The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-01 00:00:00

the importance of which may be estimated from
its having been styled " the epoch from which to
deduce the history of the modern science of inter-
national law."- It is observed, as a remarkable fact,
"that fiermany to this hour, though two centuries
have intervene], has never recovered from the
effects of the thirty years' w:sr." It has not been
so with other nations—Spain after the Peninsular
war, Italy after the campaigns of Napoleou, or the
Netherlands in their various conflicts. Tire prin-
cipal cause which let to such frightful devastation
was that the forces consisted of standing armies
without regular pay, subsisting on the country
itself The writer gives an account of the four
divisions by which the war is chronicled, and alto-
gether a good idea is obtained of that eventful
period by the article before us. A new story is
commenced by Shirley Brooks, entitled, -"Tire
Partners," it protnis-s to be very interesing from
the partial glimpse that can alone be visible in a-
first instalment. The various charact-rs are sketched
with decieion and energy. "A Tae-of Florence"
is of the romantic chit, concerning the lives and
ambition of two young painters ; it is told with
feeling. "Tutors of the Young Idea" is continued
in this number. It presents a • sketch of " The
Governess's Family," which is very well done, and
discloses a life-like picture of vulgar gentility.
There are also some very wise remarks on the evil
practice of frightening children, which prevails to
so great an extent among mothers and nurse.
"Tee Romance of the'Wreath;" by Jonathan
Freke Siing.by," is a pletteing sketch, of the same
style as those th IA have before enlivened the pages
of this magazine, half bing in prose andt,alf in
poetry. The verses are written in a flowing style,
and attract interest, although. the subject is not a
novel one, b-ing the fiend emblems of the United.
Kingd•:m. To which the prefe.ence is as gned,
wid be seen in the following :e- •

‘A The Shamrock ! the shamrock ! how modest it grows;
Not flaunting and bright as the gay, glowing R)se',•
No sun lover taints every charm till it fades,
But unchanging it lives, like our own mountain maids.

" The Shamrock ! the shamrock ! it seeks not to brave
The storm like the Thistle when wintry wind 4 rave,
But lieth in peace, like th.;se meek heart.: that rest
In the trust of their love on some sheltering breast.

"'The Shamrock ! the shamrock ! an emblem divine !
In holiest meaning its triple leaves twine,
' Take, Sco.ia, thy 'rhistle—take Albion, thy Those,But the shamrock for me, and the land where it grows 1"

John Miller's extraordinary career- is proceeded
with. The details are more entertaining than they
were. An article is written on the " Genius of
the Rev. Charles Kirgsley," who is here de-
scribed as "a man who has the boldness to de-
clare his opinions • freely and openly, without
sham, and who has pen-tips gained the widest
popularity which an English writer of his class has
ever eojoyed.'' The motives wlrch have led Mr.
liiugdey b write his books are di-cussed in a
candid manner, and for the most pirt in a com-
mendatory spirit.

Fraser's Magazine—The opening article in Pith ser
is entitled, " What are the functiousof the artist,"
and takes for iti sobject Ruskin's Modern Pain-
ters. It is by the talented writer who wr,tes
on ler the name of Shirley, and it takes a lofty view
of the true purpose and character of real art, and
what should be the ainrof every true artist. There
is a tendency to be slightly metaphysical, but this
is redeemed by the sensible and practical remarks
very frequently met with. The following piece of
advice might be followed with advantage by many
write s and painters :

" A skilful draughtsman resembles an expert work-
man ;he knows how to express himself. Execution is
the language of art. Unless a man understand the
English tongue, there is not the slightest reason why he
should write it. Most people in these days, however,
appear to consider that it is their duty to appear in
print. They are quite mistaken. They may depend
upon it that they had much better hold their peace.
The world can afford to wait until they have mastered
their grammar. The painter likeviise must be able to use
his language with skill, clearness, decision. Till he is
able to do so, whatever else he may be. be is not a
painter. This is his first task, and until he has suc-
ceeded in doing it thoroughly, he need not attempt any-
thing besides.!

It is with regret that we find an author who
can write 5'3 well and reason so clearly, inclining
so strongly to the pre-Raphaelite school. An io-
tetesting story by the author of Meg of Elibank
follows, called " A Wooing and Wedding of 17—"
a romance of a century ago, written with freshness
and feeling. The writer of "The Press and the Pub-
lic Service" receives a severe criticism. The "Inter-
preter," by G. Whyte Melville is continued in its
usual style. A paper with the amusing title of
"Blackey at School," takes us into an In&an educa-
tional establishment on a visit of inspection, the
result of which is highly satisfactory. An article
entitled "Edgar Allan Poe," contains a sketch of
the miserable life and remarkable writings
of that worse than unfortimate author.
We think the critic is mistaken, however,
in asserting, that little is known of him in this
country. I.lis works may have been unfortunate
in their introduction to the public, but sketches of
his life, and criticisms of his genius like the present
are frequently met with. There are many, how-
ever, unacquainted with his history ; t,) suchit
possesses a mournful interest, and to those gifted
like him,:elf, without a due regard for principle, or
a habit of moral control, it offers a terrible warning.
The critic admits, as all must do, the wonderful
power exhibited in his "Raven," while censuring
the extremes into which his love of eccentricity,
and fondness for refrains, sometimes leads him. Of
his prose writings several extracts are given. They
are all much of the same class—wonderful in the
inventive power they display, in the ingenuity of
their construction, in the elaborate process which
makes the greatest improbabilities appear simply
natural, and in the horror and weird-like character
of their interest.. While they must be regarded as
literary curiosities, many of them will only
eXci'e in readers of good taste and right feeling a
sense of aversion and disgust. The celebrated tale
entitled " The Facts in the case of M. Valclemar" is
one of this class. If such writings were indeed, as
has been often stated, the reflection of his mind,
what wonder that he was whirled down a moral
Maelstrom, more fatal than that lie so vividly de-
scribed ?

A paper on "Deer" continues the series on Natural
History, which has already treated of Fish, Ravens,
Crows, awl other species. "Gleanings from the Re-
cord Offic ," is the title of a paper.which investigates
chargea brought against Henry the Eighth, and
defends him from the accusation. " Abdallah and
Saida" is the title of an Eastern tale, heard among
the Arabs, which tells of the adventnres of an
Arab chief and the daughter of a wealthy merchant.
The poetical contribut.ous do not rise above me-
diocrity.

Colb)trh's United Service. —The United Service
contains its usual amount of naval and military
information. It commences with another article
on " Military Education," which is to be com-
pleted next month,- and merits the attention of
those concerned in the education of youth. The
closing years of the late Sir Charles Napier fur-
nish an interesting paper, which gives a summary
of many of his most 'remarkable actions, and gives
him his due share of admiration and respect. A
paper on " English Life-boats and American Life-
cars" commences by satirising the eccentricity of
our humanity, which is territied and appalled by
a railway accident, if but one or two are killed,
but does not carry its benevolent anxiety to the
disasters at seA. The writer wishes that some of
the zeal for investigation,. and the punishment of
the culprits on shore would be extended to the
casualties that occur on the ocean. The wreck
chart shows a black fringe of dots, every one of
which represents a lost vessel, and perhaps many
lives. He gives the reader the following statistics
cunpiled from the Admiralty returns :

RETURN OF WRECKS UPON THE SHORES OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM FOR SEVEN TEARS.
In 1850 there were lost 692 vessels and 780 lives.
„ 1851 7, 701 „ 750 ~

„ 1852
„ 1853
„ 1854

9 1,115 9 920 ”
832 9 987 9
If
987 9 1,549 „
11
1,141 9 649 ”
~
1,153 9 421 "
If-.....-..---4

.„
1955
„ 185 G

6,621 5,876
"The impressivenees of this astonishing document
should bo enhanced in the eyes of every Englishman,
in ii the ,ter absence of colouring or varnish. Losses
w
which, if estimated by a money value, would reach a
fabulous sum, are chronicled by a few brief figures ; and
aae 'flee of human equal to that by which many
a
sacrifice
brilliant victory has ben won, is compressed into an
unpretending line. If we descend from generals to
particulars we shall gather some startling facts. Now,
if we take the wreck experience of last year, we find that
1,153 vessels were lost, and the burden of this enormous
fleet is estimated at 229,936 tons, and that it was
manned by 10,014 men. And yet, except to a few
professional individuals, this mass of ruin and misery
has comparatively failed to arrest public attention. The
great bulk of the community know nothing about it,
although ono would think that the magnitude of the
loss was national and overwhelming.
"At the risk of tiring the reader's patience we will
pursue our analysis a little further. Out of the 1,153
vessels, 309 were totally lost by the following means :-
148 by stress of weather ; 10 by mistaken lights ; 37
from being unseaworthy ; 38 by fogs and currents ; 5 by
defective compasses ; 3 from defective charts ; 12, errors
of judgment ; 3 ignorance of coast ; 7, errors of pilot ;
3, want of pilot ; 21, neglect of lead ; 11, want of cau-
tion ; 2, by intemperance ; and 9, of general negligence.
This statement, dry and ball as it is, proves that it is
not the winds and the wares that are always to blame