathien are really most
entertaining, and his episode of love is endued
with some of the attributes of romance, although
the first scene is enacted in a place never supposed
to be akin to sentimentality—the interior of an
omnibus. A very curious paper is"that on " Judi-
cial Puzzles," and the story of Elizabeth Canning
does not redound to the credit of the legal profes-
sion of last century. It is not likely that a girl
who had been so ill-treated as she evidently had
been would have invented a statement; it is far
more probable that the cunning of the gipsies and
their confederates proved more than a match
for the wisdom of the judges. Art-students
will be pleased with the paper on " Munich
and its School of Christian Art," which considers
the subject in an enlightened manner, and is a
fair spirit. While according to Munich Art and
the , German Christian School the honour which
is their due, it is said that the nationality of th(
country is in jeopardy. " The Art of Durer and
Van Eyck is extinct. In its stead Perugino and
Pinturicchio, ravished from the rest of hallowed
tombs, are dragged over snowy alps across three
three centuries of history, , and now come with the
skeleton touch of death to mock the ways of Na-
ture." There are some admirable remarks in the
last article on " Switzerland and French Annexa-
tions." The subjoined passages are some of those
that forcibly illustrate the dangers that menace in
consequence of the unfair seizure of Savoy :
" As for the stipulation that the neutralised territory is
to be held by France,. only subject to the conditions under
with it was held by Sardinia, and as to the plea that its
neutrality was only established in favour of this latter coun-
try, the stipulation is about as valuable as the plea is sound.
The object of neutralising this territory was to protect not
merely Sardinia, but Switzerland; and indirectly not merely
these two countries, but all Europe. It was very properly
considered as the key to Italy ; and Sardinia, as most nearly
interested, was intrusted by Europe with this key. The
object was to lock out the very Power into whose hands it
has now passed. A man who has determined to force a
door open, is not likely to content himself with kicking at
the panels when he has got the key in his pocket, even
though he may have promised not to use it, particularly
after having been put to enormous trouble and expense in
getting hold of it. One fails to see the object of the sacri-
fices made to obtain possession of the neutralised territory,
if its strategical advantages are never to be made any use of.
If it is worth the while of France not merely to engage in
a costly war, but to incur the suspicion of Europe, for the
sake of these provinces, surely it must be the duty of
Europe to resist any such attempt, not only because it is
unjust towards the populations whose liberties are being
bartered, but because its own interests are at stake."

Fraser's Magazine.
The present number of Fraser has several excel-
lent articles. It opens with an essay on " Compro-
mise," from the pen of G.. Whyte Melville, in which
there is much sound sense and sober though melan-
choly truth expressed through the medium of a clear
and forcible style. We recommend all who are inclined
to reject the compensations offered to them by their
surrounding circumstances, to study its philosophy
and follow its advice. Shirley. contributes a paper
on " Certain Aspects of Toleration," which has some
excellent remarks, although the part referring to
the Scottish ecclesiastical dispute is somewhat
tedious. " Gryll Orange" is continued. It is as
quaint and classical as ever. The seven weird
sisters figure prominently in it, and the conver-
sations of the chosen band of friends are as
heretofore replete with mythology, tradition, quo-
tation and reference. Sir J. E. Tennent's admira-
ble work on Ceylon receives a lengthened and care-
ful notice. It is remarked that the public have now
before them the "fifth edition of a book published
five months ago, descriptive of a country of which
till the appearance of these singularly successful
volumes, the ignorance that prevailed was almost
proverbial. In the course of a single season Sir
Emerson Tennent has made the name of Ceylon as
familiar as that of Italy, by the production of a work
in which he has embodied, in a form at once envy clo-
psedic and luminous, the result of years of un-
wearied and well•directed research, c,,mabined with
minute and extended personal observation during
the period that he administered the Government of
the island." A K. H. 8., whose writings are now a
regular part of the magazine, contributes a very
entertaining essay on the dignity of the Duchess.
He attacks the theory which many uphold that a
work of solid thought and intrinsic value must ne-
cessarily be heavy and dull, and censures the
respectable prejudice which induces many persons
to look on a brilliant and interesting speaker or
writer as necessarily superficial and his eloquence less
to be relied upon than the ponderous periods of a
man greatly his inferior in point of intellect. The
writer, wha, although sometimes tautological and
diffuse in his style is never guilty of dulness, has a
good right to express himself strongly upon the
matter. It is a very agreeable and well written
paper—an encomium which moat of his essays de-
serve more or less. Mr. Theodore Martin's recent
translation of Horacereceives a favourable criticism,
which concludes by recommending him to attempt
an English version of other Roman bards. Mr.
Alexander Bain gives us a very able and thought-
full article on Phrenology and Psychology. It
shows great knowledge and carefsl study ;
but it is written in so clear and compre-
hensible a style, that the somewhat abstruse
subject is brought within th 3 reach of the
general reader, who is not pe7plexeil with s

scientific technicalities or recondite theories.
" Wheat and Tares" is continued with spirit ; we
fear that Rex will not long remain faithful to his
allegiance to the absent Ella. A paper on the late
Prize-Fight censures the barbarous and inhuman
nature of such proceedings, but remarks that were
the certainty of personal injury equally great to
every soldier on entering a battle, many red-coated
heroes would be less anxious to encounter a cam-
paign. Moreover, it is observed that a bull-fight,
still the national pastime and fashionable amuse-
ment of Spain, is more cruel, more unjust in its
character, since the unfortunate beasts are forced
to be the sufferers. Another paper continues the
Collier controversy, and brings to a conclusion a
very able and interesting number.

Bentley's Miscellany.
" Ovingdean Grange" is still, of course, the pro-
minent feature in this magazine. The present in-
stalment is full of stirring incident, and recounts
the rescue of Colonel Gunter from the hands of the
Roundheads through the ingenious strategem and
energetic assistance of a band of Cavaliers headed
by Lord Wilmot. " The Outremanche Correspon-
dence" is continued in its accustomed lively strain,
and discusses the aspect of art and literature. The
indefatigable pen of Mr. Dudley Costello continues
the narrative of " Gurney, or Two Fortunes," and
Monkshood contributes another of his agreeable
papers of Mingle• Mangle. The second part of the
Essay on " Stream Sounds" fills the present por-
tion, and is enriched with numerous quotations and
illustrations from the poets. For graver articles we
have papers on " The French Embassy in China,"
and " The Duke of Orleans and the Chancellor
Dagnesseau," the latter being founded on the recent
historical work of Oscar Devallee. " Oiuda" con-
cludes his characteristic love story to the reader's
great satisfaction, by making his hero and heroine
happy.

Colburn's New Monthly Magazine.

A full and complete description of the fortifica-
tions of Toulon opens this number, and will pro-
bably attract the attention of those political readers
who look with some suspicion on the proceedings of
our Imperial ally. The author takes a view of the
history of the town, the arsenal, which is one of the
largest in the world, the Bagne, and the fortifica-
tions, and arrives at the following conclusion :
" From Toulon we have nothing to fear so long as
Malta and Gibraltar are kept in a proper state
of efficiency ; to disarm Cherbourg we must press
on the fortification and harbour works of Dover.
Till these are completed, the safety of England
against French invasion depends on our Channel
fleet, and our close attention to the movements
of Louis Napoleon." A paper on Life Assurance
has some sensible remarks on the excellence of
the system. The author observes that it is very
satisfactory to see that the assurance of lives is now
generally regarded as one of the most beneficial in-
stitutions of the age, and justly says that but for
the evils attendant on unsound and reckless com-
petitions, the good would have been unalloyed.
He compares the present extensive development of
life assurance with its insignificant commence-
ment in the reign of Queen Anne, and says hu-
morously, in allusion to Dr. Letheby's remarks
on the strain on a city life : " Life Assurance is
becoming daily of more vital importance to a large
proportion of the people, and it seems as if the in-
creased facilities for it were a compensation due to
mankind, when so many special agencies recog-
nised by physicians as tending to increase the
uncertainty of life are in operation, not to mention
revivalism and Dr. Cumming, long sermons, andthe
activity of unpaid lecturers, the weariness of the
British Museum galleries, the Civil Service exa-
minations, the income-tax, bad cookery, and the
speeches of Mr. Bright, as evils of the day tend-
ing to shorten life." A notice of M. Freytag's
work on the " Thirty Years' War,' gives some ac-
count of the miseries endured by the German ;pea-
santry during that protracted:struggle. Mrs. B ushby
continues her story of the " Belles of the Island"
and gives us some animated sketches of West In-
dian life. "A Holiday Tour in Spain" is also ad-
vancing, and supplies us in this month with a de-
scription of Granada and its Alhambra, the theme
of old romance and Moorish ballads. " The Jews
on the Continent" is the titla of a paper, which
traces the troubled and eventful history of the per-
secuted Israelites, and recounts some of their suf-
ferings from the cruelty and intolerance of peoples
and their rulers. Sir Nathaniel has this month
varied his contribution, and furnished some" Night-
ingale Notes," not referring in any way to the ac-
complished lady of that name, but to the veritable
songster. He finds, of course, plenty of poetical
allusions to Philomela, though, among his nume-
rous quotations from our poets, we do not find any
citations from Keats' celebrated ode. We are pro-
mised another instalment of this paper. The inte-
resting story of " East Lynne" is continued, and.
chronicles the important and unexpected event of
Lady Isabel's marriage with Mr. Carlyle, It is
hastily arranged to secure her removal from her
miserable home with Lady Mount Severn, but we
fear that Captain Levison and Miss Corny will
trouble the future. Barbara Hare, notwithstanding
her disappointment, does not secure so much of the
reader's interest as her fair rival, Lady Isabel. Mr.
C. Kent contributes some impressive verses on
" Infinitude," adapted from Schiller ; and there are
also papers on General Wilson's Russian Journal
and the Policy of Annexation.
e

United Service Magazine.
The most interesting article in this number is on
the negleeted subject of the "Medical Service."
It really is disgraceful that gentlemen belonging
to a profession that requires years of study should
be set down as inferior to lieutenants and captains.
We would ask those who have studied the accounts
of the Peninsular war how, in spite of all obstacles,
the Iron Duke kept his troops in an efficient state ?
The position of the medical officers was lower in
those days than it is at present, but he caused it to
be respected. The examination for the service
should be severe, but when a surgeon has passed it
he should have the standing which his merit de-
serves. Steps have been taken in the navy in the
right direction, and we trust that justice will be
done to the regimental surgeon pi future. The
article on the " Armstrong and Whitworth Guns"
is written in a fair and unbiased style ; and to those
who have read our perhaps overdrawn accounts of
the Crimean campaign. the "Russian Account of
the Battle of Balaklava" will be instructive.

Macmillan's Magazine.
Maenzillan continues with spirit, and shows no
flagging of its energies. A very able paper, by the
editor, is one of the prominent features in this
number. It is entitled " Three Vices of Current
Literature," and exhibits some very prevalent faults
of style in a strong light. The three chief vices of
the present day, in the writer's opinion, are the
slipshod or slovenly style, the Trite, and the Blase.
Under the former head he classes imperfect and
inverted syntax, mixed and confused metaphor,
"stuffing out sentences with certain tags and
shreds of phraseology," and he tells us that " all
forms of the slipshod are to be referred to deficiency
of precision in the conduct of thought." Next he
attacks the Trite. Unfortunately few who are in the
habit of glancing over periodical and current lite-
rature can deny his assertion of its übiquity. "We
are overrun with the Trite. There is Trite to the
right hand, and Trite to the left ; Trite before, and
Trite behind. The view is of vast leagues of the
Trite, inclosing little oases of true literature as far
as the eye can reach." He proceeds to give the
following description of the enemy
"By the Trite is meant only matter which may be true
enaugh, but which has been so familiarised already that it
can benefit neither man nor beast to hear or read it any
more. Man is a microcosm,' may have been a very re-
spectable bit of speech once ; and, if there is yet any poor
creature on the earth to whom it would be news, by all
means let it be brought to his door. But does such a crea-
ture exist among those who are addressed by anything call-
ing itself literature? And so with a thousand other such
aero
ra the
remarkbuseof
biou;t
the argue
useee againstt '
‘a
sayings and references-4 Extremes meet, sir;' You mustn't
proves the
rule;' a
gathering
b
thing from
therin,
pebbles on the sea-
shore : and, worst of all, Newton's apple. The next writer
or lecturer that brings forward Newton's apple, unless with
very particular accompaniments, ought to be made to swal-
low it, pips and all, that there may be an end of it. Let
the reader think how much of our current writing is but a
repeated solution of such phrases and allusions, and let him
extend his view from such short speoimens of the Trite, to
facts, doctrines, modes of thought, and tissues of fiction,
characterised by the same quality, and yet occupying reams'
of our literature year after year, and he will understand the
nature of the grievance. What we aver is that there are
numberless writers who are not at all slip-shod, who are
correct and careful, who may even be said to write well, but
respecting whom, if we consider the substance of what they
write, the report must be that they are drowning us with a
deluge of the Trite.

The third evil which hetern
denounces is what he
'the Blase style ; that is the half sceptical, half
scornful manner, restricting its votaries "to a petty
service in the sarcastic and the small, and mak-
ing them the enemies of everything within
their range that manifests the height or the
depth of the unjaded human spirit." There
is much in this article to attract the
reader and instruct the professional writer if he
choose to profit by its warnings. The Dean of
Ely furnishes a very interesting account of an in-
dustrial school in Cambridge, and all to whom the
welfare of our unaided, uninstructed youth is not a
matter of complete indifference, will peruse these
annals of its success with great satisfaction. It is
much to be regretted that some similar institutions
c Innot be established for girls. Cases are continu-
ally brought before the magistrates, which they
themselves say should be sent to reformatories
rather than to prisons, and how many must there
be who, without being positively trained to vice 9