The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-01 00:00:00

of an exciting and interesting tale, which promises to be
very eventful. " Through Sussex " is another of those
pleasing sketches of fair English couaties, before met with
in the pages of this magazine, and is a very agreeable sub-
ject of perusal. " Cor Cordium "is the title of some well-
written stanzas on the poet Shelley, and the thoughts
which are inspired by the contemplation of the spot where
his heart is buried.

IMACMILLAN'S MAGAZINE.—The first thing to
greet the reader of Macmillan's Magazine is the
commencement of a story by Mrs. Norton. Be-
ginning with the year, it introduces us to its hero,
" Old Sir Douglas" in the autumn of his days. A
retrospect of his career occupies the principal por-
tion of theie first chapters, and shows us not only old Sir
Douglas's present perplexities, but his past sorrows, and
the strange and fitful training which has made young Ken-
neth Ross so grievous a care and burden to his indulgent
uncle. The story is painful enough in its earlier chapters,
though the.style, easy, graceful, and natural, is such as we
are accustomed to from one whose pen is always sure to
charm. Mr. Thomas Hughes gives us his views of "Peace
on Earth" as it affects America. His article shows too
much of the partisan to be altogether welcome to those
who can still feel sympathy for the fruitless struggle of a
brave people for their independence, and who cannot be
persuaded by the ultimate event that the aboltion of sla-
very had anything to do with the origin of the war. "Re-
cent Novel Writing" is the title of a somewhat severe
criticism upon the fictions of the day, though there is cer-
tainly room for improvement in subject, style, and charac-
ter, so far as most of the sensational novels of the'day are
concerned. Nevertheless, summing up the general char-
acter and tendency of works of imagination, the critic
arrives at the conclusion that even the poorest and • most
extravagant novels are likely to do some good in this too
material and work-a-day age. "Is it not a good thing,"
he asks, "that the energetic and quick-witted man
of business, and not only he, but his wife,
sons, and daughters, should be taught that there
are things which mere practical energy cannot accom-
plish, and which no amount of money can buy—spiritual
powers—faculties of observation, imagination, memory,
description, which he is forced to confess are of a
higher order than his own, depths of a passion which he
has never fathomed, heights of ambition beside which his
own schemes ,of money getting look poor and vulgar ?
Now there are many novels which teach all this to
him and his, and there are few so absolutely worthless as
not to furnish him with some small portion of the lesson."
" Cradock Nowell" is continued with interest, though the
extravagance of its style somewhat mars the effects of its
vivid pictures. A thoughtful essay, on " Nature and 1
Prayer," deals with a subject that has been lately much
discussed. Mr. Davies enters into it with a calmness and
reverence entirely free from any intolerance or impa-
tience of those who differ from him. In answer to the
argument urged by some against the use of national
prayer, that the course of natural laws is so fixed that no
human wishes can affect it, he says forcibly that it proves
too much. "If a philosopher says to me, Bow can you
think that by your prayers you can divert universal na-
ture from its preordained course ? I think I reply ra-
tionally by asking, How can I suppose that by any acts
of mine, any more than by my prayers, I can alter the
unalterable.' " If the assertion "Itis of no use to pray
against the cattle disease or the cholera be based upon
the fact that effect follows cause with unvarying uni-
formity the same reason would lead us on to the further
assertion, It is of no use to do anything against the
cattle disease or the cholera.' " The Rev. Henry Jones
gives us an article on a subject with which he is evi-
dently conversant, " Working Men: Some of their Ways
and Wants." It is a very interesting paper, and it is to
be hoped that the writer's earnest advocacy of the
much-needed reform in St. James's, Westmin-
ster, will bring a little public attention to bear
upon the point. In the midst of this' populous dis-
trict, said to be the most populous for its size in London,
is a network of courts, a rookery of evils. Some of the
inhabitants proposed to cut through the centre of this net-
work by a new street, lined with houses suitable for decent
working people, letting in fresh air to the unwholesome
courts and alleys, and an equally invigorating current of life
and traffic through the thieves' corners and evil lounging
places. Some of the smaller householders, however, ob-
jected to the three-halfpanny rate' necessary for the carry-
ing out of the improvement, and the rookery remains un-
disturbed. The writer's remarks on the various tempta-
tions to drink among the overworked residents of such
close unhealthy localities are very just. Among the re-
maining papersisian essay on "Parliamentary Reform" by
Lord Hobart, in which he favours the somewhat visionary
and impractical scheme of Mr. Hare.

THE ST. JAMES'S MAGAZINE.—The fortunes of
the two fair heroines of Miss Braddon's new novel
are coming to a crisis. Lady Cecil has already
become the wife of the boisterous barrister, while
Florence Crawford is weaving trouble for herself by
her wilful determination to accept the homage of
the wealthy but savage and uncultivated Mr. Lobyer. A
new prima donna appears in the shape of Mrs. Champer-
downe, who, it appears, is the divinity of the painter's
dreams. Paul Feval's romance, "Working in the Dark,"
is rapidly approaching its conclusion, and already the mys-
tery begins to be unravelled. " The Villake D.:.ctor," by
the author of " Shirley Hall Asylum," is also continued,
and there are other tales which finish in the number, so
the novel-reader will have no lack of entertainment. The
second part of "Masters and Servants" give us some
amusing anecdotes of an eminent legal dignitary. "Cigars
from Elsinore" is an episode of the late Danish war, and
relates the awkward predicament into which a too credu-
lous Englishman was enticed by the smiles of a fair Dane.
" Her Majesty's Mint" is the title of an interesting paper,
giving us a minute account of the manufacture of the cur-
rent coin. It is remarked that during the last ten years no
halfcrowns or fourpenny pieces have been struck, proba-
bly from the reason of their inconvenience in case of the
adoption of a decimal coinage. We have in a paper of a
different character a comparison between the lives and
works of the two great poets who have dared ,
" The secrets of the abyss to spy.
And pass the glancing bounds of Place and Time."
Further on we find the first part of an historical essay on
the State Trials during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and
the Stuarts, including, of course, those of Essex and
Raleigh, besides some account of the careers of the two
legal celebrities of the State prosecutions of those days,
Coke and Bacon. The second part of an account of
"Jamaica cf To-day" does not enter into the vexed ques-
tions attending the recent outbreak, but gives an interest-
ing picture of that beautiful and fertile but sadly neglected
colony. A vivid picture of the wasted gifts of nature is
drawn in a few lines, as follows :—" With every local ad-
vantage provisions are dear in Jamaica, and particularly so
in Kingston and its neighbourhood. Any one attempting
to break through established sloth would meet with no
mercy. With magnificent pasturage, dessicated milk from
America, and salt butter from Cork, are alone used as a
general rule, for fresh butter costs about 4s. per pound,
and milk is equally expensive. With abundance of fine
poultry, eggs are not unfrequently 2d. a piece. The coasts
of the island are the resort of excellent fish of many varie-
ties, and yet that imported from America is the staple.
With herds of swine feeding on the purifying orange, and
the hog plums which drop at their feet, unknown salt pork
is imported. The island abounds in natural condiments of
the choicest description, and yet tables are supplied with
the inferior pickled gherkins of New York. In other re-
spects the same dependence on America is conspicuous." It
is to be hoped the late terrible crisis may be the introduc-
tion to a better state of things by inaugurating a complete
change in the situation of affairs.

THE ARGOSY. No. ll.—The second part of the
Argosy gives us no reason to apprehend a diminu-
tion of its popularty. " Griffith Gaunt" proceeds
vigorously with all Mr. Reade's accustomed anima-
tion of style. The fair heroine, Catherine Peyton,
finds herself in rather an awkward predicament, but, how-
ever, she rises boldly to the occasion, and starts on a peril-
ous adventure, whose issue we shall learn in the next part.
Matthew Browne contributes a quaint and original paper
" OnWatching for the next Thing," in which he expresses
an immeasurable horror for the total cessation of anything.
There should always, he holds, be a successor, a next
thing, with no interlude between, somewhat a fatiguing
thought in this work-a-day world, wherein interludes and,
pauses are brief and rare enough. "A journey Re-
journeyed" is brought to a temporary conclusion, and the
traveller's vivid pictures of the clear Alpine heights are
completed. A lively paper on " The Bourgeois of Paris"
initiates us into some of the mysteries of middle class life
in the gay and brilliant capital. Mrs. Oliphant gives us a
pleasant little story called " The Hidden Tresure," and
Christina Rosetti a bit of poetical prose from Fairyland, not
without its human moral. " New Year's Day at Windsor,
1327," carries us back to the fun and freedom of a middle-
ago festival, while the ambassador's description of his
gorgeous life in Venice comes in in singular contrast to the
rough good humour of the English Court.
THE VICTORIA MAGAZINE. —A brief memorial of
that gifted and lamented lady who has a double
claim to literary recollection as the daughter of an ever
fresh and delightful songster, and herself a poetess
of no mean order, finds an appropriate place in the earliest
pages of the Victoria. It concludes very suitably with a
selection from her own graceful and high-souled verses.
The second book of Professor Laboulaye's . somewhat
weighty though learned treatise on "The Civil and Politi-
cal Status of the Female Sex, from the Time of the Romans
until the Present Day," proceeds slowly along. It still
treats of the woman's position, rights, and privileges among
the earlier Germans, and contains a good deal of curious
and erudite information. Tho three tales now going on
in this magazine are as yet incomplete. It is a pity that
magazine writers do not allow their pens to move a little
more rapidly, and bring their heroes and heroines' agonies
and raptures to a more speedy crisis. " Turned Out" is
the title of an article which very seasonably bids us re-
member the hardships inflicted on the poorer classes who
are turned out. to make room for the inexorable progress
of the iron horse—not only the pauper, and the struggling
ranks just above pauperism, are affected, but thousands
who have a definite trade and regular employment in