The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-02 00:00:00

THE MAGAZINES.

DUBLIN.-._" Gown and Town Rows at Oxford and
their Historical Significance" i 3 worth reading. The
academic powers have triumphed over the crisis in
the town, and it is truly said that the advantages
are great on the present side of the controversy, for
" Oxford, as a commercial city, would have passed
away as a second or third-rate town, but Oxford,
as the seat of a university, will live in history for
ever." " Sweet Anne Page" is proceeded with at
some length, and some exciting incidents are met
with. A sketch of a "Roman Actor—Quintus
Roscius," is interesting, and put very clearly before
us. "John Haller's Niece" is also continued,
and is full of interest. " Voices Calling" is the
name of a pretty little poem, that is pleasingly put
before us. " A Parisian Theatre Two Hundred
Years Since" is an entertaining paper, that will well
repay perusal. " Household Stories of the Hin-
doos" is sure to attract notice, for it is replete with
anecdote and information of various kinds.

FRASER.—" Vikram and the Vampire" is the title
of the first paper in this number, referring, as may
be supposed, to the Hindoo legendary literature.
It is the first of a series of essays on these old stories,
whose merit, as the writer observes, lies iu their
suggestiveness and their general applicability. He
has collected some curious specimens, and the reader
will be interested in tracing the resemblance which
exists between them and some of our old European
legends. Bonamy Price contributes an article on
"The controversy of Free Banking, lately carried on
between M. Walowski and M. Michel Chevalier."
The whole question of the State regulation of finance
is entered into very fully, though many
may differ
from the views of the critic. The further volumes
of State Papers lately issued under the direction of
the Master of the Rolls afford an interesting essay.
The peculiarities of " 'Volcanoes" are discussed at
some length, and it may startle the timid reader
to know that there are more than four hundred
known active volcanoes. By far the greater num-
ber of these are situate in America and in the Asiatic
Islands, Europe possessing only seven, but they are
not dependent on climate, ranging from Iceland to
Chili, from Behring's Straits to the Antarctic Seas.
There are other papers, prominent among which we
may notice an article on our new Premier, written
with all the intense bitterness and would-be con-
tempt that used some years ago to characterise
Whig criticisms on the daring adventurer who was
neither Russell, (3rrey, nor Elliot, but which are now
a little out of date.

BELGRAVIA.—In compliance with the wishes of
the subscribers to this magazine, the editress has
commenced publishing " Charlotte's Inheritance "
in it, hence the size of the periodical is increased,
and the readers have indeed an ample allowance for
their perusal. " London Palaces," byWalterThorn-
bury, is continued, and furnishes us with a good
deal of pleasing information ; and, although the
places referred to are actually in our vicinity, there
is much that we may learn about them alike im-
portant and interesting. Some pleasing illustrations
are met with in prose and verse—one called " Land
in sight ! Home at Last 1" is a sea sketch of great
vividness, and " 11l Tidings" shows a mournful
maiden conning over sad news. " Death's note had
sounded in the sea, and her love slept eternally."
" Beautiful for Ever " is an article which may be
read with advantage by many fair ones
who, in seeking after the shadow, for-
get the substance, and sacrifice health and
appearance in the vain effort to defeat time.
" Dead Sea Fruit" is continued in an animated
style; and "Diana Gay" is also included in the libe-
ral portion of fiction given in this number.
" Jane Eyre's School" will doubtless attract atten-
tion. _ _

THE MONTIL—We have in this number the third
of the letters on Classical Education, which defend
the cause of verse composition from Mr. Farrar',
brilliant attacks. The great earthquake at St.
Thomas's is vividly described by one who was a
participator in the terrors of the scene. He gives
the two following incidents as perfectly authentic
—" A diving bell, used in the repair of the
floating dock and weighing nine tons, was
lifted up and carried through the air for a quarter
of a mile, fortunately doing no damage ; and a large
rock, a well-known landmark, weighing 15 or 16
tons, was moved bodily from its position, and now
lies with a ship's paallgiail spread under it like a

table-cloth." Both these marvels were wrought by
the hurricane, which, it will be remembered, pre-
ceded the earthquake, which, when it came, was
" the heaviest shock that has been felt in the West
Indies in the memory of man." Terrible as was
this disaster another risk has yet to be run even
more startling. The writer of this account was on
board the steamer La Plata at the time of the
earthquake, and when that danger had passed there
broke upon their sight an appalling vision. The
great wave—" three waves in one with a roar as of
a hundred Niagaras"—swept from seaward and put
the climax to the misfortunes of the devoted island.
" Memorials of H. B." and " Folk Lore" are among
the remaining papers.
THE STUDENT AND INTELLECTUAL OBSERVER.—•
This publication which has replaced our old friend,
" The Intellectual Observer," contains a good deal
of interesting matter, and is more adapted to the
general reader than its prelecessor.
BENTLEY'S AIISCELLANY.—TaIes and sketches of
all varieties abound iu this serial as usual, two of
them "'Tie \Vifo's Revenge" and " Gormanston,"
being brou.ght to a conclusion. Marguerite Prin-
taniere narrates a pleasant incident of French life,
and Francis Jacox in his Prestwood Papers takes
his cue from Shakspere, and discourses on phy-
siognomy.

COLB URN'S NEW MONTHLY.—The new monthly
generally opens with an article on foreign politics,
or a geographical account. This month we find
" The Two Mecklenburgs," and are introduced
into all the mazes of German politics. "The Deep-
dale Mystery is continued," and apparently ap-
proaches its close since the last secret is partially
revealed. There are other papers of various merits,
including as usual an essay by Francis Jacox, and
a poem by Nicholas Michell.

COLBURN'S UNITED SERVICE opens with au in-
teresting account of Lord Seaton at Waterloo. He
was then Sir John Colborne, Colonel commanding
the celebrated 52d Regiment, both battalions being
united. It was to him that the ever-memorable
" Crisis" was owing, which decided the fortune of
that day, from seven to half-past seven, when his
regiment, 1,200 strong, and " fresh as larks," went
in and charged the Imperial Guards in the rear and
flank with such impetuosity as to paralyse the
enemy, who were thrown into confusion and dis-
may. They were taken quite by surprise by the
unexpected movement at such a critical moment,
which decided the fate of the day. Not only were
the French taken by surprise, but the Iron Duke
also, for he never mentioned the circum-
stance in his " memorable despatch," and
he scorned to make any correction of what
he had once written, and this is called
military justice. It reminds one of the saying of a
statesman that "History is made up of lies," for the
world knows nothing about the truth of the matter
until it is too late to be of benefit to those whose
valour served only to heap rewards and honour on
those born to favour at the expense of better men.
" Our Military Organization," by a General Officer,
is a capital exposure of our military system at the
present day—a system which is no system at all,
unless, indeed, it be framed for the especial benefit
of the charmed circle who pocket the moneys and
delight in the promotions, while the outsiders have
the privilege of enjoying the hard knocks of the
ser vice. This article points out a very plain mode
of improving the condition of the army, while indi-
cating how to increase its efficiency and promot-
ing its comfort, as well as being far more eco-
nomical. " The Annual Demand for the
Navy" is another sensible review of our
naval expenditure, discussing in a liberal spirit the
doings and misdoings of "The Board," with all its
shortcomings and lavish expenditure in dockyard
mystification and building, and repairs upon repairs.
It is almost amusing, if it were not so costly, to look
at some of the items in the catalogue of errors and
appointments. Here we have ten times more flag
officers in commission than we have line of battle.
ships afloat, but we suppose the ships will multiply
as the officers die off into the ordinary fate of man
As there is " a good time coming" both the army
and navy reforms will afford some good work for
the Reformed Parliament, which will find more
than enough to do. The article on " Abyssinia"
gives a variety of reminiscences of other days. It
says that Menelek, King of Shoa, being a de-
scendant of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, is
the most likely party to succeed King Theodore, he
having an army of 40,000 men, and being an old
friend of ours. Time will prove. " Commodore
Sir Nathaniel Dance of the Indian Army" is a
praiseworthy account of a gallant man, who de-
fended a large fleet of Indiamen, valued at ten
millions sterling, in an action with Admiral
Linois and a French squadron, which he beat
off and saved the fleet. Other articles
will be found in this number full of matter of
varied character and interest, for which we have not
space to enter into particulars, but which we can
recommend to our military and naval readers both
for instruction and amusement.

ONCE A WEEL—New Series. Our old friend
reappears in a new form, under the editorship of
Mr. Dallas, retaining, however, most of its pleasant
distinctive features.

Sr. JAMES'S.—A new editress, the talented
authoress of " George Geith " and " City and
Suburb," has assumed the direction of the St.
James's, and the opening chapters of a new novel
from her pen lend interest to the April number. The
general contents of the magazine are quite up to the
average, and we already see a decided improvement
over the old system.

TIIE BROADWAY.—The Broadway has already
made a good many friends, and continues to give
its readers an animated miscellany. Among the
articles are two of American origin. " Trotting
and Sleighing in New York" and " The New York
Press," both lively and readable ; " The Fortunes
of a Free Lance" still occupies a considerable
portion of the number. The illustrations are nu-
merous.

LONDON SOCIETY. —" Notes from King Theo-
dore's Country" is a paper that is sure to attract
attention, and is very appropriate just now. After
many anecdotes are retailed of the King, which
show that he is a most undesirable individual to
have anything to do with, it is said, in conclusi on
that he is a dangerous antagonist, since no one can
be sure of his movements. What with the rapidity
of his marches and the suddenness of his attacks,
his wonderful knowledge of the country and its
strategical points, he will be no " insignificant foe
even for Sir Robert Napier and his legions."
" Muscular Society" is an entertaining paper on
this interesting subject ; it extols the Parisian sys-
tem very highly. " A Life and a Memory" is the
sequel of the story begun last month in this perio-
dical; it is told in an effective manner, and is of
thrilling interest in its details. " Thumbnail
Sketches" are as good as ever ; this time they deal
with the varieties that exist in the cab line, and
some curious specimens appear before us. " A
Romanticlncident" is an exciting narrative, that is
very interesting. " You did not Come" is a de-
lightful sketch. "The Piccadilly Papers" and other
articles of note are met with.

CORNHILL.—" The Brataleighs of Bishop's Folly''
is continued, and some amusing incidents occur.
Lord Culduff is as pompous and affected as ever,
and the other characters fill up the tale with their
plots, plans, and desires. A capital article is that
entitled, " Surnames in England and Wales." It
affords a good insight into the marvels and mys-
teries of these affairs, and the list appended of the
names that figure in the Registrar-General's report
is amusing and curious. " Smith" heads the list,
to the tune of 10,500 ; " Jones" follows, nearly
1,000 below. Various other cognomens appear,
such as " Brown," " Thomas," &c. Some rather

contemptible manoeuvres occur by which people
seek to establish an ancient descent, nothwith-
standing their serious " denominational difficul-
ties," and the goodly fellowship of Smiths has re-
sorted to various expedients to dignify dullness
and make meanness appear to be grand, but these
transparent disguises are soon seen through. "Lady
Denzil" is a very exciting story, that is Well told
and developed in its details. " The Old Loves of
our Loves" is a pleasing sketch, that shows much
knowledge of human nature.