The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-02 00:00:00

alrE MAGAZINES.

.Magazine.
" Captain Clutterbuek's Charupgne" is continued
and this West Indian reminiscence is well worthy

of consideration. It now approaches a climax, and
in the next number we may hope to hear of the
triumphant success of the bold stratagem that the
intrepid Arthur Burne proposes. An amusing in-
cident is that of the true son of Erin, Pat Shane's
indignation at being asked to substitute a sham for

a real quarrel. The object being simply to detain
the expected bridegroom while the bride effected

her escape, Mr. Knox suggested to Pat not to em-
broil himself uselessly, but to make it up again soon,
this did not suit the notions of Pat, the blood of the

Shanes was roused at the idea, and he indignantly
exclaimed—" Fun on proper subjects I can under-
stand, if its cardin a proctor, or boultin a turnpike,
or takin a funky rider over some damnable
raspers, or any other harmless divarsion I've not
the least objection. But to be thriflin with matters
of honor, Is't a Shane yere asking Bathershin !"
" Chronicles of Carling ford" are continued and there
is not so much of note occurring at this juncture of
the tale. Susan is a finished representation of a sel-
fish woman, who cares for nobody, and thinks for
nothing else than her own person and comforts.
"Nettie" provokes one by her subserviency to her
despicable relation. No one is called upon to be a
slave to the vices of others, and it is only encourag-
ing wrong and holding out a premium to the
meanest of human errors to act as she did. A

little wholesome contradiction and a right indica-
tion of her own independence would have been of
essential service to the idle, useless woman who

,ounged on a sofa all day, and allowed her sister
:o toil and slave for her and her children. One

feels a sympathy for Dr. Reider's indignation at her
supineness, which increased the ills tenfold. This
month's number is rich in fiction. We have a

" Christmas Story" called " Wassail," which pro-
mises to be of great interest. The beginning is
stormy, but we may expect in the next por-
tion that the wandering daughter and the pro-
digal sou will return to the sheltering folds
of home, and that at the appropriate season.
of Christmas there will be peace and good-
will in the homestead of the farm and the quiet
vicarage of St. Maddock. The sketch of the village
inn is very well done, and gives an apt representa-
tion of life in that sphere. There is an admirable
article called "A Word from a New Dictionary"—

Flunkey ism. It contains some very forcible remarks,
and brings common sense to bear on the absurd pre-
tensions and vulgar boastings that distinguish a
certain class of the community. It refers to a selec-
tion of phrases which are supposed to express the
characteristic elements of English social life in the
nineteenth century—as for example, " flunkeyism,"
" beadledom," " lordolatry," " mumbo-jumbo,"
" phantasms," &c. It is said that " the best evidence
in favour of social distinctions is of the strict legal
kind, adverse possession ; they have held their
ground identical in the main from such time
ss 'the memory of man runneth not to
the contrary.' If these new teachers of
ours were genuine philosophers, they would know
that " shams" do not last so long. There is much
truth, mixed with amusing satire, in the following
epigrammatic passages relative to the subject of
boasting. "If m;friend Thompson boasts to me
that he dined with the Duke last week, or obtrudes
that fact upon my notice (who did not dine there) in
any disagreeable manner, I set him down in my own
mind as a man of very bad taste, inferior breeding,
and probably weak understanding. But, on the
other hand, if he is always labouring to impress upon
me that he does not want to dine with the Duke,—
that he considers Brown, who dines there once a
a fortnight, a toady and a snob for so doing,—that
he never did and never would dine with a duke
unless it had been the Duke of Wellington, and
then only as a compliment to an illustrious soldier
in that unfortunate position, why, in that case, I
come to much the same conclusion still as to his
his taste, and if I give him credit for a trifle more
brains, it is at the expense of another valuable
quality—his veracity." In conclusion, there is
another smart hit at the absurdity put forward in
the "SnobPapers"on literary celebrities not receiving
due honour. The writer complains that authors
and editors are not in such intimate communication
with dukes as may be desired, and, with bitter
irony, the anathematiser exclaims, " two of them
have actually been invited to Court during the pre-
sent reign, and probably toward the close of the
season one or two will be asked to dinner by the
Premiei of the day." Now, it is forcibly questioned
what is a bewildered reader to think at such a re-
mark in pages which show up the tinsel of cant
etiquette, and declare aristocratic dinner parties as
degrading to the very soul of man. Has Diogenes
taken to his tub because he was not asked to A lexan-
der's feast ? " Such a complaint does dishonour to the
true claims of intellect. There is a divinity that doth
hedge a king, and it is right for us all to acknow-
ledge it. But genius is untrue to itself if it veils
its divine right before any king that reigns. The
poet or the philosopher has an empire wider than
Caesar's. He has his court, his audience chamber,
his subjects whom he sways with a word. He
is himself a king of men, his rank and precedence
is not within the cognisance of stars and ribbons.
Consign Genius to the " second table." Its seat is
among the gods—" beside their nectar, careless of
mankind." This article contains sterling sense, and
is appropriate at a time when so much folly is
written on the subject. It is refreshing to meet
with so complete an exposé of the errors of the
system, and the mistakes in the code of the levelling
sneerers, who first abuse the state of things, and
then complain that all are not admitted to the
enjoyment of what they have just denounced as
folly. "Augustus Welby Pugin" is the subject of
a paper that is interesting, and deserves to be
noticed with respect, as calling attention to a man
who in his day did great things in his line, and is
now passed away to that night where no man can
work. The sketch here given of his fitful
course is very attractive, and the reader
looks on it as one regards any career
that in eagerness and enthusiasm is hurrying
along, and in doubt and darkness reaches• a sad
and sudden termination. This well-written and
impressive paper concludes in the following elo-
quent passage :—" More pathetic words were never
spoken by any soldier falling on the field. He
falters his Pax Omnibus' as he falls, defeated and
yet victorious, escaping out of all the unthought of
pains which his primitive rude knight errantry
was unprepared to meet. Whether his brain gave
way under natural pressure, or whether he was
driven mad into Bedlam and the grave by agencies
more occult than toil and excitement, will
pro-bably never be known and whether
known or not, is deeply indifferent to the
dead soldier. He has his grave in flint-
built St. Augustine's, within sound of the
stormy Channel which he loved almost as well, no
longer able to interpose his desperate human
exertion between perishing sailors on those angry
straits, and the wide grave that gapes for them,
no longer able to feel the serpent's tooth, the pang
of desertion, and somebody has offered unlimited
money to complete what remains of the Pugin
Chauntry. It is a fit conclusion to the sad strange
story. Those who build the sepulchres of the
prophets whom their fathers have slain, may
afford a little tabernacle-work and dainty " de-
tail," after his own forlorn heart could he
but know it, to this rude but loyal me'
diasval vassal who gave heart and genius,
life and fortune, to the service of his
church and his art." One seldom meets in maga-
zine with such a classic and elegant sketch as this
excellent article. There are two Papers on America
which afford information, but of course the relative
advantages of the North and South are now ab-
sorbed in the question of the day, as regards Eng-
land and America. There is an able criticism on
" Fechter in Hamlet and Othello." It concludes
with the following emphatic warning. "So ac-
complished an actor, with so charming a physique,
will be a great gain to our stage, if
misguided ambition, similar to that which makes
all baritones try to be tenors, does not lead
him into such mistakes as this of Othello. Let hint
be assured of one thing, that the. success of his
Othello is due entirely to the reputation created by
his Hamlet, and the scenery, dresses, and novelty
of the" business" which excite a temporary curiosity•
if he suffer panegyrists and flatterers to delude laini
into the idea that his acting of Othello moved the
audience or satisfied the judgment of those whose
judgment finally determines an actor's reputation,
he will rapidly lose the high position he has won.
This is the language of a sincere admirer."

Fraser.
The third and concluding portion of Mr. Mill's
valuable essay on Utilitarianism opens the current
number of Fraser. The accomplished logician has
thoroughly discussed this subject in all its varying
aspects, and has carefully examined the arguments
of opposing theorists. The essay is written in WS
usual clear and forcible style, searching and candid
in, its character. However much we may differ
from him in theory, it is impossible not to feel that
utilitarianism has secured a very able and powerful
advocate. " The Duties of England to India," a
question which, since the tragedy of 1857, has occu-
pied the minds of many thoughtful and conscien-
tious men, are discussed by one who is evidently
familiar with his subject. lie strongly recommends
the encouragement of native education, especially
among the females and the country people, arid
laments the haughty and insulting manner too
often adopted by Europeans. The interesting
but melancholy, story of " Good for Nothing, of
All Down Hill," comes to an end this month.
as a mournful record of a noble nature wrecked