The Sun. — 1859-10-10 (London, England)

LITERATURE.  The Journal of Psychological Medicine. Churchill. It is remarked in the usual quarterly retrospect that the practical psychologist will find much matter of interest in several events which have happened during the past quarter. Foremost among them is placed the Irish religious " revival," of which the writer ap2ears to take a simple and sensible view. While readily owning all that is good and beneficial in a hightened state of religious feeling among the community, he begs the clerical authorities, in the event of religious enthusiasm manifesting itself among their congregations, to check at the very outset all tendencies to trance, ecstacy, visions, and convulsions which are commonly characterised as hysterical, and which would, in the majority of instances, prove in the end most injurious to morality and religion. A paper on the distribution of suicides in England and Wales contains some startling facts for the consideration of the social philosopher. The second article, on " The Psychology of Kant," is also worthy of perusal, though somewhat abstruse in its character. The account of the "Asylums of Italy, France, and Germany" is continued, and articles on many subjects connected with mental disorders and psychological science axe given.  The Journal of Agriculture.' Blackwood.  Mr. Robert Scat Burn, who has gained some distinction by his kn owledge of scientific agriculture, has contributed two papers to the present number of this quarterly. The first is in continuation of the series of papers in which he has furnished the readers of this journal with an account of the proceedings at the leading agricultural meetings of Great Britain. In this essay he remarks that, having continued his investigations for some years, he has had occasion to note the remarkable advance in mechanical and scientific kn9wledge, as applied to agricultural purposes, and the practical skill displayed in that application. The other paper, by the same writer, is a continuation of his " Notes, chiefly agricultural, taken during a tour in Belgium, Holland, and on. the Rhine;" and the reader may be interested in comparing the progress of agricultural science, and the rival merits of the different machinery, as described in the two papers. Among the other articles, there is one on Maritime Pisciculture, which furnishes some interesting particulars of oyster beds. The " Farmer's Note Book" is continued, and has a letter from a gentleman, recently in Australia, on the " Dippings of Sheep in Arseiical Solutions." He affirms that the disastrous results which sometimes follow, which in a recent case gave rise to a lawsuit, are owing to the experiments being made in hot weather, instead of in cold. A note, by Professor Dicke, confirms the assertion, which deserves the attention of sheep farmers. "The Transactions of the H;ghland Society" are, as usual, carefully reported, and a lengthened account of the Edinburgh Show and the premiums awarded there is added to it.  The Art Journal.  An engraving from the picture of St. Agnes, by Domenichino, in the Royal Collection, is the first of the large plates which meets the reader in the Art Journal. The engraving is skilfully executed, but the expression of the countenance fails somewhat in the elevation and spirituality which are usually associated with the character of St. Agnes. " Europa" is the title of the second picture, so named from a group in the foreground, but which, in reality, is chiefly striking from one of the exquisite landscapes which we owe to the pencil of Claude. The third plate, as usual, represents statuary, and engraved by G. Baker, from a bas-relief by Sir R. Westmacott : it is entitled " Charity,' but the meaning is not very clear, nor the attitude of the chief figure graceful. The prose contents are well worthy of attention. Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall continue their record of " Excursions in South Wales," illustrated by charming vignettes. G. W. Thornbury proceeds with his series of papers, and furnishes a vivid sketch of some of the chief passages in the life of Barry ; ending, as many another record of artist and poet and genius of all kinds migh t end, with the pithy comment on his funeral solemnities—" What a pity it is that people who were se liberal to Barry's undertaker, when Barry was dead, had not been more liberal to Barry's baker when Barry was alive !" The fifth number of the " Personal Recollections of Great Artists" treats of Etty, and there are many articles on subjects of artistic interest which contain much that will attract and inform the general reader as well as gratify the experienced artist.