The Sun. — 1849-03-01 (London, England)

BENTLEY.  The " Coroner's Clerk" seems to delight in scenes possessed of a thrilling and terrible interest ; his " note-book" this month, in addition to its fictitious reminiscences of crime, contains a chapter on the recent Stanfield-hall murders, which, without doubt, will form the most attractive portion of its contents. Among the poetical contributions to Bentley is a legend of Aix—" The Dyer and the Dominican," which vividly recals to us the glorious lays of Thomas Ingoldsby. This writer's style is more finished and elaborate than the careless, dashing, spontaneous versification of Barham, but equally emphatic, and almost equally delightful. The subjectmatter of this legend is not particularly attractive, and is, moreover, an " old story," with fictionwriters—the "Dyer" being jealous of the "Dominican," his wife's confessor, but the manner of the narrative renders it most amusing. The continual variations in the metre, the occasional Hudibrastic rhymes, and the ridiculously happy metaphors by which it is characterised keep the reader's attention continually excited, and his risible muscle in full play. The legend is prefaced with the following exordium, which, while apologising for the unsanctified portrait of the Dominican, contains, unfortunately, too much truth • - • " Though the Church has produced, and continues to  grow For the flock, many pious divines, high and low, Sill the mass of mankind, notwithstanding their lore, Will continue as bad, if not worse, than before. E'en our Protestant pastors are, seemingly bent  On dismissing their sheep to the fold of fis-sent, For 'twixt cursing tho Pope and a leaning to Rome, All assist in producing schismatics at home, Thus enacting the part of the tipsy boats' crew, Who, disputing their course, and from whence the wind  blew, Pulled against one another, astern and a-head Until " Davy Jones" tucked them all quiet in bed. Our priest, be it known (though we fear that he'll prove Not a little remiss in his labour of love), Could point out the true path to each 'wandering elf ; Though he failed, strange to say, to pursue it himself; Yet his Church he abused not, nor slandered a brother, But enjoined perfect charity one to another, In condemning his crimes, which will clearly be shown, Gentle reader, be just, and remember your own." The legend then commences by introducing to us the " Dyer" Mority Sterne : " Mority Sterne was a dyer of Aix-la-Chapelle Where he dyed for his living, and chronicles tell, That he stuck to his colours remarkably well." One of the most ludicrous passages in the poem is the comparison of Madame Sterne's grief, when her husband has acquainted her with a misfortune that has befallen him, to a ship in a storm. The continued succession of similes, so incongruous, and yet appropriate, renders the passage most ridiculous and effective :  " At the terrible tale Over her beam-ends she went like a ship in a gale, Sorrow's pumps worked so hard that they seemed to be choked, Ana her canvas was drenched by the brine they evoked; Not the aid of a • consort' could render relief But she righted at last by discharging her grief. When the tempest had ta'en a more prosperous turn, She came round with her head and saluted her Stern." This legend-writer will, doubtless, prove one of the most amusing contributors to Bentley. The " Wayside Pictures through France, Belgium, and Germany," are continued; one of the most interesting chapters of which recals the perilous adventures of the Duchess de Berri. " Professor Bungle's Victim," gives an amusing account of an unsuccessful attempt of two amateur artists to take a plaster-cast of the head of a victimised friend. The nervous anxiety of Professor Bungle, and the execrable gaucherie of his unskilful assistant are most happily pourtrayed. Sylvanus continues his sketches of the " By-lanes and Downs of England," with their turf-scenes and characters. One of the " characters" here introduced is a convivial host, whose importunate hospitality is almost as appalling as was that of the Grand-Duke of SchossJohannisberg, from which Vivian Grey had so much difficulty in escaping. " A Cruise in a Slaver," " The Cellini Cup," " The Happy Valley; or the Emigrant's Home"—a glimpse of Kafirland by Mrs. Ward, &c. &c., and a variety of interesting literary criticisms fill up the remaining pages of Bentley, for March. Among the poems, " The Ideals," translated from Schiller, is rendered peculiarly interesting by the recent publication of the German poet's familiar correspondence. His apostrophe to Friendship, and his eulogium on Employment in this poem will be especially appreciated by all who have had the pleasure of perusing the correspondence of Schiller and Korner.