The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-04 00:00:00

AINSWORTH'S MAGAZINE.

In the present chapters of his "St. James's, or the
Court of Queen Anne," the editor introduces us to
that notorious French political adventurer the Mar-
quis de Guiscard, and describes that memorable scene
in the Council Chamber—to which Swift has made
such frequent allusions in his Journal to Stella—
when the Marquis openly attempted the assassination
of Harley. The whole scene is wrought up in
Mr. Ainsworth's most careful and effective manner.
The " Husband Malgre Lui" is a story which evinces
descriptive talent of no ordinary character. The
" Gipsey's Tragedy" is from the pen of the author
of the Mountain Decameron. The scene of the nar-
rative is laid in South Wales, and the incidents—
more particularly the denouement—are impressive,
though not devoid of exaggeration, which is the be-
setting sin of all Mr. Downes's fictions. " Wanted a
Governness" details the humiliations and annoyances
to which those are subjected whose hard lot it is to
earn a livelihood by undertaking the education of
children. The " Lady Lucille and her Wedding
Brooch" is a lively piece of versification, whose danc-
ing measure and ingenious rhymes will recal the
Ingoldsby Legends to the reader's recollection.
" Every Man has his Doctor Johnson" is an essay
illustrative of a social truth that all must feel, though
not all will acknowledge. There is much sagacity in
this observation :—" If there be a tendency to dis-
parage, there is an equal tendency to admire and
exalt, in the humanity that moves about us con-
tinually. The ordinary world is full of extraordi-
nary humours. The enemy of idol-worship likes to
keep a little pet-god or pocket-divinity of his own.
If we must have something to vent our spleen upon,
we must also have something to puff and venerate.
Hero-worship is everywhere. It is a vital principle
in the religion of social life. There is no such thing
as a consistent leveller." " John Manesty, the
Liverpool Merchant," is here brought to a close. It
is a clever tale, but its author, the late Dr. Maginn,
does not exhibit to such advantage in it as in those
worldly sketches, essays, and criticisms, which for
years he was so continually in the habit of contribut-
ing to the monthly periodicals. " Kate Crosby's
Polka Party" is a story scarce one degree removed
from common-place. The " Termination of the
Transport" is a narrative by Mr. F. Ainsworth, of
his recent travels in Syria. lie thus speaks of a re-
markable character with whom he comes in contact in
the neighbourhood of Antioch :
" Here we found Mr. Elliot, commonly called Dervish
Ali, whose services as an interpreter had been obtained
since our arrival in the country, and who had provided
two empty houses for our use, one of which was con-
verted into an hospital, and the other kept for the offi-
cers, Fitzjames and lien being at the time among the
invalids. This Mr. Elliot was a very remarkable cha-
racter. He had m eceived a good education, was a tole-
rable classical scholar, and had been a medical student
at one of the Lcndon hospitals, but having come to the
East, his passion for wandering became so great, as to
lead him to sacrifice everything in order to gratify it. In