The Sun. — 1845-11-01 (London, England)

MAGAZINE DAY. COLBURN'S NEW MONTHLY. The best article in the present number of the New Monthly is a ballad by Charles Hooton, entitled " The Exploits of Moreno, the Texan." It is a spirit-stirring composition, and is such a ballad as Scott might have written on the subject of a border foray. Moreno is the Sheriff of Texas, and having heard of a celebrated robber and murderer named Van Clein, who, by his atrocities, wasl the :terror of the district—he obtains admission to the monster's haunts in disguise, and having reconnoitred his hiding-place, retires unmolested. As soon as he has fled Van Clein suspects the true state of the case, and prepares for defence. Moreno soon arrives at tho head of a party of Lynchers ; and the catastrophe we give in the words of the ballad itself : Not many days were ovarpass'd, ere, in the dark of morn, The tramp of many horsemen on the desert air was borne. Van Clein lock'd out, and through the mist of mingled night  and cloud, He beheld that hated stranger upon his courser proud ; While on his left six mounted man, and six upon his right, Pranced] oyfully and-eagerly to aid him in the flight. Van Clein rushd out with fury, calling loudly on his sons, To follow him like heroes, and to handle well their guns.  " Now Satin guide my bullets true, and take my soul in pay.— I've cheaply held my life before-111 sell it dear to• day ! And a hard and bitter bargain will he have who deals with me, As very soon this traitor and his company shall see!" - - - -  Van Clt:in crouch'd earthwards cat-like, and his rifle levell'd  well.— A crack,—a blaze,—a smoke,—a groan, and brave Moreno fell. But three belted balls in answer took the robber by the head. Yet he fired again in falling, and when he fell was dead The sons threw down their weapons, and in vain essay'd to fly, The mounted Lynchers caught them both, and both adjudged  to (lie. So they took a rope and lash'd them—those two brothers— face to face. And in one noose they hailed them on a tree before the place. After that they held a revel on what they found within ; To feast on robbers' provender, these judges deem'd no sin.' They also found Moreno's gold, with not a doubloon spent. So back into the saddle-bags from whence it came it went. To recruit the wounded sheriff,—for 'twas not a mortal  wound, Three good days and nights they tarried upon that fatal ground. Then burn'd the buildings through and through till nothing  could be seen, Save hot and blacken'd dust to tell the story of Van Clein !  * Literally true. This story gives us a more favourable idea of Lynch law then we had previously entertained. It is in the unsettled districts of America what border law was in th unsettled districts of the border between England and Scotland before the union of the two Crowns—an efficient substitute for an inefficient executive. Mr. Justice Lynch is only a transatlantic " Belted Will Howard." Peter Priggins gives us an amusing illustration of the fable of the wolf in sheep's clothing—the wolf in this instance being a certain Mr. Worthington, alias Slinking Tom, who, by a judicious display of property and piety, manages to victimise the Ebenezerites of the village of Brackenbury to a considerable extent ; he is, however, caught at last, and becomes an involuntary emigrant to Van Themen's Land. We have to reiterate our complaint against the abominable system of continuations, which diverts a magazine from its legitimate purpose, and converts} it into a federalism of serials. In the present number we no, less than six continuations—James's " Beauchan:Tt' Captain Maryatt's " Privateersmen," " The Adventures of Mr. Jolly Green," Mrs. Trollope's "Roberts's on their travels," " Maxwell's Lights and Shades of a Gentleman on Half-pay," and " Mariotti's Organ •boys' progress." The latter promises to be a valuable work. The account of the sufferings entailed on the poor Italian organ-boys by the well-meant but injudicious efforts which have been made to convert them to Protestantism, is a sad illustration of the mischief that may be done, and the misery that may be inflicted in the name of humanity and religion, by most philanthropic and t xcellent persons when they suffer their zeal to outrun their discretion.