The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-02 00:00:00

Fraser.—The remarkable fecundity of the age in

the way of authorship, and the serious defects in
style of some of our most influential writers, have
brought a leading contributor to the rescue of
British literature. Such, at least, is the reason
assigned for the appearance of the first part of a
lecture on " Literary Style," in which most of the
principal British authors of the age are made to
pass under review. A good deal of the criticism
advanced is unexceptionable, but more than one
general favourite is treated with a sevt rity, to which
we must take exception. A writer who teaches by
example, even if a critic, should, in consistency,
endeavour to "approve himself" just. " The In-
terpreter ; a Tale of War," is continued, and in the
present instalment the reader will find a partial
fulfilment of the favourable prediction pronounced
in our last notice, together with unmistakeable in-
dications of the sort of fate awaiting the morbidly
sensitive hero. He is fairly launched as a lover,
the lady, we suppose, being intended for the hero-
ine, the Hungarian or "the torturing rival," and
the Ropsley, now a captain in the Guards, for the
villain. " Boswell's Letters" are the subject of an
entertaining review, which is followed by an inte-
resting paper on "Rooks," contributed by one
who has evidently made these remarkable
birds a study. Among other accounts there is one
of a colony formed of their own free will in the
garden of Gray's-inn, some years ago, bat now
broken up, the bird however, coming in flocks to
feed there to the present day. "A Few Notes on
Canadian Mattere deserve more attention than
they are likely to meet with, it being part of our
superiority as a nation to have no care in such se-
rious matters for the morrow. "Is it not a JIIIS-
t tke," the writer demands in sober earnest, " that
we English commit, to care wore, as we undoubtedly
do, for an ascent of Mont Blanc, or a quarrel about
some isolated scrap of the Rubric than for the fate
of the millions whom our high civilisation has sent
to find bread elsewhere 7" " Tho Gladiator of
Ravenna," a German play by Friedrich Halm,
from whose " Der Sohn der Wildniss," the play
of " Ingomar" is taken, is introduced to the Eng-
lish reader in an appreciating notice, and to judge
by the extracts given is deserving of high praise.
It is quite clear Shakspere has not been studied in
Germany so intensely for nothing. " A Chapter
on Flowerless Plants" will be found interesting to
the naturalist—a review of " Kemble's
article oState
Papers" to the reader of history, and an
btn
" Public Affairs," which concludes tae num sr o
politicians. The key-note is, The Star of Lord
&sac
dd as
tnotn, e a
iss mall r
cti
eiensglys
considered it should be
Palmerston is in thel
dissected. " Instead of a manly reliance on his
abilities, a fixed and straightforward course, ho has
~ are told, " a crooked and fantastic
preferred,"
evasion of responsibility, and a devious
policy,
action into which no man can venture to
follow him ;" and no man in the house, it is
\dded, is followed less.

Colburm's United Service.—"The Life of Napier"
is the subject of the opening paper,- the review a
highly eulogistic one, concludiug as follows :
" Tile highest compliment we can pay to Sir Wm.
Napier (the biographer), is to say that he has rea-
lised the idea with which he set out, and given us
" the story of a msn who never t trnished his repu-
tation bya sh imeful deed ; of one who subdued dis-
' tank nations by his valour, and then governed
them so wisely that English rule was reverenced,
and lived wi:ere before it had been feared and exe-
crated !" And now we await its conclusion. " A
Few Reniaks on voluntary Enlistment and Armies
of Reserve" appear ,to have been suggested by
what the writer designates " The palpable failure
of voluntary enlistment under existing regulations
to fill our ranks with eligble recruits during the
late war." The writer recommends a reform lathe
distribution of the army, and a more liberal rate
of pension, and advances condemnwory strictures
on certain parts of Gen. Wyndham's plan. A second
notice of " The Theory of War" is followed by fur-
ther criticism on "The Regulations of the Army."
" Tho General's Hut in the Trenches" is continued,
and we have a glimpse of several civil and military
notabilitiez, including the Duke of Newcastle, Mr.
Russel, Miss Nightinga!e, Gen. Markham, and
Marshal Pelissier. " A Scramble Through the
Hills to Cashmere" may be got through without
difficulty, so far as the present iustalment goes.
" Austrian Soldiers and Statesmen in the Nine-
teenth Century" are cinsidered, with due re-
membrance "that the hereditary tendency of
the Slaavic races to absolute government arises
from an excessive submission to authority."
The weak point of Austria, according to the
writer, is Lombardy, whiei "must always (?) re-
main a running sore." The recent amnesty is de-
scribed as " a temporary emollient--certainly not
a definitive cure." "The Boatmen of the Coast"
is a paper which ought to be read, the writer en-
deavouring t ) do justice to the gallant crewsof our
life-boats, whom he, in conclusion, wishes all
honour, prosperity, and success. "Notes on Mili-
tary Science" are continued ; and "The Caspian
and its Shores," are the subject of an in'eresting
historical vietw, which is to be continued. "The
Editor's Portfolio" yields a by no means flattering
notice of the way in which some parties have
set about raising a Testimonial to Lord Har-
dinge. The force of the objections advanced
agaiust the late Commander-in-Chief being
honoured with an equestrian statue, would
not have been diminished had there been no pre-
vious indications of a bias certainly not in favour
of the deceased veteran. "The Victoria Cross," it
would appear, could not be distributed without the
Commissioners appointed to elect its recipients dis-
charging their duties in a manner so unsitisfactory
as to provoke well-grounded, complaint. "Reform
for the Navy" contains this serious allegation :
"Proverbial as the Admiralty has always been for
jobbery and corruption, no First Lord has ever
abwed his patronage so grossly and continuously as
Sir Charles Wood." This is going ahead !

The New Monthly.—Theopeninvz paper is a con-
tinuation of the "Memoirs of the Due de Raguse,"
under the tit'e of " Tl!e War of Liberation." "A
Dreain from Heaven," by the author of "Ashley,"
gives us the conclusion of the history of Adam
Grainger and Margaret Channing. It is written
in this writer's interesting style, and conveys an
exc.ell,nt moral. Adam Grainger, reduced to
poverty and unable to obtain employment, forms
the iall. and cowardly project of committing suicide,
' and abandoning his wife and children. He is pre-
vented by a warning dream, and renews his endea-
vours.with a perseverance and spirit that obtain
success. An account of the " Renaissance at Ahi-
wick Castle" will be interes'ing to antiquaries. A
memoir of Sylvain Bailly o•:'cupies this number of
" Notes on Note-worthies," and draws a striking
picture of the death scene of one of the victims of
1789. The tragic story, under a comic title, of Mr.
Joshua Tubbs is proceeded with in its usual man-
ner. " A Swedish Voyage round the World" is
also continued, and describes San Francisco and
its inhabitants. Florentia contributes a paper on

" The Batha of Lucca," and a description Of "An
Autumn in Italy." " The Talker and the Worker,"
by T. E. Carpenter, is concluded wish melancholy
interest. Alexander Andrews brings down his
" History of the Newspaper Press " to near the
close of the last century. There is no poetry this
month.

The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of
England. John Murray.
An interesting and able essay (prize) on " Bring-
ing Moor Land into Cultivation" opens the num-
ber. The writer's attention is principally directed
to moorlands in an elevated position, and he may
be said to have succeeded in diminishing the many
obstacles to their cultivation by his remarks and
suggestions. The subject of the succeeding essay
is of kindred interest and importance. It is the
"Action of the Atmosphere upon Newly Deepened
Soil," which is clearly shown to be that of a power-
ful fertiliser. Who at all conversant with atmos-
pheric action could doubt the fact ? And yet many
of our agriculturists who act upon it do so to all
appearance unwittingly, or why, for instance, the
necessity for this treatise ? "The Farming of War-
wickshire" is described in four divisions, and
though not first class, we are happy to
find there are tokens of steady improvement.
The farmers of Warwickshire, it would appear, are
not now the "sly jealous set" Mr. Murray de-
scribed them. " The Construction of Labourers'
Cottages" is the subject of a suggestive and well-
illustrated essay, creditable to the writer and the
conductor of the journal. It is always pleasing to
witness anxiety manifested for the sanitary and
social welfare of the toiling labourer, who literally
earns his bread by the sweat of his brow, and is too
often lodged in a hovel wholly unfitted for human
residence. Professor Buchanan, of the Agricul-
tural College, Cirencester, contributes an article
" On the Natural History of British Meadow and
Pasture Grasses," in which various species are
lucidly described. This is followed by another
paper in connection with atmospheric action, being
"On the Different Mechanical Modes of Deepen-
ing the Staple Soil in order to give it the Full
Benefit of Atmospheric Influence." A variety of
reports and miscellaneous contributions make up
the contents of the number.

The Journal of Agriculture. Blackwood and
Sons.

The collection of " Agricultural Statistics for
1856," though attended with considerable difficulty,
has, we are told by "an Enumerator," been
crowned with complete success. Among other
notabilia we observe an increase of 15,122 acres
in the area of tillage ; an increase of horses, sheep,
and lambs, and of cows and cattle, but a decrease
of calves, making a decrease in the total of cattle
as compared with the returns of the preceding
year. An increase in wheat and oats respectively
of 2,200,000 bushels and 1,800,000 bushels, but a
decrease in barley of 500,000 bushels. A great
deficiency is reported in the potato crop 1 An
interesting paper on " Tropical Cultivation, and its
Limits follows." After a residence of 13 years within
six degrees of the equator, the writer expresses his
firm conviction that a temperate
full
lcpliiroeadnttue
production
hooetf me
noerergi
ense coeissina raytk
thanfortihteisffuolrl
thede vfeul
the most valuable kinds of food. " Characteristic;
of the Year 1856," and a paper on " Salmon and
Pisciculture" will repay perusal, as will "Notes on
Novel ies at the Smithfield Club Show." Besides
the above, there is a variety of papers of more or
less interest to the agriculturist.

The National Magazine hopefully pursues its
useful and entertaining career under the able editor-
ship of Messrs. J. Saunders and Westland Marston.
The part for March contains a variety. of high class
literature, combining the amusing and the instruc-
tive, together with a number of superior engravings
of subjects judiciously selected, and worthy of the
attention of the public.

No. XVl-
LAittrleemDaorrkraibt.ly
nßuymbCheratasies
fDarickasens.
one
For in it old Mr. Dorrit
dies—in it we hear
importantte last in life of the mean-
spiritedhling 1
Father of the Marshalses,
incident i se
nd concerned.
bsb
A c '
p Rae, so thoroughly and entirely obnoxious,
character intr;nsical y so detestable so con-
temptible,
wt e cannot find our sympathies touched for a
single instant by the narrative of his demise—in
spits of its being glorified,. in a manner, by the love
of Amy, and eloquent in every word with the
pathos of Charles Dickens. We turn from the
corpse of the miserable old hound calling himself a
"gentleman" with a sense of relief at being at
length—ha—well rid—hum—of him. Regrettlng
his death only because of its causing the decease
immediately afterwards of his faithful and admiring
brother the old quondam clarionet player Frederick.
The first symptoms of Mr. Dorrit's failing vitality
are exhibited, by the way, in the family banquets
here fantastically described as of a decidedly
C 6pruney and prismatic" character !
re than
the sir about making Mrs. General his.mo
a. it
middle-aged bride, leading him upon the
were, of his dissolution, to the extravagance
of kissing that lady's knuckles. eve, as
salute cm
a been " a
lectured by our author to have 1,, lea
rather bony kiss, of a cosmetic
iflials
evrb' y two--we
ing the Dotrit family thus dim
l of information about M, Bland 1
• follow Arthur Clennam for aohlinlecitoo his castles in
(Coatlhtswinitiqeumest,

Bentley's Miscellany. —The number for the pre- I
sent month does not offer any striking attractions.
Dudley Costello's tale of the times, "The Mil-
lionnaire of Mincing-lane," is proceeded with, and is
chiefly occupied in informing the reader of the
antecedents of the characters of the story. "A
Summer in the Sahara" is an entertaining account
of the adventures of a French artist intent on
studying the peculiarities of the desert. " Mingle
Mangle," by Monkshood, gives us a sketch of the
careor of Ronsard, whose songs were so popular in
France in the sixteenth century, and whose efforts
to alter the French language were more ambitious
than succatsful. An interesting traveller's sketch
shows us a panorama of Amsterdam, Paris, and
Venice, founded on another French work recently
published. It hag not much novelty, but is an in-
teresting outline. " Thanatos Athanatos "is con-
tinued in the same style. "The Coroner's Inquest"
is the continuation of the story that appeared last
month, and still remains to be concluded. " By-
ways of History" has some remarks on tho tragedy
of Sir Edwundbury Godfrey, in which it is observed
that his real name was Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey,
has I but like the names of Masaniono, ilougoument
&C., having once been circulated wrongly, it ha

since been impo,sible to rectify it. "The Gallery Rigaud) from Miss Wade, the abominlble 1 And
of Theatrical Portraits " has reache I the third here we at once gladly afford to a rather elaborate
number, PTO narrates the history of William not,., prefixed to the present number by Mr.
Dowton. Dickeus, the benefit, such as it is, of our circulation

It is a note, as the read r will observe, minutely
aud rather anxiously explanatA7 :
"By an oversight of the author's, which be did not
observe until too late for correction in the first impres-
sion of the numbei for last month (No. XV.), the name
Rigaud is used in the 17th chapter of the Second Book,
instead of Blandoi3. The personage in the story who
assumed the latter name, is habitually khown to the
aulior by the former, as his real one • and hence the
mistake. It is set right, if the reader will hare the
goodness to substitute.the word 13Iandois for Rigaud, in
that chapter when it occurs. The chapter commences at
page 467, and ends at page 474."
Nothing whatever is learnt, in the present number,
as to the cause of the mysterious disappearance of
th;s horrible ay assin M. Rigaud, alias Thandois. At
Clennam has an unsatisfactory interview
about the matter with Miss Wade—attended at the
close of the interview by Harriet, otherwise Tatty-
ceram. Tbey meet, by the way, in a room at Miss
Wade's Calais residence, in which we note among
the marvellously characteri-tic still-life, such-exceed-
ingly Gallic eltbies as "a little round nt table, with a
tumultuous assemblage of legs 'underneath :"
and, upon the mantel-piece " a Greek
warrior with his helmet off, sacrificing
a clock to the Genius of- France !' Arthur Clen-
nem' harried about the Calais streets by hotel
touters, such, for example, as the one described at
p. 493, as "a native gentleman in a suit of grease,
and a cap of the same material," returns to Lon-
don only just in time to tike leave for awhile of ,
his wise and honest partner, Daniel Doyce—off, as
it appeees, on some engineering expedition for the
Emperor of all the Russian. Arthur does more,
however, than this almost immediately upon his re-
turn homewards. He sets upon the trail of Rigaud
the assassin, true-hearted little chirruping Jean
Baptist Cavaletto. As to the autobiographic reve-
lat one of Miss Wade (constituting the whole of
chap. 21, book ii ), while they help to explain
much that was bewildering and incomprehensib'e
in the plot of " Little Dona," they at the same
time only demonstrate more clearly than ever the
detestable peculiarities of that most intolerable cha-
racter. Henceforth Miss Wade may be placei in
the same category with Miss Dartle, the one blot
in our authot's otherwise perfect mestetpiece—
" David Copperfield."

Ask Mamma." By the Author of "Handley
Cro=s" and " Soapy Sponge." Illustrated by
John Leech. Part I.

A comical new serial, by a popular humorist—
drolly written, and most facetiously illustrated.
It gives promise already by the broad fun of the
opening chapters—delightfully acceptable promise
—of many a hearty laugh t) come. A prospect not
to bs wondered at when the Author is the cele-
brant of the renowned Air. Jorrocks, and the Artit

the chief glory of that merry old gentleman Mr.
Punch ! Our Hero's Ancestors—Pere et Mere—
occupy our attention in Part One : "our hero,"
by the way, let Ili say at once, being no other than
one Fine Billy, otherwise Billy Pringle. Pringle,
the elder, after the fashion of the famous lover in
the Comic Song, falls in love with Miss Willing—

" iirhich was a Lady's Maid !"

Miss Willing's earlier experiences in wbich capacity
are ludicrously enough narrated at the outset.
As in the irnitance of the family she fedi con-
strained to leave, because at odd times her master
would come into her mistress's roam with nothing
on but his shirt and his spectacles ! The way in
which the said Miss Willing "hooks" as well as
" eyes" Mr. William Pringle is a thing to grin over
while reading, as one can't help grinning ever John
Leech's own inimitable caricatures. Ho is fairly
hooked, by the by, to the suppressed amusement
of °Le Blood-Red Ben, and of another " white-
lashed" Pheasant:Feathers. The former of the-e
two worthies being a House Porter : and the latter
the slatternly daughter of some down-country
poacher. We shall look forward to the cootnua-
tion of "Ask Mamma" with a tolerable certainty of
finding in it a genuine source of amusement.

The Year Book of Facts in Science and Art. 1857.
By John Timbs, F. S. A.
_ _

Another useful book by the painstaking and able
author of " Things not Generally Known," being
an exhibition of the important discoveries and im-
provements of the past year in mechanics and the
useful arts, natural philosophy, electricity, chemis-
try, zoology, and botany, geology and mineralogy,
meteorology, and astronomy. The sources from
which the facts have been drawn are the records of
the proceedings of learned societies and other reli-
_

able storehouses of information. The author has
compiled the matter juliciously, and with an im-
partiality sufficiently obvious to inspire confidence
in its trustworthiness. The value of such a work
will be best appreciated by those whose access to
scientific reports and journalistic announcements is
limited, while none who take an interest in the
advancement of art and science will fail to is.
cognise in "The Year Book of Facts" an imme-
diate boon, and the forerunner of an invaluable
series.

The English, Cyclopcedia...• A Popular History of

England. Bradbury and Evans.

" The English Cyclopdia" has reached the
forty-ninth part, and extends from Nash to Pater-
son. Among the most remarkable names in this
number are, of course, Nelson and Newton. Many
living celebrities are also included—Viscount Pal-
merston and Omer Pacha among them. The work
is too well known and widely circulated to require
criticism, and will doubtless continue to obtain the
encouragement it merits.

" The Popular History of England" is a useful
work, but not of so high a character. It has
reached the fifteenth part, and brings down the
history to near the c'ose of the reign of Henry the
Eighth. It will be useful as a summary, and the
illustrations are a great attraction.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.---(This Day.)

-..110•-----

LONDON, March 2.—Wind this day at noon, S.E. ;
Light airs and hazy.
PLYMOUTH, March. —Wind E. S. E.—Arrived—Politina,
from Havana ; Willing, Lyme, for Rio Janeiro.
FALMOUTH, I.—A ship's life-boat, about 30 feet long,
paintei white, with blue upper strake, apparently new,
was picked up on the 22d Feb., in lat. 47 N. lon. 9 W.,
by the Halcyon, arrived here.
YARMOUTH, March I.—The Dutch galliot Harmonie,
from Lyme to Bayonne, got athwart hawse of the brig
Sarah, of Whitby, in the roads yesterday, and received
some damage.
CLYDE, Feb. 28. —Wind W.S. W.—Arrived—Glasgow
(s.s.), from New York. Sailed—Brechin Castle, for Ba-
tavia ; City of Madras, Calcutta.
WATERFORD, Feb. 28.—Wind W. to S.W.—Arrived--
Clara, from St... John's, Newfoundland.

SWANSEA, March t.—Wind N.E.--Sailed—Swansea,
Knight, and Ogilby, for Coquimbo.

LivirtPoor,:klaiN;h I.—The Kalamazo, from Now Or-
leans, reports passing, on the 11th Feb., in 40. N. —. N.
a quantity of bulwarks.

(PsEORuETLHEACP.ruItrICTOTENLE, GxEROANPDH.)
Ay
}BURNING.
Wind easterly, fine.
Airived, Feb. 28.—Gipsy, from Llanelly ; Louisa, Ex.
ter ; Emerald, Smyrna ; Chance, Dublin ; Four Brothers
Lime ; Pope, Portsmouth; Argyll (steamer), Carentan.
Arrived, March 2—Ariel and Ea-1 Gray, from Cardiff;
Ann and Maria, London; Le Coq, Cherbourg.
Sailed, Feb. 28 —Cicely and eltalanta, for Sciderlani;
•Alarm, Portsmouth ; Mechanics' Own, Cardiff.
Sailed, March 2—Florida, for Carliff; E litti, Llanelly;
Clara, Sunderland; Charlotte, Guernsey; Sandford, for
Shields.

LIVERPOOL, Monday Morning,

Wind S.W.
Arrived—Gipsey Queen, from Charleston.
QUEENSTOWN, Feb. 284

Wind S.
Arrived—Jessie, from Ibraila.

(BY BIIBMARINIC AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.)
GRAVESEND, Monday, 10.5 a.m.
Wind calm, weather foggy, tide last hours' ebb.
Arrived, Ist—Rebecca, and Alionette, from Embden.
Sailed, Ist—Soho, for Havre.

2d—Wisconsin, for Sydney.
DEAL, Monday, 9.50 a.m.
Wind E.N.E., moderate, and hazy.
Passed Dungeness yesterday—Ariel, from St. Michael's;
Agenoria, from Galatz ; Ocean, from Sicily—all for Lon.
don.

Passed, Ist—Vesta (s.s.) for Oporto ; Dreadnought, for
Cape of Good Hope ; Sally, for Colombo ; Feronia, for
Canaries ; Jesamine, for Malaga; Sarah Fox, for Swaim*
—all from London.
Passed, March 2.—Pori from Chris.
tabel, North, for NralgalZif
Hampden, from Newcastle, for Constantinople; and '"s!
tabel, from Sunderland, for Calderia
A small brig, supposed to be a collier,
is
t
north part of the Goodwin Sande. Several bts gone tore on the
•
her assistance.
____—..------..

--
.....—.--------------
ITALIAN BRIGSAND 6101tTAD.—The lofty towers Of
Italy (says Mr. R. Rawlinson), and the minarets of the
if so good as, the modern archi.
But, are for the most part constructed of bricks and
is command. The proportion of
mortar. I have examined the bricks, and I have tested
the mortar, and I found that neither the one nor the
brick to mortar in the foreign structures differs,.
moss materially from ra d • -
etethetermiasybhetatveer
atltle.ho
however, to o ern practice.
The bricks. of Italy and of the East are very thin
in pr
These
bricks
(or
rareaas owr
ebedsh—onuilnde
inch, open
the most inch and a quarter, in thickness.
almost scidelsairgeoabt:
'them) tiles, are frequently set or bedded in mortar as
thickly spread as the bricks, so that there is almost as
much mortar as brick. rom my examination I have
no hesitation in saying that the permanence of the work
is in a great measure dependent on this liberal use-of
bard-netting, tough mortar. The tornado's sweep and
the earthquake's shock have alike failed to overthrow
these slender and lofty piles; though many times they
must have shaken, vibrated, and bent under the furious
effects of the contending elements and dread tremblings
of the earth. The elasticity and tenacity of the mortar
have, in my opinion, alone preserved th'e structures
from sudden overthrow.—,7% Buighz•