The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-02 00:00:00

114GAZINES.

Blackwood.—There is an unusually long instal-
ment of " What will he do with it" in this number,
which contains some important events. As the
story approaches completion the interest deepens,
and the different characters, who had been widely
separated, appear about to meet together. The
scene in which Jasper Losely confronts his deceptive
associates is a most exciting one, and displays much
of that graphic force of description and dramatic
vividness of effect for which the author is so justly
celebrated. The meeting between Waife and his
erring son is touching in its mournful interest
and the reader who laments over the sad story of
the aged wanderer's life, feels relief and satisfaction
in reading of the interview between him and Lionel
Haughton, in which the latter declares the revela-
tion that had been made of his innocence, before
those whom he had called friends in the bright
days of the past. Some of the best passages in the
work are certainly met with in the chapters now
before us. " Edward Irving" is the subject of a
very interesting article, which is written with
vigour and ability. Notwithstanding the errors
which darken his story, there is much that unde-
niably deserves notice and regard in the life of the
remarkable man here mentioned. It is observed
that his force lay in the singular truthfulness of
his manner. " There was nothing marvellous in his
doctrine, and his style was the noblest and most
picturesque English. The piquancy of the spec-
tacle lay in this particular, that everybody gazing
could see how the thoughts rose, how the fire
burned, how the pulses of a giant nature beat." It
is sad to trace the fitful career of this singularly
gifted man, through the phases of a brilliant blaze
of renown—when, bewildered by his dazzling
visions, and his marvellous success, he fell into
grievous errors, and underwent extreme anguish,
till, as if by a prophetic feeling, he set off for the
city in whose cathedral crypt he was to lie, " while
the clouds gathered in ominous grandeur about the
sun which was going down at noon." The story
of " The Light on the Hearth" is concluded in a
very satisfactory manner ; and, after the storms
that had raged round the dwelling of Trevenna, and
the enemies that had hovered round its threshold,
it is pleasing to find that its household fires are not
extinguished, but peace and prosperity shed their
brightness on its inmates. In the remarks made
on " Buckle's History of Civilisation," there appears
some just criticism of that masterly production.
There is great force in the arguments relating to
the chapter on Religion, Literature, and Govern-
ment. It is impossible not to recognise the extreme
excellence and beauty of the style of Mr. Buckle.
Some eloquent passages are here cited, which speak
for themselves ; and there is evident truth in the
concludin,, remark met with, that " no book lays
hold of the attention more powerfully, and few re-
ward it more amply." There is a treatise on
" Cherbourg as a Port and Fortress," which will
doubtless be acceptable to many. " Lord Canning's
Reply to the Ellenborough Despatch" is the last
subject that engages attention, and, without en-
tering into that vexed question with prejudice or
acerbity, the writer of the article comments on some
of the chief points with clearness and decision, and
thus remarks concerning the futility of the vaunted
policy of confiscation :

" The proclamation has long since been treated as a dead
letter. From the first it was modified by the Commis-
sioners, but of late it has been wholly discarded,—having
been found as impracticable in working as it is unrighteous
and tyrannical in spirit. So far from confiscating the
whole rights in the soil of Oude, the agents of the Govern-
ment are now giving the very fullest effect to Lord Ellen-
borough's principles of moderation. Indeed, yielding to
the force of circumstances, they now find they must carry
out those principles, perhaps to the extreme. 'lt may be
here remarked,' say Air Russell of the Times, writing on
the 18th August, that no civil officer now regulates his
conduct by Governor Canning's proclamation,' even as it
was modified by the Commissioners ; and,' so much is the
case otherwise, settlement-engagements for revenue have
been made with chiefs who, so late as June last, attacked
our police, and plundered their posts and villages!' So
expired Lord Canning's proclamation. We wish the moral
discredit of it could be as easily erased from the memory of
the natives of India, and wiped from the fair escutcheon of
British honour."