The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-03 00:00:00

tyre and enterprise, that one individual gave up-
wards of 2,000,000 dollars to insure their continu-
ous working ! Oa placing this sum at the disposal
of Mr. Collins, the manager, he said to him, " You
may sink the whole of that capital, but you must
not make a failure." It is soatewhat alarming,
however, to find the spirit of racing, so- fatal on the
American lakes and rivers, introduced into the At-
lantic steamers. The Per.4a, our last steamer, ac•
complished the passage in nine days--the quickest
on record ; and the Americans are now using every
effort to surpass that feat. They have applied to
Congress for a large sum, and added a proviso that
they:will forfeit I,ooodollars for every twelve hours
they are beaten by the English boats. The narra-
tive of a "British Expedition to the Brazilian Fron-
tier" takes us into a ve.y different part of the Ame-
rican continent, and gives some pleasant travellers'
details. A coniparison is commenced between the
"-Military and Political Systems of Louis XIV.,
Napoleon 1., and Napoleon 111. The present num-
ber is exclusively devoted to the Grand MonarqUe.
There are many other articles on subjects of mili-
tary and naval interest, and all the information of
the month concerning the United Services.

Colburn's New Monthly.—The first subject in
this number is entitled "Notes on Note-Wor-
thies," and William Wordsworth is selected for
consideration. The object of the writer is to de-
fend him from the various charges that hive from

time to time been urged against him ; the favour-
able opinions of many great men are quoted in
Support of the poet, and altogether the paper offers
attraction from its variety and detail. The article
called "The Anti-Palmerston Confederacy" pre-
sents no news to the reader, and is not likely to be
appreciated, since instead of adducing arguments,
it appeals to prejudices: It is not in such a spirit
that great men or great events are to b 3 fairly
judged or tightly criticised, and it is to be regretted
that so maziy critics indulge in.
.a similait strain.
" The Lawyers' Servants" is the name of an amus-
ing stietch, which promises well, and is to be con-
tinued. Its.object would appear to be to show the
folly and absurdity of parents in a humble sphere
bringing up: their children in a manner unsuited to
their station. " The History of the Newspaper
Press" is continued ;.it presents the usual quota
of curious • events and occurrences—the details
reach to the period of the American War of Inde-
pendence. . "Only a Cousin" is a strange sketch,
but one which may prove attractive to some. It
describes the adventures of a wealthy man, who,
after-duping others, became himself a dupe at last.
" The Baths•of Lucca." has' for subject the Castle
of Bargilio and its Legend, which is very romantic,
and narrated in an interesting manner. " A Swe-
dish Voyage round the World" contains a descrip-
tion of San Francisco, which is worthy of atten-
tion. The• following' account of the place is re-
markable :- ' '

" Here stands a town, with from seventy to eighty
thousaid inhabitants, apparently glittering in commercial
riches and golden splendour, enclosing within its en-
chanted psilaces fabulous wealth, and offering all that in-
dustry 19,d ingenuity can collect of what is costly and
refined from ell parts of the 'world • hither pour in
streams, like surging waves, the population of Europe,
Asia, and. America; and this city, containing so many
things, so marl! people, is but the creation of six years !
Three years ago there was nothing. here but a row of
tents ; fire consumed the newly-erected dwellings, and
ashes strewed the city of a year ; but, like a phoenix, it
has arisen and spread forth its mighty wings, until it has
become this; great Metropolis of vainglory, this Eldorado
of the New- World:" •

8ent1ey..,.7-..Bentley's..Misceilany does not present
us with anything very attractive in its table of con-
tents. Dudley Costello's story of " The Millionnaire
of Mincing-lane" is, as usual, the chef article in
the number, but it ~does not pOsSees much bril-
liancy or originality. A memoir of the literary ex-
ploits of Du was, the younger, will be interesting to
, the lovers of. French •literature, though they will
not perhaps 'coincide in the author's censures on
the sentimental absurdities of that -school of fiction.
Two papers in the number will be attractive to all
interested' in theatrical pursuits. The fit at is called
" Historical Anecdotes of the Opera," and pre-
sents a curious collection. The second is the
" Memoir' *of Mrs. JOrdati," in the Gallery of
Theatrical Portraits. " The Byeways of History"
are occupied in this. number by the letters of
Cromwell and his correspondents. They will be
interesting to all historical students. Mrs. Bushby
is not to happy in the subject of her translati.'m
from the Danish as usual. It is " Judas the
Apostal.e," frotn.Adam o.3blanschlaeg,er. " Tha-
natos Athanatos,- a Meilty" on Death, presents
some quaint and. suggestive passages, though no•
thing very. novel' in its reflections or incidents.
There is a tale entitled "The Silversmith of Acre,"
and the adVentuies of." Mary, Anne Thornton and
Robert Huixter are continued under the title of

Robert Hunter's Ghost." It is a painful story,
though ingenitmsly contrived, and the deCeption of
the reader. is very cleverly maintained. The
lovers of the horrible will doubtless find much
to admire in the- events' of the story. Monks-
hood, in reviewal: of French :writers, has. de-
voted this number to a memoir of Malherba.

The Eclectic RMew.—The Eclectic Review opens
with a paper on Dutch Histoiy and Literature."
The history :Of the.Datch, which presents many strik-
ing and interes•Ning featu'•es to the historical student,
seeins recently to have risen into greater import-
ance. The-ar,iel.3 before us gives a good outline of
the rise and progress of the Dutch republic and it.:
it erature,' w ich, strange to say, was nearly simul-
taneous. It was while..the Dutch were struggling
against all the resources of the Spanish monarchy
that the national character first developed itself in
their literature. Egyptology" is a curious paper
on Egyptian history. There are two or three papers
of travels, and as usual one or two articles of a
theological or controversial nature, but these will
be less attractive to the general reader than the
rest of ,the contents.

.
The Commercial Travellers'. W. Kent and Co.—
This magazine has reached its seventh number, and
maintains its character. Its interest is by no means
confined to the large and enterprising body which
it represents ; the general reader will find as much
attraction in, its table of contents as in any of those
minor serials entirely devoted to the amusement of
a leisure hour. It has several articles of a solid
and business-like character, which are no drawback
to the lighter portions. Tales and sketches are
pleasantly Mingled with papers on " The Suez
Canal," " The Chemistry of Beer," " Silk and its
Substitutes," &c. The commercial travellers are
setting_ an example, which deserves imitation, in
circulating among their members' a magazine in
which good sense and entertainment are united.

The Mechanics'.—This magazine is a remarkable
proof of the extension and diffusion of scientific
knowledge in the preSCnt day. A: magazine, on
subjects out of the reach of those who have never
studied mechanics and the assistant sciences is issued
weekly at 3d. a number, and we believe enjoys au
extended circulation. It is illustrated by wood-
cuts, which greatly facilitate the comprehension of
the m.achincs, or processes described. Thus one of
those in this number gives a clear idea of a
safety apparatus for mine cages. All interested in
the study of mechanics, 'whether amateurs or work-
men, will find subjects for attention in this perio-
dical, both of a theoretical and practical nature.