The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-04 00:00:00

THE SUN,

Dublin University Magazine.

This number contains many interesting subjects
for perusal. The article on Froude's History of
England is well worthy of attentive perusal, and
criticises in a just style that important and excel
lent work. The writer defends Mr. Fronde from
many charges that have been brought against him
by divers critics, and especially from the sweeping
censure in the Times. It is thus remarked in
summing up :—" Our conclusion is, that while his
narrative might be smoother, and while his style
is occasionally redundant, these blemishes are more
than atoned for by the laborious accuracy, whose
wrough materials are fused into the white glow of
his eloquence ; and the fact of his belonging to the
spiritual school of historians is surely no grave accu-
sation against him who chronicles the era of the
English Reformation—the spring-tide of England's
intellectual and religious new birth, the battle field
of contending principles, the age of bold doers,
bolder thinkers, and sufferers bolder again than
either." The remarks on Cromwell are most in-
teresting, and due credit is awarded to Mr. Fronde
for his historical treatment of that great man. It
is said that he enters into his character with fine
psychological insight. A passage is quoted from
the volume which exemplifies in full force the-vr-jay
in which the description is done, in which it is
truly said that his enemies in their evil spirit of
revenge " gave him an opportunity of redeming
his fame and writing his name in the roll of
martyrs." At the end of this superior sketch is
the following tribute to the effective style in which
this portion of the history has been written :
" A yet higher lesson, with which we conclude our notice,
is eloquently taught. The Church could only be purified
by her Lord's way of suffering. The iron bar, however
massive, has a tendency to crystallise in severe frost, when
it snaps and crumbles at a touch. Prosperity is the time
of the Church's crystallisation ; but if the bar be removed,
heated, and made incandescent in the furnace, it is restored
to its original strength. So was the Church strengthened
by her plunge into the fiery furnace of martyrdom. It is
the highest meirt of Mr. Froude's work that it shows us,
walking among our faithful witnesses, a form like the Son
of God."

"An Only Son" is continued, and the tale is already
become very elaborate, and the reader foresees
many intricate plots and surprising events for the
future. " A Mediaeval Patriot, Scanderberg," is a
very attractive sketch, and none will fail to be in-
terested in the record of this brave man who
fought for freedodt and his inalienable birthright
Few romances can surpass this glimpse of reality,
which must be set among the gems with which
history redeems her dark and dreadful pages. The
subjoined remarks may be acceptable as evidencing
the career of one who was a true patriot :
" This model for sovereigns was neither rendered vain
by good fortune nor dispirited by adversity. He had ne
personal ambition, no avarice, no luxurious appetities. His
passions and propensities were held in systematic control.
He fought not for power, but for liberty. He spoiled his
enemies to humble them, and to procure subsistence for his
own people, not to enrich himself. When circumstances
permitted he kept a sumptuous table for his officers and
friends, but on all occasions he himself ate but once a day,
and that sparingly. lie never slept raore than five hours
in the 24, and when in the field would satisfy himself with
twd. His soldiers were richly habited, but their king
generally very plain in attire. His horses and arms, how-
ever, were of the first quality, and on occasions of ceremony
he would appear dressed and attended with the utmost
magnificence. In fine, as a king, a soldier, and a Christian
men, living in an age and country when the hand alone
could keep the head, his character commands equal admira-
tion and esteem, and approaches as nearly to perfection a s
the weakness of humanity allows us to suppose possible."

"Anon, anon, Sir," is a brief essay on the import-
ance of conserving the anonymous principle in
periodical literature. The arguments here adduced
are valid ones, and it: is to be hoped that the prac-
tice lately so prevalent of departing from the
ancien regime may be speedily discontinued. By
means of this desirable obscruity it is asserted what
is written must depend on its own merits, not its
past fame. The description of a mighty and
powerful writer like old Thunderer Stirling, or
Carlyle in the good old days when he could write
English, is the following:—

" Terrible he rode alone,
With his Jemen sword for aid.
Ornaments he carried none,
Save the dents upon his blade."

" The Mammoth Cave of Kentucky" is a very
amusing little sketch of a wonderful spot whose
existence is certainly little thought of in this coun-
try. -rub it, is A4ia " ado cave
which might serve as a counterpart to the shades
of antiquity, is perfectly accessible, and is visited
annually by thousands of Americans." There is a
paper entitled " Bacon and his New Apologist,"
which disapprove's of Mr. Dixon's work of " The
Personal History of Lord Bacon," on the ground
that he has allowed his partiality to run away with
his judgment, and thus has failed to realise his idea
of clearing the reputation of his idol. " Mabel "
contains some pretty verses, and there are some
beautiful thoughts intertwined with the poetry.
The following verses are among the best :
it For lingering fondly after her
We hear angelic wings astir;
A gleam comes through the golden bars
Where Christ is gone beyond the stars,
Out of that home invisible
Wherein His own reneemed dwell.
" For when we breathe our Mabel's name
It is as if our Saviour came
(As erst to her of Galilee),
Into her chamber, with the three,
And touched her hand before our eyes,
And called her, saying ' Maid, arise.'
" Yea, risen indeed, and gone away
With Him until the judgment day.
In what high placed, or blessed state,
The souls of His beloved wait,
Till they shall come again to stand
When sounds the trump at His right hand."
" Command of the Channel" furnishes us with the
old topic of discussion concerning the necessity of
defence and the best means of obtaining it. It is
very forcibly urged on the Government not to
undertake sudden changes. "Do not let the
Channel fleet be put down for the present. It is the
sheet anchor of the nation. Nothing more behoves
to be more borne in the national mind than that a
single great battle lost at sea by England would be
sufficient to destroy her preponderance and to throw
her open to invasion."