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

THE MAGAZINES.

Blackwood.—=The first article is on the fleets and
navies of France, in which an admirable account
is given of the plans and measures adopted by our
neighbours. In concluSion we meet with some
very sensible remarks regarding the policy that it
is desirable that we should pursue.. It is said that
there is an especial and direct- warning held out
for us, and that is preparation ; and that while the
energy of the present Government has redeemed
in a great measure the neglect of former adminis-
trations which had sunk our naval strength below
the standard of national safety, there remains more
to be done, " that we may gather up our strength
and our resources, and be prepared to assert before
nations the old supremacy of England on the seas."
"Lord Macaulay and Marlborough" is the title of
a paper which refers to the charges brought by the
brilliant historian against the renowned warrior.
The writer of this article enters fully into the
question, and succeeds in showing that Lord
Macaulay has given way to prejudice in his estimate
of the Duke. He expresses the greater regret as
he observes that the remarkable talent of Macaulay
has invested the charges against Marlborough with
such an importance that they may "in all proba-
bility live and flourish as long as the English lan-
guage lasts." " The Luck of Ladysmede" is
continued. The story does not make much progress
in this portion, but there are some passages that
are replete with skill interspersed among its
chapters. " The Siege of Plymouth" is a very
animated sketch, written in a smart and humorous
style, and one which is sure to prove attractive to
the reader who desires something to laugh
at. It relates the marvellous adventures that
befell a self-supposed hero in an imaginary
siege which he dreams by night instead of enacting
by day. He is roused in the morning to the un-
pleasant consciousness that he is no conquering
hero, but a deluded mortal, and the events that he
considered were to crown his name with glory were
nothing more than " the baseless fabric of a vision."
" The New Parliament and its Work" gives rise
to some remarks which are well worthy of atten-
tion. It states that the result of the elections has
been satisfactory to the Conservatives, especially
when the peculiar circumstances under which the
appeal to the country has been made are considered.
It is truly said that the Opposition leaders regard
Reform simply as a means to turn out the Ministry,
and that they must exhibit far more unity and
straightforwardness than has hitherto characterised
them, before they can expect to take their seats on
the Treasury benches. There is evident ground for
the assertion here met with, that if another sinister
attempt were made, the Ministers weuld have a
considerable majority. The public, it is said, " gets
disgusted with dodges; however clever, and Lord
John's clever trick would pall greatly if he attempt
to repeat it. Knavery appears peculiarly obnox-
ious when it is likely to prove successful." After
entering upon the consideration of the chief ques-
tions of the day, and indicating the course pursued
by the Government in maintaining an armed neu-
trality, and paying a just tribute to their strenuous
exertions to improve the condition of the navy,
through which our fleet is now twice as strong as
it was a year ago, the article concludes with these
remarks on the conduct that will probably be pur-
sued by the members of the new house :
"In spite of all the resolved factiousness of the Opposi-
tion chiefs, we repeat our hope and expectation that a wise
moderation will rule in the counsels of the new Parliament.
Moderation, of course, not to the extent we desire, or which
we think best for the interests of the country, but sufficient
to maintain the Executive in its full efficiency, and to
strengthen the hands of the Ministry in the important
work which they have to do, and whith hitherto they have
discharged so ably, courageously, and well. This is not a
time for convulsing and distracting the country by playing
a game of ninepins with our established institutions. It is
not a time for weakening the body-politic of the country
by internal dissensions, when a war is raging on the Conti-
nent of which no man can see the end, and when no one
knows how soon the storm of war may break against our
own shores. In the ensuing session, Parliamentary Reform
may be uppermost in the thoughts of those who desire to
make of it an engine of party—but assuredly it is the main-
tenance of the independence, honour, and rights of the em-
pire in this crisis of peril that will be uppermost in the
hearts of the nation."

Dublin.—The prize essay on India is concluded in
this number; it is written with clearness of style,
and' calmness of judgment, and the writer expresses
his convictions in a straightforward manner, so that
he does not offend the prejudices of those who do
not agree with his tenets. He argues fairly enough
that so long as India clings to a religion of custom,
respect her prejudice; but should she open her
mind to a religious conviction do not refuse her the
right of judging for herself. " Gerald Fitzgerald"
is more exciting in interest in this instalment, in-
asmuch as the ill-fated and persecuted prince
escapes from the thraldom in which he was held by
plotting manceuvrers, and finds himself among
some old and long unseen friends. The " Banker
of Ballyfree " is a clever sketch, the story
of which is very sombre, but the characters are
well drawn, and the awful fate of Luke Farrell
serves as a warning to that most contemptible of
all clasSes, the miser, who powerfully illustrates
the misery of heaping up riches without knowing
who shall gather them. There is a May-day song
by Jonathan Preke Slingsby, which is very pleas-
ing. It is announced as a month behind time, and
the reason given is that of the weather not being
in accordance with the season until the present
change occurred. The two first verses are as fol-
lows :

Beautiful May, beautiful May I
I've longed for it all the year ;
When every spray with blossom is gay
And the sky is sunny and clear.
All night on the lawn, till the break of the d awn,
I watched for the welcome day,
Till the sun came out, and with gleesome shout
The birds sang, "Here comes May ! •
The May,
Here comes the beautiful May !"
I marked her feet trip light and fleet
Adown the mountain grey;
I saw her eye, in the kindling sky,
Laugh out with the merry day ;
Her waving curls were bright with pearls
Of hawthorn flowers gay ;
Her kirtle was green with tho dewy sheen ,
Of leaves from every spray.
The May,
So came the beautiful May!

The amusing series of papers called the " Season
Ticket," is continued, which will gratify the lovers
of the ludicrous. There are some sensible observa-
tions made on the subject of French literature, in
the criticism entitled, " A French Butterfly on a
Moralist's wheel." We meet with another excellent
article on " Womanhood and its Mission," which
contains, among other remarks that are full of
truth, the following passage :
It is easy to tell a woman that she has work, though she
knows it not; that the simple round, the common task, are
sufficient for her—wise advice, considering present circum-
stances. But have we ever realised how we men would
feel in the same environment; have wo ever been just
enough to allow the enormous difficulty of a girl's position
who has been given no aim in life, who has no work cut
out for her, who is forced to find in trivial, duties the only
realisation of those high prophecies within her of action
spent on worthy objects? We talk much nonsense of
woman's sphere. Her sphere is everywhere, and we confine
it to the drawing-room and the kitchen. It is her duty,
true, to be at home, and to work at home ; but what be-
comes of all the unemployed time ? There are many women
who have no home functions. It is a Christian thing to
bow before God's will; and we cooly tell women that they
must work out their life quietly among their circumstances.
The question which we never think of is, whether they may
not be put out into life under better circumstances ; and it
imperative
as tivle duty
as
is our imperative duty as parents and as men to see that
f
our daughters' lives are not always imprisoned by the chains
to
of
ocoaircsuommstoanakciaeganthdocmonwvietnh ahr
tiondilsttiias:l formula, 'our iin
we do nothing ourselves to free them from a If tter and
ong.
hard necessity. This can only be done by
ne
supplying them
with an aim and real work in life.

Fraser opens with a letter to the editor from Mr.
J. D Coleridge, in answer to the attacks made upon
his father, Mr. Justice Coleridge in Mr. Buckle's
essay, published in the last number. Leaving this
controversy to those personally concerned in it, we
come to a paper by the pleasant writer on social
subjec
we meet
signs himself A. K. H. B. There,
again,
meet Mr. Buckle, though on general
grounds, and combined with a criticism on Man
and his Dwelling-place," a work recently pub-
lished by Messrs. Parker. It has become the
fashion to write criticisms on the artistic exhibi-
tions, and Fraser is no exception to the rule.
" The Exhibitions of 1859" is the title of an article,
which passes under review the' Royal' Academy,
the Water Colour Societies, and Mr. Ruskin.'s
" Notes." " Elolmby House" proceeds sturdily ;
Humphrey Bosville, its unfortunate hero, gets into
another difficulty and is captured by the Puritans.
Love and war, history and romance, are mingled
pleasantly enough, and the author bestows some
pains in making his characters appear natural and
lifelike. George Effingham and his grim friend,
Simeon, occupy a considerable portion of this in-
stalment. The other story, which is progressing
month by month in Fraser is by the clever
author of " Guy Livingstone." It continues
with spirit, and promises to involve the
dramatis persona in some complicated
difficulties. Bacon's History of Henry the
Seventh furnishes an interesting paper for the
reader of historical predilections, who may also find
something to suit his taste for antiquity in another
essay on "The Early History of the Isle of
Thanet." Some very curious details of the retro-
spects connected with this locality are given. The
translation of the poems and ballads of Goethe, by
Professor Aytoun and Theodore Martin, receives a'
cordial encomium. The reader who interests him.
self the important but uninviting study of
currencyin questions will find an article on the future
value of gold repay perusal. The writer arrives at
the conclusion that a decline in the value of gold