The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-06 00:00:00

The Eclectic Review. Ward and Co.

The Eclectic Review has more subjects of general
interest in this number than usual. It is
true we meet with an :article entitled " Plotinus,
and the Neo-Pla,tonists," which is sufficient to
afford employment to the most mystical of Ger-
mans ; but its very name will warn the uninitiated,
and prevent them from trusting themselves in its
mazes. " The Future Government of India,"
which rival politicians appear to find as perplexing
as MM. Vacherot and San,m's history of " Gt.os
ticism Neo-Plat onisin, and Alexandrian Scepti-
cism," will at least affor i more pleasant fettling;
and the notices of new books, forming the topic of
articles, give ttn,agrceablevariety. The criticism on
Mr. Reade's poetical works has some very just oh-
s•-nvations on the impoitanceofrhythmical harmony
in verse, a truth Which is very much neglected
among our spasmodics and other new schools. It is
true that the reader is often too thankful if he ar-
rives at the meaning at all, to be very particular as
to tile way he travels by, though that has oftener
more resemblance to the macadamised roads of
modern times than to the velvet slept s of Parnassus.
It is curious that the possession of a fine rhyth-
mical ear does not seem to be dependant on an ear
for music. " Coleridge could not stutter through a
stave of a tune, yet his verses are the most melo-
dious in our language. Even Robert Burns, whose
songs were rocked into their flowing shape under
the spinning, whirring impulse of the time to
which they are set, could with difficulty distinguish
one tune from another in his boyhood, while en
the other hand, Robert Browning, who is famedfor
his musical talent, glories in the most rugged anii
uncouth metres in his poem-." " Tom Brown's
School Days," and Mr. Meredith's" Farina" are
among the other works noticed.

The Mechanic's .211agasine._ Robertson, Brooman,

and Co.

We are glad to find this valuable serial s! ill
maintain its character. A knowledge of mechani-
cal science is so extensively necessary among our
artisans that those who are not dir-cly employed
in the science will find it one of the most useful
things to acquire. On the other baud the numer-
ous amatQurs and men of science who cultivate this
branch of knowledge in its widest extent, and most
elevated aims, must find a work of this kind, in
which they can compare the remits of their own
expetience will those of others, or find in come
novel application of an old principle a solution of
their difficUlties, of very great s::rvice to them. The
advantages it offers as a channel of communication
for scientific men is another recommendation, and
' information is given respecting the topics of the
day which are in any way connected with the
sciences it treats of. The eclipse of the sun, the
late launch of the Leviathan, the submarine tele-
graph, ate discussed and commented upon in its
pages. The principles on which these operations
ale conducted, the difficulties attending the me-
chanical processes, and all similar information, is
recorded. The woodcuts afford a good idea of the
machinery illustrated ; and all this useful scientific
instruction is presented to the public at a price
which places it above the leach of few.

Titan. James Hogg and Sons.
Titan, has several articles to calm-mild it to the
notice of the reader. A paper on the p:)etry of
youk in Fiance deserves attention. It traces the
Mal effects of their specious sophistries upon the
lives of the writers themselves as well as on their
readers. The extracts given afford a good idea of
the style and power of toe writers without offend-
ing the reader. " Which 7—Eddies round the
Rectory," is the singular title of a pleasant domes-
tic story of country life, giving some amusing
sketches of rustic notabilities. The articles on mis-
cellaneous subjects i.nd the extracts and scrlaps
float new books, &c., combine to make up a p ea-
, sant magazine.

Le Follet.—The fair followers of fashion will
find their capricious ru'or offering. them many
novelties for their edification along with the spring
sunshine. [a addition to the usual plates, "Le
Follet" gives us an extensive variety of
,new de-
signs for mantles, in wiuch, truth to tell, fashion
is more consulted than elegance. But as they be
lo7g to a branch of the fine arts which defies cri'i
cisni, it is enough to say that this s'?rial furnishes
all necessary iustruction3 for the selection of a
toilette comae it fact.

Nabton's London Journal.

This serial contains its accustomed lisis of
patents, which include most of the recent improve-
ments in all kinds of manufacture. Tee introduc-
tory paper is on London Sewage and the sea-reach
project. Thi reports of inst.tutions are included
in the usual scientific notice 9, and a list of grants
of provisional protections under the new law a

added. It will be useful to those connected with
manufactures by affording them an opportunity of
judging of the new patents and plans for improve.
menu.

THE ALHAMBRA PALACE, LEICESTER..
SQUARE.

Those who wish to behold the extent to which "'vaulting►
ambition.' can arrive, and the wonderful degree in which
man can imp3rsonate the fabulous Centaur and become
part of his horse, cannot do better than pay a visit to
the Alhambra Palace and witness the performance of
the troupe now holding their Olympian revels there.
Two hours of entertainment arc afforded of the best hip-
podromatic character yet presented to the English
public, and so rapid and well arranged is the progress
of the various amusements that none of the weariness
is experienced that usually attends this class of exhibi•
tion.

The bold riding of Mr. James Robinson
and Mr. Davis Richards on bare-backed hordes.
—tossing summersaults, and jumping hurdles,
with other startling perpetrations, in their "wild
career," is something, that we can admire and applaud
with genuine heartiness.

A couple of mules, who must certainly have lost the
"ass" portion of their progenitorehip, are introduced,
and acquit themselves in a manner highly creditable
to their classical education stopping, bolting,
jumping, and kicking, with mathematical precision and
co.aic effect, provoking shouts of laughter, and minister
ing to that amiable tendency of our nature which la.
variably prompts us tl chuckle with delight when our
fri,nd or neighbour meets with a ridiculous " upset."
Mr. Murray's beautiful steed "Black Eagle" is a
higbly•trained animal, displaying great docility and
intelligence, and going through his waltzes and polkas
with much more elegance and decorum than we have
fecquently observed in fashionable salons. The acrobatic
feat of "La Perche " is given in a novel manner—the
performer lying on his back at the top of the pole, and
dancing a globe on the soles of his feet for many
minutes. A troupe of Bedouin Arabs conclude the
entertainment, with numerous spirited and agile "evo-
lutions, dismissing crowded audiences in a pleasant
state of combined astonishment and gratification.