The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-05 00:00:00

MAGAZINES.

Fraser contains its usual number of interesting
and wel-writt,n articles. The first on "lin-
Perialism" yields more analytical tluihs and dis-
cusses the qualities of the Cms3rs and Napoleons
with more power thin t.nderness. Mr. Warren's
volume of "Miscellan es" subjects the author to a
rather severe cistigaton, but we believe him to be
capable of surviving it.

The Westminster, always racy and round, is
somewhat di ier than od dinary, but a paper ou
"Literature and Society" is well worth reading.
This is tolerably just in its views:
" A great deal, of course, depends on the fashion at
any given time, and the fasnion very much depends on
the Court. Now, the Hanover family has never loved
'•lyttera, and has done very little for them -since its acces-
si•,n. George the Second would do nothing for Gay,
because, as Chesterfield gays—" be thou;bt a poet a
mechanic " geiirze the Third only laved mediocrity.
George the Fourth was poliEe to Sir Waler Scott, cer-
tainly ; but Sir Walter rather had the balance of obliga-
tion in his favour. The Duke of Cumberland of Gibbon's
time saluted him, once, in this fine polite way—" Wel',
Mr. Gibbon, 601 going on as usual—scribble—scribb!e
—scribble !" To be sure, these personages might plead
that they never bad aoy superiority of talent whatever,
and cool' not sympa, hise with what they couid not
understand. It runs in some bloods, and not in oth rs.
The Stuarts had notorious failings ; but wit, and art,
and song they could always feel, and the genius for it
they often shared ; be.-ides, what they could not have
imitated as men, they would still have gracefully recog-
nised as gentlemen. Unfortunately, it is complained,
with Justice, of the present Court, that of ail classes of
human merit the finer kinds of genius are those which
it least delights to honour. Those branches of mecha-
nical science which bring a ready return in wealth—
those branlnes of pictorial art which, though elevating
influenoer, minister- to personal vanity—are no doubt
duly appreciated. But what great writer—what great
scholar—obtains any of the personal favour which is
lavished on soldiers who have destroyed their own
troops ? and is not withheld from polit►cal adventurers
and lucky millionnaires

The New Quarterly is taking a very fair position
among its compeers, though we fancy we miss It
lively and graphic writer who coi,tributed to its
earlier numbers.

Tait preserves its freshness wonderfully, blend-
ing instruction and information in a masterly man-
ner. The article on the " Testimony of the Rocks"
will repay t erussl.

The Mechanic's. —This magazine, which has an
old and well-established reputation, deserves the
attention and support of all interested in mechani-
cll pursuits, whether amateur professors or work-
men. There are few branches of scientific employ-
ment that du n,,t find a place in its p,ges, either in
connection with some recent improvement, or in
discussion on the principles on which it is founded.
The mot cultivated will find something to learn in
its pages, and the most u•iintellectual something to
comprehend in the. treatment of its peculiar branches
of knowletge.

The Irizh Metropolitan. —This is only the second
number of this serial, which must therefore be re-
c2arded with 'the lenity due to beginners. It cer-
tainly does not as yet display either talent or bril-
liancy, but very probably its future numbers will
make satisfactory progress. There ate several
stories, some of them of a romantic character. A
story of the Great Sr. Bernard ptesrnts great at-
tractions to the lovers of the wild and horrible ; and
a paper with the curious title of " Tempora" con-
tains a melancholy sketch of a little orphan girl,
who is miserably ill-treated and starved at a cheap
school. "The Last Days of Sebastopol" afford au
entertaining peep into the dismantle,! city. There
are some poetical contributions without any strip
rug merit, the m .at plea lug being some verses,
calked " Love and Prayer," on two -twin sisters
praying. A criticism on "Paul Ferroll" gives a full
account of that remarkable work, but ob.terves tha't
th ugh the picture of the selfish, unprincipled man
is drawn wi h great ability, there is not one ele-
va'iug thought or good moral to be gathered from
t're beginning to the end. The Sporting Intelli-
gence at the conclusion will be useful to some
readers.

The Journal of Psychological Medicine. John

Churchill.

This quaaterly2 under the guidance of its able
editor, continues to collect all statistics of limit al
pathology, and to present many instructive papers
on the managem-nt of foreign institutions, aid the
treatment of those afllcted with mental aiietra'
which must be of great service to the managers of
similar establishments. Those who are employed
in the charge of the insane must find the remarks
and examples which ate ptesentd in this work of
much service in giving them an insight into the
causes and symptoms of that terrible disorder.
Those who are interested in the study of mental
science merely as an interesting pursuit will meet
with several original articles in which the princi-
ples of physiology are discussed, and their various
phenomena brought under discussion. A paper
on "Capital Punishment for Murder" is also
given. Though not, of course, treating of subjects
interesting or even intelligible to the general
reader, the large class who are connected with the
management of the iutane, as well as who are oc-
cupied in the study • of human physiology as a
scientific pursuit, will find in this quarterly a large
amount of characteristic and useful information.

The Art Journal.—The first of the illu4rations
in the Art Journal is not the least interesting. It
is a portrait of the Priutess Helena, from a paint-
ing by Wiutertialter, in the Royal collection at
Osborne. The little Princess is represented as an
Amazon, with helmet and shield, but her pre!ty
childish face and dimpled fingers disprove the title.
Her Royal Highness is now in her eleventh. year,
but the picture was taken some yea's ago. It
is not, however, without individuality, and part of
the face bears a strong resemblance to h r Majesty.
The other plates are "Null me tangere," from a
Rembrandt, in the 'loyal collection, more curious,
than impressive, altliouh we are told that the
paintiugiiisalf is considered a fine work of art, and
an engraving from a group of Boadicea and her
daughters, sculptured by Mr. Thomas. Mr. and
Mrs. S. 0. Hail continue tl:eir pleasant discourse
about the progress of the Thames, giving us the
legendary and historical gossip connected with its
gimes, and interspersing some original anecdotes
and reflections ; taking us, too, in the present
number, into th old streets of the venerable city
of Oxford. "Rambles in Rome," by F. Fairholt,
F.S.A., is continued with intirest, and there are,
of course, some rem Arks on the opening of the
Acalemy, and the Manchester Exhibition. The
usual art criticisms are given, and all the charac-
teristic topics of the month touched on.

The National Review.
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The present number is hardly so interesting as some
former ones have been, but it contains, neverthe-
le-s, some sensible and well-written articles. The
first is ou Mrs. Browning 's recent poem " Aurora
Leigh," in which rot only the book, but its au-
thoress, meet with
fairand a subjectdisceru
that discerning criticism.tthas
la‘teSleyta
Secondary
Punishments,"cted the attention of many philan-
thropi-tz, is next brought under notice. Atter re-
viewing the different convict systems, and discuss-
ing the proposed legislative alterations, the writer
arrives at the conclu.4iou that transportariou has
had a fair trial, and be, n proved altogether unsuc-
cessful. More than .70,000 criminals, he informs
us, are annually sentenced to six months' impri-
sonment. He would suggest the establishment of
industrial prisons, in which the offenders might be
subjected to reformatory influences, and by their
labour defray the cost of their maintenance. Iu
the gao]s of Massachusetts, in the United States,
the prwo:rerß, out of the products of their labour,
maintained themselves and thex keepers, paid for
their elo.hing and bedding, and the repairs of the
prison ; and, what is still more surpribing, paid the
salary of every officer, from the governor down-
wards. By the sale of surplus productions the
managers were en-rbled to present each prisoner on
leaving with four dollars and a new suit of clo,hes,
besides giving a large sum towards a sinking fund
fit liquidating the cost of the building. Surely
these are molt desirable results, and the system