The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-02 00:00:00

MAGAZINES.

Blackwood.—Out of the contributions making up
the Marcia number of Blackwood, t,ree are " con-
tinuations." The charming st.a.y of " Tne Athe-
lings" being of course the chief among them. The
influences in it of the "Three Gifts" become more
and more clearly develcped. Agnes with her genius
bewitching the unbelieving Rector Li )nel, and fas-
cinating even the fastidious iss Anastasil. Marian
with her beauty winning the sympathies of the lat-
ter no less effectually. The perseverance, or pluck,
or resolution, or whatever we may call it, of Charlie
placing already in the hands the big b the
clue to the mystery requiring saltation in Italy,
where the said big boy is still left cross-exam.ning
the Natives and thumbing his d)gs-earcd Grammar.
The avalanche, threatening at the close of the last
instalment to overwhelm Lord Winterbourne, has
fallen. It being nothing less awful, in pont
f jet, than the sudden and premature death of his
on'y son—the heir to his titla and es' a'es. Title
and. estates, as the readers of " Ti:e Athelings" now
know, not his by right —his only wrong. By a w r
it has become the aim and object of the narrative
to avenge and expiate. The second serial here couti-
nued.gives us a second portion of " Scenes of Cleri-
cal Life"—this said second portion illustrating in
an eccentric way "Mr. Gill's Love-Story"—'not
Mr. Gilfillan's ! The third serial amusing us with
the second of Phosphorus's garrulous and gossip-
ping " Letters from a Lighthouse." For a wonder
we have in this March number of Maga a poet'cal
contribution —an unacknowledged claesic '' L
of an Old Greek Vase," cornmern:)ra'ive of " The
Conquest of Bacchus." So that, to our amaze-
ment, Mythology has st;11 its charms somehow for
Blackwood—a th;rag we should never for one instant
have anticipated ! " 2Est het. c 3 among the Alps—
Element of Pow: r" is thn rather vague and pre-
tentious title of the introduct,,ry essay this month
of the Magazine. A theme congenial to the taste,
if not coincident in every respect wi h the judg-
ment, of Mr. Ruskin. "A Crow Plucke 1 with Mr.
J. Bull" fails, to our thinking, in drollery, because
the writer of it (as the very title of the paper inti-
mates) sits down with a predetermined resolution
to be funny. If we laugh as we read, the laugh is
forced—for the sole reason, perhaps, that in laugh-
ing we feel all the while, as it were, as though we
were simply laughing to order ! " Picture Books "
have suggested a pleasant sort of oninium gatheruns
review, in which certain popular illustrators—
such, for example, as Birket Foster and John
Gilbert—are duly and deservedly enl gised. On,-
of the principal of these recently embellished pub-
lications, being reserved as the subj.:et for a sepa-
rate and more elaborate criticism—a criticism con-
stituting Maga's tribute to the genius of " Barry
Cornwall." Conspicuous among the attractions of
the number under notice is au interesting magazine
tale, in four chapters, entitled " Hester Benfield."
The tenth contribution to Maga for March, nut yet
mentioned, being a very reedable sort of a gene-
ralised resume of " Arctic Adventure."

Dublin.—" The Fortunes of Gleneore" are con-

tinned, and are evidently approaching a conclusion.
The scene is laid entirely in Italy, and the Princess
and Sir Horace are deeply engaged in forming
schemes for the vindication of Lady Glencore, and
the establishment of the unfortunate Massy. This
story possesses an interest from its varied pictures
of existence at borne and abro id, and the spirited
way in which the events are describel " Clerical
Life in Ireland" is an article well worthy of perusal.
It relates to the memoir of the Rev. Godfrey Massy.
The circumstances of his life were painful. His
position as a Protestant clergyman in the midst of
Catholics was of course an unnatural one, and be
lived during some of the worst years of Ireland.
Godfrey Massy exhibited a courage that was of
essential service to him in many critical instances,
and by his decision and promptitude he overcame
obstacles on several occasions. His health subse-
quer): ly sunk underhisgreat exertions. It is observed
that the intellectual produce of Ireland has always
been spontaneous, but that no encouragement is
held out for its display in the Church. Oratory is
comparatively unknown in the pulpit. It is argued
that if this was more sought after and encouraged
a marked improvement would take place. " The
Swifts, Burkes, and Sheridans of Ireland are her
protest against being forgoAeu, and her pledge of
the faculties essential to fame. To have produced
the most powerful writer of the Augustan age of
England, the greatest political philosopher of the
age of Pitt and Fox, and the most brilliant wit in
the annals of the drama, are the trophies of the
Irish mind." "Tutors of the Young Idea" is a
clever sketch of " Somebody" and " Nobody,"
showing the vast difference created by position in
the lives of those living at a stone throw's distance
of each other. The former is surrounded by all the
appliances of wealth, the latter doomed to the most
sordid poverty. "The Castle of Dublin" contains
a description of that fortress. It is remarked that
the object is not only to redeem the building from
obscurity, but the personages connected with it
also. It will be interesting to many to peruse this
early record of the Castle, and the information is
varied by striking occurrences. " A Winter Night's
Wake," by Jonathan Freke Slingsby, is an enter-
taining subject. It contains some clover passages,
and the story of it is interesting. There is a num-
ber of songs introduced, which imparts a variety,
and the heroine, Marian, is a simple maiden,
gentle and pleasing. Several other papers are met
with in this number, among them the strange
story of " John Twiller."