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

ose singular specimens, and the description of a mud
bath is so dreadful that we are tempted to exclaim at the
outset that the cure is worse than the disease, whatever
that may be. " Twenty per Cent." is a banking tale of the
present time, "which is most appropriate in its appearance
just now. Many might profit by the perusal of the ad-
ventures and misadventures of the hero of this sketch, and
take his advice to heart in their rash ventures and foolish
speculations. "A Lay of the National Portrait Exhibi-
tion" is well written and interesting, and the sketches of
"Modern Eccentrics" continuo to put before us some
noticeable characters with their peculiar ways.
COLBURN'S UNITED SERVICE.—The United Ser-
vice partakes more of the " Line " than of the
saline element this month. " How to Reform the
Recruiting System of the British Army," being its
first article, and certainly the system needs a
thorough reform, for the abuses which have crept
into the establishment are worthy of the good old times
The writer is a medical gentleman, and his experience
may be taken as a voucher for the knowledge he displays.
There aro in Great Britain seven recruiting districts—four
in England, two in Ireland, and one in Scotland. These
seven aro divided into sub-districts, or sub-divisions,
and the officials comprise an inspecting field-officer, an
adjutant, a paymaster, a surgeon, and non-commissioned
officers and men, the latter being spread over the districts
according to circumstances. Besides all which, there are
other sub-divisions, or superintending officers, with a host
of others to see that these do their duty ; the orderly doing
little, and the disorderly doing less. And this is the way
that recruits are manufactured into the service, and at a
cost not to be reckoned. No wonder that the army esti-
mates keep increasing, and the people ask the reason
why ? To make the matter worse, the generality
of the recruits turn out to be worse than useless—not
worth the "bad shilling" which hooked them—and still the
regular expense goes on for the good of the service. But
even now the authorities seem to be more alive to the sub-
ject, for the expense is so unaccountable that two of the
districts aro broken up and the recruiting entrusted to the
local pensioners. Even this will bo found inefficient, for
the pensioners will be getting old and indifferent. Now,
our medical friend proposes to do away with the militia as
useless, for in case of any emergency not ono-half of them
would be fit for duty, or, if fit, would be unwilling to serve;
he would therefore disband the men, reserving the staff,
and employing them in recruiting for the line. This
would be saving a vast expense, and would be having an
active force always ready to meet any necessity. Besides,
he would like to localise the names of regiments, as of old,
in order to promote a patriotic rivalry in the several corps,
so as to make them

"Brethren in arms, but rivals in renown."
We think the plan is well worthy of a fair trial. " The
Theory of Carrying Weights and the Infantry Knapsack"
is another subject well worthy of the consideration of the
War Office and the Horse Guards, for it has become a pro-
verb that " the knapsack kills more men than the bullet
and bayonet taken together ;" and we verily believe it, for
the pressure of the knapsack straps on the blood-vessels,
and still more on the nerves, obstructs breathing, and pro-
duces paralysis and oven apoplexy. It is only in active
service that the absurdity of our red-tape fooleries is
brought to the test. The Peninsular war produced Brown
Bess, and the Crimean war abolished the old, stiff stock,
which choked many a good soldier. " Naval Pensions,"
and " A Visit to Admiral Fitzroy's Weather Office,"
are well deserving of attention—the weather indica-
tions of changes more especially so from their
novelty. Most people pretend to be weather-wise,
but it requires more acquaintance with the elements
than some are gifted with to foretell what day will rain
and what will not. The public are under very deep obli-
gations to Admiral Fitzroy for having brought the science
to such a serviceable purpose, by being the means of
Saving so many valuable lives along our stormy coasts.
There are about 200,000 ships,with about 1,000,000 of men,
now upon the ocean, and more than 1,000 wrecks annually
occur upon our own shores. " Lifeboat Oars" is an article
made up from one that has appeared in the journal of the
National Lifeboat Institution, and commends itself to the
Public attention. The chief requisites are lightness, stiff-
nese, and strength, and these are principally found in the
Norway and Baltic white spars. But there is another-
-the Oregon or Vancouver Island pine—a wood peculiar
for its being free from knots, and growing to a very great
height. It is chiefly imported for the masts of yachts, and
very dear, on account of the distance. " The flagstaff in
Kew-gardens is the finest and longest spar in Europe, be-
ing 159 feet high, and only 19 inches in diameter at its
base. The tree from which it was made was 220 feet high.'
The Report of the Jamaica Commissioners is justly de-
nounced as a species of "tinkering" that may well make
Mr. Eyre and his assistants of the army and navy register
a vow " never to save another colony" so long as Exeter
Hall continues unhappily in the ascendant. " His case,"
says the writer of the article before us, "reminds us of the
old story of one of Vernon's seamen, who, going on shore
without leave at Portobello, found himself suddenly in
front of a small fort. Being equal to the emergency, he
made a dash at the Dons, who, supposing he had assist-
ance at hand, at once surrendered. Some boats crews
were sent from the fleet, the fort secured, and Jack brought
on board. Hero he was threatened with the eat for his
absence, when he exclaimed to the Admirrl, "Let me off
this once, your honour, and I'll never take another fort as
long as I live

MACMILLAN.—The story of "
is
is continued with vigour, and k
to
meet the reader when heanother,
and the
up Macmillan."
Events crowd quickly one upon
death of one of the foremost characters, and,
occurs
cacsist
now appears, the real murderer of c
unexpectedly. What effect this will have upon the
is
oi reported for-
tunes of the unlucky hero, who by-the-byes totory
N
to be lost at sea, remains to be seen. Mrs. • t ,e
of "Old Sir Douglas," having from some unexplainedon and
mysterious reason disappeared from the pages of this maga-
zine, its place is filled by the first chapters of a new romance
by Henry Kingsley, author of " Ravenshoe," even
more
wild and weird than usual, although dealing with nothing
more alarming than an English country squire, his two
sons, and his poachers. The Rev. H. Whitehead, who
some time ago gave us the detailed history of the Broad-
street pump and its connection with the epidemic of some
years ago, returns again to the charge, and traces " The
influence of impure water on the spread of cholera" in a
startling manner. The threatened visitation of the dreaded
disease has as yet spared us, but that is no reason why we
should disregard plain facts so closely associated with the,
public health. " Baker's Exploration of the Nile Sources'
furnishes a long and interesting paper, and "Earl Grey,
Lord Brougham, and the Reform Ministry" is the title of an
article examining into and comparing the various accounts
of the passing of the first Reform Bill. The " Essays at
Odd Times" deal this month with " certain dead weights
of society," taking as their representative an old agricul-
tural labourer, and telling some home truths as to the
manner in which legislation and society have dealt with
him and his fellows. We must not omit to mention " Not
Known," some verses half playful, half pathetic, by Denis
Florence MacCarthy, founded on the receipt of a letter with
this unflattering inscription returned from an old and
favourite place of residence.
THE MONTH.—The readers of " The Month" will
hail with delight the first chapters of a new story
by Lady Georgiana Fullerton. " A Stormy Life,
or Queen Margaret's Journal," is its title, calling up
vivid pictures, and promising interest of a high order. The
fourth part of the series on " English Premiers " records
the careers of the Earl of Chatham and Lord Bute. " The
Frontiers of Southern Germany" is an article very appro-
priate at the present season, and a few words "From the
Grave of Eugenie de Guerin" can hardly fail to attract the
attention of all who have read the story of her simple and
beautiful life.
LONDON SOCIETY.—Always one of the brightest
and most sparkling of the magazines, London Society
has this month lost nothing of its attractions. We
have love stories, prettily illustrated, pleasant gos-
sipping sketches, tempting glimpses into woodlands
deep and shady, or at sea-coasts wild and fresh, only
too fascinating to the weary Londoners, whom the dread
necessities of politics, fashion, or business retain in the
everlasting streets. There are, too, poems which do not
attempt to rise above the level of social commonplace, and
are consequently successful. One of the most attractive
papers comes from the pen of Mark Lemon, and forms the
seventh chapter of "Up and down the London Streets."
It records the many curious and interesting associations of
the good old Strand, which Mr. Shirley Brooks declares
to bo "the pleasantest, and bandsomest, and most English
street in London," and ho asserts, not without
reason as
this paper shows, that "to walk the Strand is to obtain a
liberal education." " Who wins Miss Burton" is a tale
of ,
capable
flutteringbelle in ball-rooms and fishing for coronets. "Caught
t," rn
a serio-comic story, records the adventures of
woful Simplot
Co
sketches of " off een, who really deserves his fate
Two
-house and Tavern Life in Paris,".
and
e
of " Paris after Easter," take th
reader pleasantly across
the Channel ; and a discourse
en
mers" affords him useful inst Swimming
iiwmcmingand
Swim-
grief midway. "Our Seaside Resort seasonable
ase "
is ahe omest
so
paper, illustrated by
me charming photographs,
" Books and
ofhethse_
oSuleasson " tells d
take with thehim
a chat about the
traveller what silent companions
h
on his holiday.
" The Youncr Stilt
THE VICTORIA.—The story of
Dancer" is continued, as is likewise the history of
" Colonel Rannoch." For more solid articles we
have a further instalment of M. de Laboulaye's for-
midable work on the " Civil and Political Status of
the Female Sex," which still proceeds with the dis-
cussion of feminine rights and obligations in the
Feudal Epoch. A criticim on " Pictures by
Women" is a little severe, ass becomes criticism in a
ladies' magazine. Among the most interesting fea-
tures in the number is the second report of the
Alexandra Native Girls' English Institution at
Bombay.
GOOD WORDs.—This excellent magazine fully