The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-01 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

Blackwood's Magazine.
" The Chronicles of Carlingford" are continued,
and this second part is more descriptive and event-
ful than its predecessor. The character of Nettie
stands out more clearly defined, and altogether the
tale progresses very considerably. Dr. Rider is in
a very uncomfortable state of mind, alternating
between admiration of Nettie, with her frank fear-
lessness and resolute self-denial, mingled with de-
cision and right•authority, and his natural disgust
at the conduct and manners of Fred., his unworthy
brother. Nettie, herself, goes on her way unmoved
and undaunted, and to the eager protestations that
at last break forth, she calmly replies that she can-
not at present desert her trust, and that the two
households cannot amalgamate. The closing pas-
sage here recorded is a very sad one, for it relates
the untimely death of Fred., the incubus on the
comely housekeeper, the plague of his brother's
life, the wretched and degraded man had passed
away, gone to give an account of wasted days and
woeful nights that swelled up the catalogue of his
career, the few and evil years of his earthly pilgri-
mage. " How the ‘,l, orld treats Discoverers" is a
smart article in its way, that contains some rather
sharp strictures on a work lately published, entitled
" Memoirs of Marshall Hall." In alluding to the
great discoverers of all grades, the writer sets forth
tha astounding remark that "the persecution of
Galileo was perfectly legitimate." Few will sub-
scribe to this notion, and if those in authority were
to be justified in giving the lie to all they do not
exactly understand, the path of the philosopher or
the discoverer would be thorny indeed to tread,
and the knowledge they would diffuse hidden
under a bushel till they and the generation they
would inform and enlighten had alike passed away
to the land where all things are forgotten. " Cap-
tain Clutterbuck's Champagne" has reached a
second part, and this long instalment does not
advance the story in a very great degree, albeit, it
imparts some strange secrets regarding the motives
of some of the folks encountered in its intricate
pathways. " Mr. Buckle's Scientific Errors" is an
elaborate treatise on the subject, that presents
knotty points for the reader to discuss and weighty
matters to settle. It is written in a fair spirit of
criticism, and if here and there the remarks are
severe in their sarcasm, it is throughout acknow-
ledged that the author treated of is of first-rate
talents and of consummate skill. It is said, at last
"In concluding our notice of his scientific errors,
it is but common honesty to say that we have
mentioned all the errors we have observed.
For ourselves, we have spoken of Mr. Buckle's
errors without reticence, but we have to add that
were they more numerous they would not prevent
our admiration of his abilities, nor our respect of
his learning." Such criticism reflects credit alike
on the critic and the criticised. It exhibits that
power of discernment of such priceless value and
so often found wanting in those who sit in judg-
ment on the works or pass their opinions upon the
lives of others. Because they differ on, essential
points it does not inevitably result that the opposite
party is all wrong, and if they cannot see the use
of this act and the force of that remark, others as
wise as themselvers may do so, and at any rate, if
it is an unmitigated error, there may be merits to
discern in the offender that more than redeem the
mistake, or at least can counterbalance its effects
in the general estimate arrived at. " Sir Cresswell
Cresswell" is the title of some striking verses that
will be appreciated by those who like humorous
sketches and apt illustrations of passing events
and actual characters. The last verses are as fol-
low :

" But then how good Sir Cresswell is
Sense, temper, firmness, all are his.
If I on earth were made Dictator,
His powers, now great, should still be greater.
There's many a wrong we could redress well
If aided by Sir Cresswell Cresswell.
0 I what a World of peace and pleasure
Would spring up from that healing measure I
When, mended every luckless blunder,
All ill-matched things were put asunder.
The golden days of Good Queen Bess well
Might yield to those of Great Sir Cresswell.
The (once so-called) United States,
Now quarrelling worse than angry Mates,
Might find a course at least as good
As shedding one another's blood
'Twould end their discord and distress well,
To be divorced by old Sir Cresswell.
Venetia, if her lord and master
By kindness cannot fix her faster,
Will some day soon the band dissever,
Whose galling grasp can't last for ever.
'Twould get them both out of that mess well,
To leave it to the wise Sir Cresswell.
But there's a thing some people want,
I'm sure Sir Cresswell would not grant.
He never would divorce Sardinia,
As if 'twere Venice or Virginia.
Our French Friend plays his game of chess well,
But could not soon checkmate Sir Cresswell."
" The Stage of Weimar" is a very interesting
ske. tch, which furnishes us with some agreeable and
insl motive notices of various dramas that elevate
the tone of the public mind, and are all artistically
arn Inged and carried out with admirable success
and er the auspices of the reigning Prince. The
writer speaks in the warmest terms of the dt-
sira bility and delights of Weimar, which he
affil .ms to contain "all the advantages of a town
and country residence for people who cannot afford
both , and long may Karl Alexander and his heirs
after him continue not only to live among but to
rule over, by the grace of God, a happy and con-
tent Id people." " The inland Sea of Japan" is an
enter rtaining account of some adventures in that

local ity, and we meet with most glowing accounts
of its marvels in the way of loveliness and mystery.
The c lescriptions given of this "country of para•
daisa i:cal renown" are very attractive. After the
steril i 3 hills of China it appeared as if we had
reach ed something like the Highlands of Scotland,
cloths -d with tropical vegetation, or the ghauts of
West 3rn India, in a temperate climate. From the
dark blue sea and white line of Japan there
sudde.nly rose dark precipices fringed with trees,
and st reeked with waterfalls. Above these were
hills s clothed with the richest dark green ver
dure, . and varied with wood or else by terraced
g.
arden and fields; while still beyond arose pine-
coveremountains breaking through white mists
and capped with dark, slate-coloured clouds." The
represo t2tations of these:" haunts of ancient peace,"
and the, la

Summer isles of lying
In dark purple spheres of sea,"
are most fascinating ; and the reader will like to
linger on the picture held to his gaze in this at-
trabtitve account of foreign wanderings in far off
land.lp There are some lines on the Cramming
System, which exemplify the evils of that sys-
tem. They are well done on the whole. Also,
we hind two other short poems, one entitled,
" Th a Recantation," that is a spirited translation
from Horace. and a " lugubrious ede, called " The
Sear oh," which is not very clearly explained, but
evil ently bears a dark and deep meaning. It is
writ ten in a flowery style. There is a paper on
Mr. Ernest Renan, which will prove of interest
to learned readers who delight to ponder deeply,
and to see a subject traced out for their atten-
tive survey. This article considers " Essai de
Morst le and de Critique," and "Etudes d'Histoire
ReliA ;ieuse." They are, it is stated, two volumes
of his works of a class apart from the rest ; they
aro a collection of criticisms upon the works of
other s. A few pages at the close of this magazine
pay s s deserving tribute in a gracious spirit, with
a graA leful manner, to one recently removed from
this Fussing scene, the Earl of Eglinton. "It is
with unfeigned regret that we record in the pages
of this magazine the great loss which the country
has suet ained by the early death of one of the most
amiable and accomplished of the public men whose
ready ol)edience to the calls of duty, high rectitude
of character, and rare administrative talent, have
vindicated, in this generation, the proud position
assigned t o the aristocracy of the land." This
feeling and forcible memento of the illustrious de-