The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-24 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE QUARTERLY, No. 250.—" The Public Ques-
tions at Issue" is an article that attracts attention,
as it refers to the state of affairs in connection with
the new Reform Bill. The great "Democratic Re-
action," as it is called, has been tested and failed to
produce the startling effects that were predicted.
It is here said that the " New Hou,e of Com-
mons will be composed of very much the same
material as of old," and the results of the
elections, so far as they have yet gone, hive
fully justified the predictions thus made, and
contradicted the assertions of the disciples of
the advanced party. There is a good deal Of

truth in the remarks here mide as to the effect

of the recent changes in the constitution. With
one thing and another it is argued the Liberals, as
a party, will not have gained, and that within
their ranks so many other sections are forming that

they must detract from the influence of the old
leaders. A requiem is sung over the " old Whigs,"
who have had to make a virtue of necessity by
abdicating in favour of those in whose favour their
party had already declared. Some criticisims are
passed on Mr. Gladstone, and he is assured that
be will have no easy task when he comes into
power ; allowing for the sake of argument that
such should be the result of his struggles. The
fuss which the Radicals make about the working
man is here commented on, and most truly is
It observed that little or nothing appears in their
programme that the real Conservative need object
to. As to their being the friends of the working
man, it is emphatically denied. "Did they pass
the Factory Bill ?" is significantly asked. The
meddling and muddling policy of the Whigs, with
respect to " expenditure," is also considered, and
the conclusion arrived at is that the Oppo-
sition leader will be worsted in his despe-
rate effort to regain office by any means he can
resort to, no matter how startling may be the
changes he is; constrained to adopt. " The Great
Railway Monopoly" is a subject most appropriate
just now, when we are so bewildered by conflicting
claims ; and the concluding passage is very for-
cibly written. Private interests had to give way to
public good when railways were first authorised,
and now, after 40 years, private feelings must again
be sacrificed if they are found incompatible with
public advantages, such as cheap locomotion and
proper accommodation to travellers. Some other
articles of interest are hero met with, among which
may be mentioned, as particularly worthy of no-
tice, those having reference to Matthew Arnold's
Report on French Education, and to Lady Mintota
Memoir of the Right Hon. Hugh Elliott.
THE DUBLIN REVIEW. New Series. No. :23'
Burns, Oates, & Co.—ln the current number of the
Dublin we find, as usual, an admixture of theolo-
gical, literary, and general articles. Anneg the
latter is an essay upon tha State Papers relating to
Ireland, recently published under the authority of
the Master of the Rolls. It is remarked that the

two collections of historical records, of which he
commenced the publication in 1856 and 1858 re"
spectively, will already bear comparison, if not io
number, at all events in variety and in value with
any similar collections known to our libraries. The
energy and zeal with which this undertaking, truly
national in its character, has been carried forward
are pronounced to be almost without a precedent in
our literary annals, and in point of scholarship the
collection will bear comparison with the collect ions
of Guizot, of Muratori, of Pertz, or of Navarrete•
, ' Church Music and Church Choirs" are aniPli
discussed, and a brief memoir of St. Paula carries
us back from the turmoil of the nineteenth centurY
t.) the days of St. Jerome and the Christian house'
hula ab Bethlehem. There is, as usual, a liberal
supply of literary criticisms and notices.
THE POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. No. 29. Hard
wicke,—This very valuable and well-written quar-
terly presents us with an interesting title-page'
The subjects are calculated to attract the non'
scientific reader as well as the professional studeut.
`‘ The Life of a Seed" must interest all who ha°
watched the wonderful development of the little
brown or yellow grain which some mysterious
agency converts into the gorgeous flower. it Iron
Shields and Forts " is the title of an article which
deals with a very important topic. The particulars
given of the recent experiments are full of interest'
It is remarked that the most formidable attack
against the shields have been made by British
projectiles, which excel all others in penetrative
power. But since weapons of a similar class rail
be brought against us in future wars, it is well tc:
err upon the safe side and learn how to keep 011,
the most powerful missiles extant. What 14
Wine?" is a question asked and answered by
Auguste Dupre, lecturer on Chemistry in WC3t-
minster Hospital. An account of the lob-
ster by Lieut. G. Mivart, F.L.S., will induce the
epicure to look with more attention to the organis3;
tion of that creature, which is a striking example (;""
the invertebrate class.

--• ---------
THE LONDON QUARTERLY REVIEW. —We have
this number of the London an essay upon it Afidlia
Class Education," in which it is remarked that tbef
most important change which has taken place
late years in the education of the middle-class 1134
been the application of the examination systelli;
The remarks on the education of girls at the el 05;
o t the article are full of sense and justice. It is
t. 4
notable fact that the number of school endow:010
for girls is only 20, while for boys there are o%e
3,000. Alexander Smith's "Last Leaves" is t!l
subject of a memorial criticism, which renders 'to
justice to the many excellent qualities of t"
iti'
lamented poet. " Art Philosophy and Art Liriti,
cisni" is an essay founded on the works of ',15,
Taine, Mr. Ruskin, and other eminent art crit`,7l,o
"Folk Lore" supplies an entertaining article on
myths, tales, and legends of various peoples, 5/3.1"

there are other papers of more or less merit.

Yesterday an order was received at Cha4lo i 5,
from the Horse Guards directing 50 non-co 03:
sioaed officers and gunners of the Royal Artillerit'o
from the Ist division of the Depot Brigade: 00,
embark to-morrow on board her Majesty's 11.6,
troopship Crocodile, 3, 700 horse power, Calltniii
W. D. Watson, for conveyance to Bombay, tc)i-J,
the Royal Artillery in that Presidency. Lieut.ch.
A. P. Nutt will embark in charge of the 03-
ment.
the
An order received at the head-quarters OL
Royal Engineer Establishment, Chatham, dir,i-od
that the whole of the non-commissioned offfeerairo
09
men of the various grades of Royal Engine "e,
holding staff appointments at head,. guart- re'
Brompton Barracks, who have completed their Pre,
scribed period of 21 years' service, are to r'coo,
with the view to the promotion of other non will
missioned officers of the corps. This orderverS
affect between 40 and 50 non-commissioned 13,
1
now holding staff appointments at the !top

neer Establishment. - the
Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. Armstrong, fr`l" 143
10th Depot Battalion, Shorncliffe, has bee9.oe;
pointel to the command of the infantry al'ai of
troops at Graveseni, Tilbury, Milton, an'Liog
Tavern Fort, together with the detachments "-cod-
duty in the various forts on the Thames? °tit, ISO
ing Lieutenant-Colonel W. L. Stewart, of to the
Depot Battalion, who has been appointed ht°,,,,yet
command of the 13th Depot Battalion at reill'tiorl
vice Col. I Moone, deceased. A cogil3li,ine-,,
order was issued to the troops by i‘lajor-Lle-"aocl
Murray on Col. Stewart relinquishing hisc°ll3lll
at Gravesend.