The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-01 00:00:00

FRASER'S MAGAZINE.

In a notice of some recent popular novels—more
especially Mr. Lever's " Harry Lorreqner "—which
appears in the present pages of this Magazine, the
Reviewer, Michael Angelo Titmarsh, insists with
extreme pertinacity on the inherent melancholy.
of the Irish character. " All Irish stories," he says,
" are sad, all humourous Irish songs are sad ; there is
never a burst of laughter excited by them, . but,
as I fancy, tears are near at hand; and froth
Castle Rackrent downwards, every Hibernian
tale that I have read,. is sure to leave a sort
of woeful, tender impression." There is some
truth in this assertion, but it is not true to the ex-
tent that the Reviewer supposes. LOver's first and
best works, his " 'Legends and Stories of Ireland,"
are anything but melancholy. in their tone; Doctor
Maginn's national sketches and magazine tales have
not—so far as our recollection serves us--a spark
of sentiment in their composition; Crofton Croker's
" Traditions" are full of riotous humour; and as
for the authoress of " Castle Rackrent" she appeals
chiefly to our judgment and common-- sense, and
seldom or never excites sensations, whether of
laughter or melancholy. We do really and truly
believe, however, that the Irish character is in a
transition state, " from lively to severe ;" and if the
present fashion for sobriety continues, and whiskey
take its place among the luxuries "that once were,'
we doubt not, but in a few years we shall find Ire-
land as grave, methodical, and business-like, as either
England or Scotland. Whether such a radical change
is now to be deplored or hailed with delight, we 'do
`not undePtake to say; enough to say that it is
in progress—thanks to Father Mathew and his Tem-
perance Pledge. " The Luck of Barry Lyndon, is a
story penned in a light, easy,' conversational style ; and
the character of the principal personage, young Barry,
is developed, with much tact. The " Drama" is
another attempt to account for the sad state of degra-
dation into which this great national amusement has
fallen. The -author's explanations on the subject are'
thoge of a man of common sense, but we think he
hardly lays sufficient emphasis on the fact,
that we have no longer a corps of actors whom
it is worth our while to go to see. We have the
Keeleys, certainly, and Farrell, and one or two others
who are clever enough in their way ; but we have
no longer any Kembles, or Keans, or Dowtons, or •
Listons; and the very best we could now number are
but second-rate. Then the daily habits of our lives
are unsuitable to dramatic performances, and half
the middle classes in the metropolis are only just. sit-
ling down to dinner when the prompter's bell is
ringing for the drawing up of the curtain. He
must be a .brilliant actor, indeed, who can induce
a Londoner to dine an hour or two before his usual
time, in order to hurry off to the theatre. The
" Speculative Parricide' is an essay on the dialogues
of Plato, 'in which there is a more than ordinary
display of scholarship and ingenuity. In " Remi-
niscences of Men and Things" we find some dull old
woman's twaddle about Prince Metternich. In the
political article on " the State and Prospects of
the Government," occurs the following opinion,
in the justice of which we coincide : "If
Sir Robert Peel trust for the preservation
of order in Ireland to the law as it is, he must make
up his mind to retain military occupation of the
country— a measure. which will suffice, no doubt, to
dissipate all apprehensions of rebellion, but which
will neither satisfy the well-disposed nor conciliate
the disaffected." From "Fanny Elssler at Paris,"
we quote this celebrated dancer's account of her debut
in that capital :
" I came into the opera at the close of Veron's career, but
in time, fortunately, to benefit by his directorial skill and
activity. Hearing of my success in London, he came over.
to examine into my- claims. -Satisfied "that Tiva's nit dill-
worthy transportation to the bright sphere he moved in mid
controlled, be made very liberal offers for myself and sister,
, which were accepted, and off we started for Paris. He deter-
, wined that illy debut ;Illould not take place immediately, and