The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-02 00:00:00

must be expected before long, although there has
been as yet no perceptible diminution. M. About's
recent work on "La Questfon Romaine," is re-
viewed, and a brief summary is given of the prin-
cipal features of the work, which is characterised
as brilliant and forcible. An article on the Elec-
tions and the War, censuring the dissolution, and
taking a survey of the state of Europe, concludes
a number which is scarcely of average interest.

Bentley's Miscellany.—" At Home and Abroad "
is the title'of the opening paper, which takes a brief
review of the present exciting state ofpolitical affairs.
" Carlyon's Vacation" is an agreeable and animated
story by " Ouida." It is a considerable improve-
ment on the last tales by the writer who adopts
that pseudonym. Monkshood, in treating of
essayists and romancers, comes this month to
Hartley Coleridge, of whom he gives an interesting
account. The lovers of romance will find another
attraction in " Blanche Level,'; a story whose first
instalment promises complication ' and distress.
"Up among, the Pandies ' is continued, and has
reached the seventh part. A tribute to the me-
mory of Alexander Von Humboldt gives an inte-
resting summary of the career of that wonderful
man, to whose labours in the wide field of scientific
discovery Europe owes so much. The history of
Mr. Miranda is brought to a sudden conclusion
by the vengeance of one of his dupes. A paper on
Piedmont and French intervention discusses the
state of continental politics.

Colburai's United Service. Questions con-
cerning the. efficiency of the rival services are
just now peculiarly interesting and important.
The magazine before us will, consequently,
be likely to find many readers unconnected with
either profession. It opens with an article on the
recent changes in the organization of the Royal
Artillery, which it does not regard with favour. It
is remarked that all our improvements only tend to
multiply apprAntments, and to do little else besides.
After this we meet with a paper on the "Ten pound
Bounty," in which the causes for the general
difficulty in manning the Royal Navy are discussed.
[he absurdity of suffering a fine crew to be dis-
missed and dispersed on returning from a voyage,
are especially condemned, " What can be so inju-
dicious," asks the writer, after citing an instance,
"when a ship like the Nankin returns home with
her cretv perfect, officers and men working well
together, and well acquainted with the properties
of the vessel, as to scatter the three years' continu-
ous labour to the winds. To say nothing about
the loss of men, it costs some £20,000, often more,
and nine or ten months' downright labour to get a
new and untried crew in the same condition as the
splendid frigate we have instanced as broken up in a
day." "The channel war ports, and naval stations,"
and " A summary of the British Navy," are two other
papers on a similar topic. An account of the
campaign of 1848, in Lombardy, is interesting at the
present period. It is remarked that the campaigns
of Radetsky are of especial interest to the English
military student from their resemblance to the
campaigns of Wellington. Some observations on
the formation of volunteer corps will well repay
perusal by those who purpose enrolling themselves.
Several very useful and practical hints are given
on the composition and organisation of volunteer
corps, the manner in which they should be armed
and trained, and the most suitable dress for them.
The writer strongly upholds that paragraph in the
War-office circular which directs that the members
of the corps should provide their own arms and
equipments and defray all expenses, except in the
event of its being assembled for actual service. It is
remarked that otherwise the line of demarcation be-
tween the volunteer and the regular and militia forces
would disappear, and the esprit de corps of the
volunteers would be destroyed. With regard to
the dress, it is recommended that the colour should
be some neutral unobtrusive tint, such as drab or
grey. Some directions for becoming a good marks-
man are also given. The " Notes on Military
Science" in this number include the Battles of
Hastings, of Bannockburn, and of Cressy—a triad
of remarkable conflicts. The General Correspon-
dence and the Naval and Military Intelligence
occupy their usual places, and some lighter papers
on military adventures enliven the number.

The Universal Review. No. 4. Allen and Co.

The Universal Review opens with a paper of
a somewhat metaphysical character. It is a criti-
cism on " Man and his Dwelling-place," and the
writer takes into careful consideration the theories
and arguments of the author, sometimes coin-
ciding with his views, and at others combating his
opinions. Those who incline to metaphysical specula-
tions.will find much to admire in this article, which
displays deep thought and careful argument. Most
readers, too, we should imagine, would incline to
the practical straightforwardness of the critic rather
than to the somewhat mystical and dreamy argu-
ments of the author. An article entitled " A
Reviewer's Parcel," commences by lamenting the
wonderful increase of books and general amount of
reading. Some truth and some exaggeration are
mingled in this part of the paper, and it must be
remembered, when the writer says that the good
bqoks of former generations should suffice to us,
that those books refer to a different state of things,
and, though valuable in their own day, would not
now equal the advance of knowledge. Who, for
instance, would care to study mechanics from bOoks
written before the powers of steam were applied to
daily uses, or who would wish to be restricted to
histories that omitted the last half century ? In
fiction, too, the manners of society and tone
of feeling is so entirely altered, that the
novels of former generations lose the great
charm of novel writing, the portraiture of
people like ourselves. The reviewer, after indulg-
ing his mournful feelings, proceeds to open a com-
prehensive parcel, and to give us his opinion, briefly,
upon most of the new publications. " The Story of
Microscopic Discovery" is the title of an interesting
paper, very attractive to the scientific reader. A
second paper on the "Resources of India " treats of
a subject which is just now of great importance,
and the immense advantages to be derived from
encouraging British settlers is dwelt upon. A
lengthened criticism of the Royal Academy and the
Water Colour Exhibitions is written with care, and
discusses the merits of all the principal pictures.
Mr. Knight's Popular History receives an analysing
criticism, in which the writer takes occasion to
differ from many of the historian's theories. A
ilaper on the French in Italy recall the French in-
vasions from Charles VIII. downwards, and arrives
at the conclusion that little hope of Italian liberty
can be entertained from the intervention of their
powerful neighbours.