The Sun. — 1839-04-01 (London, England)

NEW 1110-V TH.4 Y 113.4GAZINE. " Odd People," by the Editor, reminds us of one of his most sparkling tales in the first series of " Sayings and Doings." The introductory remarks lipon practical jokes, in particular,---a theme on which Mr. Hook is every way qualified to live an opinion—and on " a Noble Earl not many years dead," who, it seems, was famous for this species of rough drollery, will afford the reader abundant amusement. We wish Mr. Hook would abjure sentiment and stick to humour ; we can no more fancy him playing tle pathetic, than we can fancy Liston doing tragedy. " Ataraxia" is an elegant poem, from the pen of Mrs. Norton, which would have been still better, had she infused a little more terse vigor into it. " More Leaves from Mr. Keeley's Journal" might have been torn out without the slighest detriment to his " Log." They are mere threadbare common-place. Captain Marryat's " Phantom Ship" flags a little this month. The dialogue portion is too much spun out. The " Mayor of Hole-cum-Corner" is by Jerrold. It is full of life and spirit, and contains, as usual, some piquant touches of sarcasm—the mere relishing, because they appear to have escaped the author quite unconsciously. The " P:ince of Darkness" is a sprightly trifle well worked out. We recognise in it the materials of a good farce. " Poor Relations" is one of those tales whose very title explains its character. The author is a gentleman named Ho7,7ard, to whom the public is already indebted for ninny spitited naval stories. He here shows that he is quite aimuch at home on land, as at sea. " Boar Hunting by the " Old Forest-ranger," who has written several spirited and sportsmanlike articles for this periodical, is worth read ing, but it is by no means the writer's best essay of the sort. " Who can the Dear One be ?" is a humorous  ttic poem, of a mock-sentimental character. In ems ing our notice of the " New Monthly," we must not omit to mention the Critical Notices of New Publica lions, the majority of which are ably and impartially written. The Reviewer, however, sadly overates Lewis, when, in reference to his romance of the  " Monk," he says, " his first and great work was a wonder in itself, and a fertile worker of wonder in a whole nation." Now, the only thing wonderful about the " Monk" was, that with such limited genius as it displayed, it should have achieved such uncommon popularity. It evinced no more imagination then Horace Walpole's " Castle of Otranto ;" and as for passion or sentiment, it everywhere substituted for them the grossest and most bare-faced obscenity. But the age in which it appeared, was one remarkable for its sterility, when a Hayley.was considered a superior poet, and a Pratt, a superior novelist. This, we take for granted, is the clue to the extraordinary _popularity of the " Monk.' We quote from the tale of " Poor Relations " the introductory portions, which are bottomed on truth, though the colouring is somewhat overcharged :  " Poor relations I" The vermin The unendurable misery—the worse than the worst of evils—worse than physical pain !—Poverty ! What is it ? Nothing very bad in the abstract, indeed. As a nursing mother to virtue, it is a positive, as the actual mother of invention, an absolute good. Moreover, it affords us so fine a scope for being sententious, and is such a beautiful peg whereon to hang some of our best aphorisms,---it is a valuable adjunt to poe. try, and a staple in moral essay—a very essential in homilies and sermons.  Poverty, indeed the more I consider it, the more cause  I see to be enamoured with it; that is to say, when viewed at a proper distance. Contemplated in imagination only, one may entertain it as intimately connected with our own identity, for a few minutes; but, as allied to a relation, it i the very essence of all that is nauseous—the very nostrils rebel against it.. A poor relation I the frigorific—have not the whole species humanity enough among them to take pity upon the race of mankind, and disappear from the face of the earth, by jumping down each other's throats? We request, we entreat, we implore them, by all that is dear to ourselves, ¶.O thick upon some certain and expeditious method of selfextirpation : have they no compassion, no commisseration, no feeling? What is a poor relation? A contradiction, and, at the same time a union of miseries,—a proud humility,—a char. tered beggar,—a supplicant robber,—an assassin that you ca,mot hang,—a reptile that you may tread upon, but which you cannot destroy. He is of your blood, and it curdles at him ; really, he is Eomething without the pale of humanity, and yet, the audacious creeping thing claims to be admitted within your family circle : he not only dares to breathe and live, but actually expects to do so under your very nose. It is too much I A poor relation is the one bitter drop in the cup of life that causes .to over. ;floss in enguish. Suicide may be justifiable, since murder. may not be legally done upon a poor relation.