The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-03 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

BLACKWOOD. —" The Collapse," of course, en-
gages special attention just now, and the writer of
this article takes credit to Maga for having pro-
phesied all along the catastrophe that has just oc-
curred. It is truly said that the Government
scheme was a " race against time." While credit
is here awarded to Ministers for the gallant style in which
they kept up the impulse they gave, the mistaken course
which they pursued is ably criticised. Mr. Gladstone, it
is declared, is not a good leader of the house, and it was
never thought that ho would be ; he is too "intemperate,
too unrestrained, too impulsive, to establish permanent in-
fluence over gentlemen, his equals in every respect, except
perhaps in the gift of the gab." Another difficulty that
confronted the Government was the fact that the small-
ness of their majorities would not have prevented the
House of Lords from criticising the measure in no friendly
spirit, but it is as well under any circumstances that such
has been obviated. The chief error of the Government is
shown here iu making it so evident that they had adapted
their efforts, not what was desirable for the country so
much as to what they should be able to carry. As for the
notion that neither of the chief men in the Cabinet com-
municated with Mr. Bright that is put aside by the sug-
gestion that no one said the same of Mr. Milner-Gibson,
who was in daily communication, or could be so, with the
distinguished individual referred to. Having "con-
ciliated the Radicals" by paying court to Mr. Bright,
they next tried to " hoodwink the Whigs." That thiS
article was written before the resignation of Ministers, is
quite certain, and it is stated " that a dissolution could not
save the Government, while it involves us in many awk-
ward circumstances and puts the country in confusion.
An Administration which begins its work with a majo-
rity of seventy to sustain it has no right to dissolve be-
cause through its own mismanagement the majority is
changed into a minority." This lengthened sketch of the
events which have made the session of 18(36 remarkable is
very ably done, and although of course a one-sided view is
occasionally taken, we meet with no bitterness of party
spirit, and with no captious censuro of political opponents.
It may be recommended to the perusal of those who wish
to take a resume of affairs which the constant whirl of
every-day life is so apt to put out of remembrance even
after the lapse of a few weeks. "Nina Balatka" is the
story of a maiden of Prague, and bids fair to be exciting
and interesting. "Sir Brook Fossbrooke" is hero con-
tinued, and the reader will be shocked to find that the
abominable Colonel Sewell is getting on amazingly well.
It is to be hoped that he will soon be covered with the
disgrace he so well merits. " The Principles and Issues
of the American Struggle" is a well-considered article,
which bears reference to the chief circumstances that re-
late to that momentous epoch. It is truly said that the
approaching trial of " Mr. Jefferson Davis will test the
validity of State rights in a manner worthy of the im-
portance of the principles ; a great defendant and a
great cause will compel a great verdict." Great
stress is justly laid upon the importance of the
President and his:party carrying the day. If Mr. John-
son succeed the "Union is practicable," but, if otherwise,
the Union is gone, and something else takes its place.
Part the First of " Westminster School" presents some en-
tertaining sketches of the school that claims to be the
oldest iu England. " The Panic in the City" contains
some wise remarks upon the state of affairs, and points out
the means of preventing such distress for the future. A
criticism on "Felix Holt the Radical" renders justice to
that:remarkable work. Cornelius O'Dowd is still indefatig-
able in his sketches of the world, and things in general.
"What shall we;do for Coal?" is a smartly-written sketch
in verse of the misfortunes which the sapient geologist is
fortelling us in the future, which concludes with the fol-
lowing spirited words :

" Though forge and mill should all stand still,
Cheer up each valiant soul,
While Britain can breed British men
We never need care for coal."

FRASER.—Several important subjects are this
month discussed in Fraser, which of late appears
rather to affect the solid than the entertaining.
" Ireland " is the first of these, and the whole
question of the wants and requirements of the sister
country is fully entered into by the writer, who
reminds us, justly enough, in conclusion, that Ireland is a
part of ourselves, an essential member of Great Britain,
whose destiny must be united with our own if England is
to be a great Power in the world. • " Science," a lecture
delivered at the Royal Institution by the Rev. C. Kingsley,
is well worth reading, and, the tribute to the benefits
which man owes to physical science is a noble and elegant
passage. " The Site of the National Gallery Reconsidered"
is an article which labours hard to prove that wo had better
remove our national treasures to an inconvenient distance
for the pleasure of walking after them. Singularly enough,
we find a little further on another paper, headed "The
Portraits at South Kensington," in which that highly-
praised locality is denounced in round terms as the domain
of pretension and sycophancy —so that the editor is quite
impartial. " Legends of Charlemagne," by Earl Stanhope,
will attract the antiquary ; and General Gilmore's account
of the operations against Charleston forms the staple of an
interesting paper. The story of "The Deancicres" is con-
tinued, and we have a sensible essay on a domestic diffi-
culty, which recommends the very practical remedy of
training schools for young servants to supply the present
unsatisfied demand.

CORNIIILL.—" The Village on the Cliff" is the
commencement of a new story, that promises well,
so far as we can judge from this instalment. The
chapter called "The Two Catherines" is very natu-
rally described, and that passage is sad, but true,
which tells of the feelings of the neglected gover-
ness, as she hears her own name constantly resounding
through the house, when applied to the young lady
of the family, whose life and prospects are so dif-
ferent to her own. The opening views, which are
laid in France, are also well described, and " Dick," the
hero, seems to be an attractive character. The tale is
written in a pleasant style, and gains irresistibly on the
attention as we proceed. "The Claverings" does not con-
tain any striking incident this time, but some events
partly of note appear in its records. Lady Agnes is play-
ing a very foolish game indeed in allowing the objection-
able Sophie to come constantly to see her. She is also to
blame for keeping up her acquaintance with Mary Clever-
ing, under the peculiar circumstances in which she was
placed. Certainly the sketch of this lady is a solemn
warning to those who are infatuated enough to risk every-
thingfor a grand match and a wealthy establishment. Poor
Julia found all vanity and vexation of spirit, when she
came to think of it. "At six and twenty, with youth,
beauty,and wealth at her command, must she despair ? But
her youth had been stained, her beauty had lost its fresh-
ness, and as for ber wealth, had she not stolen it? Did not
the weight of the theft sit so heavy upon her that her
brightest thought was one which prompted her to aban-
don it." It is a relief to turn from this ill-starred heroine
to one more worthy of regard and respect—the simple
unaffected Florence Walter. With no pretensions to rival
the other one she is; in reality, far more attractive. "The
Study of Letter Literature" is concluded, and is written
in an appropriate manner. The closing remarks are very
good ; they refer to the chief faults of the present day, the
Philistinism to which we have sacrificed so much that ad-
vances and elevates human nature. It cannot bo attacked
successfully by force, but must be gradually assailed. " The
hard unintelligence which is jast now our bane cannot be
conquered by storm, it must be supplied and reduced by
culture ; by a growth in the variety, fulness, and sweet-
ness of our spiritual life, and this end can only bo reached
by studying things that are outside of ourselves, and by
studying themselves disinterestedly. " The Loss of the
Steamship London," by one of the Survivors, is a pa per
that is sure to attract a considerable amount of attention
and will be read with deep interest by all who meet with
it. The difficulties through which the survivors h; rd to
pass were indeed extraordinary, and it seems almost 5
.miracle that they were saved. An appendix to " Tho ught
and Language," is worthy of notice, and " Parsonis:al in
Earndale,".is a:very amusing sketch, which relates seeeeral
curious events that occurred in a disunited party until the
happy day arrived when they met in harmony.
TEMPLE BAR.—." Lady Adelaide's Oath" is con-
tinued, and in this number the fiftul lady is married
to Mr. Lester, immediately after her uncle's death-
Of course this will lead to great confusion subse-
quently, but all was mystery and misunderstand.ing•
Miss Bordillion's perplexity is amusingly described,
and altogether the transition from the Castle to the Ilea
was a very strange one. Ravensbird again appears an the
scene, and an animated discussion goes on as to who shall
be the next possessor of the " Sailors' Rest." " Archie
Lovell" is also eventful enough in this instalment, for
affairs are brought to light, and Archie's clandestine visit
to London disclosed. Her stepmother's horror is extreme,
and she truly states harm will come of it, and that she never
will be admitted into good society if it gets bruited abroad.
This was unfortunate, as it induced Archie to make some
compromise with the only ono who had seen her land on her
return, the notorious Captain Waters, and anything Of
the sort was worse for the young girl than the part of her
voyage, unplanned as that was. It is pretty certain
that this unhappy expedition will be recalled to meenorY
hereafter at some most inopportune juncture, and the mis-
guided young girl will have ample cause to regret her folly
and presumption. "Letters to Joseph" contain more
curious revelations of criticism, and some strictures on
celebrated writers are analysed with skill and adroitness.
"Intellectual Flunkeyiem" is a paper that describes some
objectionable traits of character that aro rather too prowl-
nent at the present day. It is truly said that " the worshiP
of intellectual power can do no harm ; but when people
would scrutinise the habits of intellectual men, they cease Le
reverence the social and degenerate into victims of foolish
curiosity and manufacturers of idle gossip. " What the
Panic did for my Brother George" is an interesting sketch;
with something of originality about it, details and incl-:
dents, a spice of romance is suffused into the hackneyed
spheres of business and fashion, and the loss of mouol
seems to bring out the sterling qualities of hero and hero;
hie. "Mud Volcanoes" presents us with accounts