The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-02 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

Blackwood. —The story of " Janet's Repentance"
is concluded in this number. It is told in an in-
teresting manner throughout, and the latter part
is equal to what has gone before. The wretched
husband closes his sad life by an awful death.
Another sufferer is also released, the unfortunate
Mr. Tryan, whose weary pilgrimage has been gone
through in doubts and difficulties. Happily for him,
however, he had a bright evening to the stormy day
of life. The entire renovation of Janet's character
was a noble end to a career of spiritual labour. It
s truly said that the memorial of Edgar Tryan,
which bears the fullest record, is that of the suffer-
ing sinner " rescued from self-despair ;" and the
friends of the departed could wish for no better
perpetuation of his efforts, and no more lasting
I tablet for his memory —" To live in hearts
we leave behind, is not to die." " Notes
on the Isthmus of Panama" is the title of
a paper which gives a brief account of
the writer's experiences of Central America.
The chief attraction in Blackwood is, of course, met
with in the subsequent paper, the sixth instalment of
" What will he do with it." In this number the
plot thickens, and some fresh figures appear on the
scene, forming a dark contrast to those who have
already won the heart of the reader. The brilliant,
versatile, yet simple-hearted old man and his
charming little Sophy, are tracked by an evil-
minded group—Rugge, the manager, and two new-
comers, who appear to hold some important clue
to the thread of the narrative. Some connection
between Darrell and the poor wanderers is again
hinted at. While these pursuers are on their track,
the fugitives are reposing themselves after their
success, recorded in the last number. The good
Mayor alarms the affectionate grandfather with
hints of the delicacy of his little charge, and inte-
rests himself in their fortunes with untiring bene-
volence.

" There is," says a Latin love-poet, "no why or
wherefore in liking," Hartopp, therefore, had taken, from
the first moment, to Waife—the staid, respectable,
thriving man, all muffled up from head to foot in the
whitest lawn of reputation—to the wandering, shifty,
tricksome acatterliag, who had not seemingly secured,
through the course of a life bordering upon age, a single
certificate for good cundiwt. On hie hearthstone, beside
his ledger-book, stood the Mayor, looking with a re-
4pectful admiration that puzzled himself upon the for-
..

lora creature, who could give no reason why he should
net be rather in the Gatelboro' Parish Stocks than in its
chief magistrate's easy-chair. Yet were the Mayor's
sympathetic liking and respectful admiration wholly un-
accountable? Runs there not between one warm human
heart and another the electric chain of a secret under-
standing ? In that maimed outcast, so stubbornly hard
to himself—so tremulously sensitive for his sick child—
was there not the majesty to which they who have
learned that Nature has her nobles, reverently bow the
head ! A man, true to man's grave religion, can, no
more despise a life wrecked in all else, while a hallowing
affection stands out sublime through the rents and chinks
of fortune, than he can profane with rude mockery a
temple in ruins—if still left there the altar.

The story promises in every way to be a worthy
successor to "My Novel." A. letter from Tlepole-
mus to Irenmus, entitled Cambria and Cottono-
polis, despite its formidable names, will well repay
perusal. It opens with some pages on those terri-
ble mutinies which are now the grand subject of
the day, and the writer, after saying it is hard to
believe how bad or how good men may be, contrasts
Nana Sahib, " the accursed through dominions on
which the sun never sets," with the British Joshua,
as he styles the gallant Havelock, and justly ob-
serves,—" If this Indian mutiny has unsealed the
blackness of a bottomless pit of villany, it has also
brought to light a strange diamond-mine of human
heroism. Think of the chaplain of the Church
of England, at Cawnpore, reading the service for
the burial of the dead' to his rank-fel-
lows, in momentary expectation of the vol-
ley which was to slay them all ! " He asks,
who but a nation thinking too lightly of
its military duties would have placed such implicit
confidence in a mercenary army, and instances the
ruin of Carthage from a similar mistake. " What
a mercy," exclaims the writer, " that the Russian
war and the Persian war were over before the
mutiny broke out, and what a mercy that they
were idiots enough to revolt before they had ob-
tained possession of that tremendous arm, the En-
field rifle, on a question of the cartridges to be em-
ployed in its use." India, he happily observes,
was won by tue sword, but kept together by
bands of red tape, which it did not need the
strength of a Sampson to burst. The latter part
of the letter is employed in discussing the Man-

cheater Exhibition. The two last papers are on
somewhat similar topics. The first, " A Few
Words from the Khyber," tells us how the residents
of Peshawur fared during the late troubles; and
the latter, "The Company's Raj," endeavours to
exonerate the Eist India Company from the blame
so generally attached to theca.

The United Service Magazine.—This number
has an interesting table of con; eats. It opens with
a " project for raising a special body of troop
without interfering with the ordinary recruiting,"
and suggests that a body of troops should be formed
of young men respectably connected and well
educated, who are without any definite occupation,
many of whom find an opportunity for employing
their energies in colonial life. The writer stipu-
lates that in these regiments serving as a private
soldier should not deteriorate the social position,
and that a fair chance of promotion should be ac-
corded. " The Indian Mutiny," and " The Indian
Army," afford subjects for two papers, and dismiss
those all-engrossing topics with ability and modera-
tion. Another paper, "On Military Reform,"
strongly advocates the abolition of the purchase
system, and instances some ridiculous sums which
have been given for the command of a regiment,
and adds that many regard the giver of 10,0001. for
a troop of dragoons as a greater hero than the best
soldier that ever drew a sabre. An article `°-On
Military Quarters Abroad" describes the beautiful
island of Ceylon, and "A Visit to the Tcherna-
Morsky Cossacks" transports us to a very different
locality. "The Seats of Insurrection" is the title
of a paper containing some useful information. A
brief "Memoir of the late General Barnard"
renders full justice to his military qualities and
achievements. " The Legends of the Black
Watch" afford a pleasing variety to the more
serious contents. " The Editor's Portfolio" cen-
sures with becoming severity the ill-timed inter-
ference of Lord Canning and his counsellors at
Cawnpore. All the intelligence of the month re-
specting the two services is given at length.

Dublin.—The first article is on " France. The
Monarchy--the Republic—and the Empire." It
is deserving of attention, being written in a calm,
sensible manner, without any extravagant bias
towards any aide. It criticises a recent work by
M. do Cassagnac on the subjects referred to, and
justly condemns the exaggerated encomiums he
lavishes en the second Napoleon. After dwell;ng
on the various points of importance, the writer
observes that France has not gained by the fall• of
the monarchy of July :

"The empire has given material prosperity to France,
and that is all. The free p,ay of the intellect exists no
more in France. The desire of sharing in the government
of the state—' the highest earthly desire of the culti-
vated mind'—can be reasonably entertained by none but
the priest and the parasite. All the genius of France
is in exile or in obscurity. All its political liberty is
dead."

" M'Cormack's Grudge," is continued. The tale
promises to be an interesting one, and some of the
chief characters are sketched in a bald style. " To
Rome—Out," is a paper in which some wanderings
to the sunny south are chronicled ; but the tra-
vellers do not seem to have enjoyed their excursion,
to judge from the records of it here given. Some
objects of interest, and some forms of beauty
rivetted their gaze, and called forth their eulo-
glums, but as a general rule the visit was
a failure. " Our Foreign Cqurier" is the
title given to a series of articles descriptive of
French literature, which are exceedingly well
written. The last was novels and works of fiction ;
the present one includes works of mark by some
of the most eminent members of the French
Church, and travels, chronology, history, &c.
This resume of national literature is a very de- ,
sirable thing for those who wish to have a general
idea conveyed to them 9
the means
beingnecessary fora
able
personalhe progress
f tot
spare
investigationttleof letters
time or
for
of the subject. " Alexander Smith's City Poems"
are spoken of, and after entering on their merits
and demerits, the reviewer takes the opportunity
of mentioning the severe censuresad bestowed upon
mmer.smith. quarters,fr otinn
twl%iildo poet idefendnsoespecially the writer
the charge of plagiar-
ism brought against
him. After showing that
some of the statements a
not fully proved, some re exaggerated, and
others
extracts from Wordsworth
_.
are given to exemplify
that he too occasionally
borrows the thoughts of others, or unintentionally
repe Ats them ; and for the consolation of the
votary of the Muses, it is remarked, in
_con-
clusion that "He was a greater critic than Mr.
Smith's accuser, who was told that he could ' no
more crush ' The Excursion' than he could crush
Skiddaw.' " " The Castle of Dublin" continues i:s
varied records. "How we talked about the Indian
Mutiny" conveys some interesting information on
the all-important question of the day. " Hugh
Miller and Geology" is, perhaps, the best subject
in this magazine. Its perusal will interest all those
who take it up. " When all of genius that can
perish dies," it is a welcome task to dwell on what
cannot depart with life, but remains to instruct

and delight the world. The sad close to his noble
life is thus spoken of :--
"The death of such a man under any circumstances
would have created deep sensation ; under the peculiar
circumstances which attended it, it sent a thrill of min-
gled awe and sorrow through every heart ; but neither
amongst friends or strangers, fellow-workers or oppo-
nents, was there a second opinion as to the lofty princi-
ple, profound genius, and sincere piety which in such
meet proportions formed the characteristics of this won-
derful man. The veil of reverential charity was hung
by unanimous consent over the closing scene, and all
men joined in the deep lament that followed a Christian
philosopher to an untimely grave.

Oh ! what a noble heart was there undone,
When Science' self destroyed her favourite son !
Yes ! she too much indulged thy fond pursuit ;
She sowed the seeds, but death has reaped the fruit.
'Twas thine own genius gave the final blow,
And help'd to plant the wound that laid thee low."

Fraser's. —The first article in Fraser is entitled
" About Edinburgh," and is founded on a recent
volume called "Edinburgh Dissected." It attacks
the work itself, but gives some pleasant sketches of
life in the Scottish capital. " Lord Macaulay of
Rothley" is the title of the following paper, and
gives a brief but interesting account of the family
of the historian. " A Precursor of The Vestiges"
brings to the modern reader the substance of a
work published nearly a century ago, and now
almost forgotten. It is by Robinet, and was origi-
nally published in Amsterdam, under the title " De
la Nature," and propounds the curious and unten-
able theory of " Echelle des Etres." The scientific
reader may feel some interest in perusing these
traces of the state of scientific speculation at that
period. A paper on "Metropolitan Communica-
tions" censures the deficiency of our thoroughfares,
and discusses several proposed improvements.
Among other plans, it approves of the grand junc-
tion of all the railways at Charing-cross, and treats
at length of the scheme for the embankment of the
Thames—a scheme which all metropolitan residents
must desire to see put into practice, as worthy of
the capital of the English nation. Amongst some
curious statistics respecting the locomotion of Lon-
don, we are told that " the 800 omnibuses of the
metropolis daily go over a distance far greater than
the circumference of the earth." Mr. Pearson has
taken the trouble to calculate the number of per-
eons and vohialos passing in o,ncl ooi, of tho city
daily, and estimates the total number, irrespective
of penny boats and foot passengers to the railway,
at 572,000, the omnibus travellers numbering
88,000. It is justly remarked that the first aim of
all street reformers should be to relieve the pressure
in the heart of the city. The Poultry and Moor-
gate-street are especially mentioned. The paper is
sensibly written, and evidences a careful considera-
tion of the subject. "The Interpreter" proceeds
with interest. The schemer, Ropsley, being dan-
gerously wounded, confesses his machinations to
Egerton, when it is unfortunately too late for repa-
ration. Another plot seems to promise misfortune
for the young Vicomte de Rohan. The papers on
" Natural History" gives us an account of rollers
and kingfishers, and tells us the habits and haunts,
as well as the mythological origin of those beautiful
birds. Mr. St. John's abridgment of the " Me.
moirs of St. Simon" receives a severe criticism,
while the original work is spoken of with the admi-
ration usually accorded to it. The second paper
on the " Taste of the Day" censures the dress of
the present time with not unmerited severity.
Men's dresses are thus spoken of :—" Our men's
dresses of the present day are, and for the last sixty
years have been, with the exception of some of those
of the North American savages, the most absurd,
unbecoming, and inconvenient with which we are
acquainted." The "Congress at Birmingham" is
discussed with ability, and with a thorough appre-
ciation of the objects it proposes to itself. A " Me.
moir of the late Daniele Manila," and a paper on.
the Indian Mutinies, and the morals to be
drawn from them, conclude the number.

Bentley's Miscellany.—Mr. Dudley Costello's
story of the fortunes of " The Millionaire of
Mincing-lane" progresses in its usual manner. It
chronicles in this part some events of importance,
as may be guessed from the titles of the chapters :
—" A Discovery," " A Catastrophe," and "The
Scale Trembling." It is called a tale of the times,
and is designed to exemplify the dangers attending
the course of a fraudulent merchanc; but
many
as
such
happily, there have been of late years
warnings in real life without much apparent effect
it is scarcely to be hoped. that the end proposed
wanlmiblieatiaotnt'a'infeodrms the bythtlsopic o torYf ,
the Tnhexetppaaypeor,f
H
and the writer takes the opportunity to pass a very
severe and well-merited censure on the tardiness
and apathy of the Government last session. He
recals the answers made to questions asked. in the
house, and the scorn with which all fears of dan-
gerous consequences were met, and concludes by
prophesying a "day of humiliation" for those
whose culpable negligence has permitted such catas•
trophes. An amusing paper, calle I "French
Fashionable Life," is founded on a work by Baron
de Mortemart Boisse, and affords an insight into
the usages of Parisian court etiquette. " Moat
Grange" is the title of a story told with skill, but
the subject is painful. It is the first instalment.
Monkshood, in his retrospective reviewals, takes
for his subject " Horace Walpole's Letters," and
gives numerous extracts. The record of " A Fort-
night's Sport in the Highlands" is concluded, and
the " Life of an Architect" continued. The latter
gives some mournful glimpses into the interior of a
madhouse. Among the remaining papers is one
on " l?rench Almanacs for the ensuing year," and
another on " The Grand Mosque and Palace of
Delhi."