The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-02 00:00:00

MARCH 2, 18'58

THE MAGAZINES.

Blackwood. —The opening paper in Blackwood is
the continuation of " What will He do with It 1"
The instalment is brief, and does not chronicle any ,
event of particular importance. Some years are
supposed to elapse between this part and the one
which will follow it. The second part of the travels
in Zanzibar and East Africa is somewhat interest-
ing, as showing us a picture of races and scenes
quite removed from ordinary experience. The
article which immediately collows it, is on a topic
of considerable importance—one that has engaged
the attention of legislators and reformers, and is
likely, from the complication of the subject, and
the difficulties which surround it, to demand some
years of examination and experience before it can
be satisfactorily dealt with. " Our Convicts—Past
and Present"—i4 the title of the article, and it deals
with the subject in a comprehensive and rational
manner, though the author, like many wiser men,
is unable to give a decided solution of some of the
attendant problems. The separation of first offenders
from hardened criminals, but without that solitude
and silence which defy the powers °of human en-
durance—the difficulty of holding out encourage-
ment for good behaviour and obedience to disci-
pline without offering a premium to hypocrisy—
the obligation to provide them with the neces-
saries of life, good of their kind, and some degree
of comfort, without provoking comparisons with
the friendless poor who are struggling with starva-
tion and temptation ; and when all these questions
are suitably treated, there yet remains another of
no inconsiderable magnitude—that of providing
the convict on his felease, with employment—to
give him the means of decent livelihood without
giving him an advantage over the honest labourer.
Tbere is much sensible reasoning in the article
before us, especially in the part relating to the
testimony of the police officers in a law court as
affecting the sentence passed on the culprit.
Of course this is not alluding to the testi-
mony as to the commission of a crime but
as to previous character and habits. It is
justly observed that it is not in human nature
to help abusing, such a power, and that a policeman
is no more fitted for the possession of irresponsible
power than the captain of a merchant vessel or the
Emperor of Russia. Indeed, social philosophers
might question if he were as much so, as from his
perpetual contact with vice and crime, his sphere of
observation is neces.arily narrowed, and he loses
the power of sympathy and comparison, which others
of more extended opportunities might be capable of
exercising. The eisay will well repay perusal by all
who take an inter est in a question so nearly affecting
the social well-being of the community. "Storiesfrom
Airlient Sind" give us some curious glimpses of
ancient Mohommedan conquests. The second paper
ow "Food and Drink" continues this interesting
subject, and will afford much gratifioation to the
lovers of chemical and physiological science. Among
the remaining contents are a pleasant paper on
Mr. Sullivan's work on " Cumberland and its
People, and a favourable notice of Mr. Buckland's
" Curiosities of Natural History."

Fraser's.—Fraser presents us with a variety of
refreshing and vigorous articles this month—those
relating to politics being sound in argument and
liberal in principle ; and those gracing the fields of
light literature and intellectual matter, exhibiting
an attractive degree of amusing originality and
lucid discussion. The opening paper, "An Anglo-
Indian View of the Indian Crisis," displays ira
portant and accurate judgment in the treatment of
the question—maintaining opinions not much to
the credit of " head-quarters" of Indian Govern-
ment. Dr. Whewell's book , " The History of
Science and some of Lessons," is dilated on in a
very able and enlightening tone, but as this mas-
terly work will receive our special notice before
long, wo shall merely advert to it, as constituting
a first-class production of its kind—calculated to
equally advance the philosophical student's pro-
gress and general human intelligence. The paper
"Concerning Coui.try Houses and Country Life"
is a charming dissertation on the pursuit., build-
ings, and literature connected with rural existence,
It is a compound bouquet combining the poetic
odours of new-mown hay, wild thyme, and fresh-
turned furrows, with a strong infusion of common
sense and sufficient essence of classical taste. It
says—

I believe that in the mind of moat men of cultivation,
there is some vague, undefined sense that the country is the
scene where human life attains its happiest develop-
ment. I believe that the great proportion of such men
cherish the hope, perhaps a distant and faint one,
that at some time they shall possess a country
home, where they may pass the last years tranquilly, far
from the tumult of cities. Many of those who cherish
such a hope will never realise it ; and many more aro quite
unsuited for enjoying a country life were it within their
reach. But all this is founded upon the instinctive desire
there is in human nature to possess some portion of the
earth's surface.

Speaking of Gothic architecture, th© writer gives
the following opinion, with which we cordially
concur :

LIV 11VU 1..11111.0. AV L,VUiII 61".7 Uel ti UL 021-1.7
than that it bears wit' advantage to be set side by side
with the noblest work of God. Yet, though a worthy
Gothic building looks beautiful anywhere, it has a special
charm in a sweet country landscape. It seems just what
was wanted to render the scene perfect. It is in harmony
with the trees and flowers and hills around, and with the

•
blue sky overhea,l. It is a perpetual pleasure to look at it.
I do not believe that any mortal can find real enjoyment
in standing and gazing at a huge square house, with a
great wagon roof, and with square holes cut in a great
level blank wall for windows. It may draw a certain,
grandeur from vast size, and it may possess fine accesso-
ries,— be shadowed by noble trees, backed by wild or wooded
hills, and shaded of into the fields and lawns by courtly ter-
races; but the big square box is in itself ugly, and never can
be anything but ugly. But how long and,delightedly one
can contempl Lte the worthy Gothic house of similar pre-
tension—with its lights and shadows, its irregular sky-line,
its great mullioned bay- windows and its graceful oriels
-perched aloft, its many gables, its wreathed chimneys, its
towers and pinnacles, its hall and chapel boldly shown on
the external outline—for the charaeteriitie of Gothic is,
that it frankly exhibits construction, and makes a beauty
of the exhibition ; while the square-box architecture aims
at concealing construction,— producing the four walls,
pierced with the regular rows of windows, quite irrespec-
tive of internal requirements, and then considering how to
fit in the requisite apartments, like the pieces of a child's
dissected puzzle, into the square case made for them.

There is an unusually interesting story, in six
chapters, entitled. "Lone-Rouse D ilo," which will
amply repay perusal. The concluding artie!e, on
" The Decline acid Fall of Lord Palmerston's
Ministry," deals with the said Ministry in forciblo
and plain terms ; advocating the measures which
are equally consistent with, and necessary for, the
preservation of foreign relations and English hon-
our. The unvarnished meaning of these remarks
recommend the passage so warmly that we cannot
resist quoting it, as being the condensed opinion of
all right-minded Britons :
Every man in England is desirous to preserve a firm
alliance between two nations, which allied can do so much
good to the world, and at enmity could go near towards
ruining each oth:r. But as b3tween individuals so it is
with nations ; real friendship can bo maintained only by
self-respect on both sides. Whilst France is governed as it
is now, by repression, it is but a mockery for England to
seem to sympathize with the spirit of its rulers ; and the
adulation which since the success of the couyd'etat has
been poured on the head of the Emperor, has done a good
deal, unfortunately, to unhinge our alliance with the nation
and make it personal to the ruling dynasty. The
consequence of the extreme deference to the Emperor
is that we are expected to do that for him which we
would have done for none of his predecessors. Lord
Palmerston in a very violent manner rebuked the
House of Commons for making allusions to points which
ho could hardly have expected to be passed over. We
think, however, that Lord Palmerston, or whoever may
succeed him, would do better, instead of bullying indepen-
dent members of the Legislature, to maiothiu a firm and
respectful tone towards the French Government, avoiding
all cause of reasonable offence, and making every conces-
sion consistent wish the honour and dignity of England,
and at the same time not to shut his oyos to the possible
course into which a Government relying solely on its error-
MOll3 army may sooner or later be driven, and to keep a
good look-out on our coasts, and an efficient fleet iu the
Channel.

Bentley.—" Lord Palmerston ; a Piece of Poli-
tical Patchwork," by Polo Mole, is the striking
piece of alliteration that greets us cu opening
Bentley. It treats of the various characters which
have been ascribed to the veteran statesman, and
the different sketches of him which eminent writers
have given. It is followed by the opening
chapter of a story called " Heiresses," which will
probably improve as it proceeds. A sDirite 1 bal
entitled "1111,1 Lord Protectles Ghost," tells -us
how a gay cavalier, returning from a revel, is
stAitled, iu passing Tyburn, by the ghastly appari-
tion of

" Him who, though uncrowned hie forehead,
Reigned the Ruler of the land."
" French Financial Operatic ns" is rather an alarmsing title for an article in a serial supposed to be
devoted to mirth and entertainment. It is
founded on M. Cassefigue's recent work, and
will probably convey some useful information to
those who may not have met the original work.
Monkshood's writings always repay perusal. His
present subject is " Ferrari's Guelfs, and Ghi-
bellines," and treats of the factions which distracted
Italy for so many c-nturies. Mr. Dudley Coitello
continues his story of " Faint heart never won
Fair Lady," in his ac ;ustorned manner. A paper
on " The Salons of Paris," has some curious and
agreeable reading. The singular papers entitled
" Thanatos Athanatos," proceed in their moralis-
ing and sometimes melancholy strain, giving ex-
tracts from ancient and modern, grave and gay,
early fathers or pagan philosophers, as the case way
be. The curious story of " Queen Stork" eorees
to a curious and not very intelligible c.,ncl union.
Mary Morick cow ributcs some graceful vc rses,
supposed to be addressed by a Greek bride to her
lover slain in battle. "A Night of Tumults," ty
the author of " Too much to Wear," briulle to a