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

TH:

TS.

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 loader of the house, and it was
never thought that he would bo ; 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 in 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 1866 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 censure 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 Fossbrooko" is here 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 bo 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 in 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 3
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 NJ:wilts
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 we 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 44 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 Beaucleres" is cop"

tinned, and 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.

CORNHILL.—" 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 resoundiDg.

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 110
laid in France, are also well described, and 4, Dick,7, the
hero, seems to be an attractive character. The tale i°

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 Oar
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 Claver"
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'
thing fora grand match and a wealthy establishment. Poor
Julia found all vanity and vexation of spirit, when sbe
came to think of it. "At six and twenty, with youth,
beauty,and wealth at her command, must she despair ? Put
her youth had been stained, her beauty had lost its fresh-
ness, and as for ber wealth, had she not stolen it? Did 114=4
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 xiv3l

the other one she is, in reality, far more attractive. "Tbe
Study of Letter Literature" is concluded, and is written
in an appropriate manner. Tho closing remarks are von
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 be attacked
successfully by force, but must be gradually assailed. " The
hard unintelligence which is just 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 be reached
by studying things that are outside of ourselves, and 1)1
studying themselves disinterestedly. " The Loss of the
Steamship London," by one of the Survivors, is a paper
that is sure to attract a considerable amount of attention
and will be read with deep interest by all who meet Nviti,
it. The difficulties through which the survivors had 1"
pass were indeed extraordinary, and it seems almost
miracle that they were saved. An appendix to " Thought
and Language," is worthy of notice, and " Parsonisin
Earndale,",is ti;very amusing sketch, which relates severe'
curious events that occurred in a disunited party until UV)
happy day arrived when they met in harmony.
TEMPLE BAR.—" Lady Adelaide's Oath" is NW
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 subs°'
quently, but all was mystery andmisunderstandivg:
Miss Bordillion's perplexity is amusingly described'
and altogether the transition from the Castle to the 100
was a very strange one. Ravensbird again appears on
scene, and an animated discussion goes on as to who el'''.
bo the next possessor of the " Sailors' Rest." Areble
Lovell" is also eventful enough in this instalment, fq
affairs are brought to light, and Archie's clandestine Yisl
to London disclosed. Her stepmother's horror is extrenie;
and she truly states harm will come of it, and that she ne'le, '
will be admitted into good society if it gets bruited abroad'
This was unfortunate, as it induced Archie to make seril
compromise with the only one who had seen her land on be
of
return, the notorious Captain Waters, and anything
the sort was worse for the young girl than the part of
voyage, unplanned as that was. It is pretty certsri
that this unhappy expedition will be recalled to mon°,,
hereafter at some most inopportune juncture, and the n 1,14
guided young girl will have ample cause to regret her
and presumption. " Letters to Joseph" contain 111°00
curious revelations of criticism, and some stricture a,
celebrated writers are analysed with skill and adroitne%
"Intellectual Flunkeyism" is a paper that describes
objectionable traits of character that aro rather too prole_
nent at the present day. It is truly said that " the worel';
of intellectual power can do no harm ; but when Pe°/
would scrutinise the habits of intellectual men, they nensiso
reverence the social and degenerate into victims of fe°',.„o
curiosity and manufacturers of idle gossip. "'What t;;
Panic did for my Brother George" is an interesting eke!' oi,
with something of originality about it, details and d
dents, a spice of romance is suffused into the hacknelad
spheres of business and fashion, and the loss of in°
ro,
seems to bring out the sterling qualities of hero and l'e„ 0
ine. "Mud Volcanoes" presents us with accouu`"