MAGAZINES FOR MARCH. * THE best article in the Dublin University
Magazine, this month, is the one entitled "The Opening Session." Not that there is much of a story to tell in all that has happened, but that the writer, by his straightforward criticism of 171 sters and the Op- position conveys the impression that he thoroughly understands "the situation,"—which "—which is certainly not of the most hopeful cha- racter. The glaring defect, so far as Parliament is concerned, is want of earnestness among the leaders of the Opposition. "A sham fight," the writer remarks, "will not enlist the sympathies of the people; nor will even the most acrimonious strife about matters really or apparently trilling excite any feeling save con- tempt in the public mind." It is unusual to see a Conservative organ talking in this strain. Still more significant is the fol- lowing passage. After speaking of certain leaders who seek to awaken the passions of former followers by addressing them "in the unknown tongues of the years 1829, 1831, and 1846," he says- " Not one man of the Opposition seems yet to have learned even a smat- tering of any living language sufficient to enable him to renew communica- tions with any section of the people. The effect upon the nation has been to induce a very general contempt for the whole tribe of statesmen, and a growing feeling of distrust in the soundness of our boasted institutions. Among the people, the names and antiquated distinctions of party are seldom referred to but in derision ; and were a general election to be held now, the choice of the constituencies would not be determined in a dozen cases by any public principle of home politics."
Among the light articles, "The Amber Mouthpiece," an ad- venture in Constantinople, is very well told.
Bentley's Miscellany is chiefly noted for light sketches, tales, and novels. The lovers of that kind of reading will find an ample supply in the March number ; including several chapters of "The Spendthrift, a Tale of the Last Century," by Mr. Ainsworth, and e wind-up of "The Dock Warrants, a Tale of the Times," by Mr. Dudley Costello. The most interesting portion of the pre- sent number, however, is that which relates to the American question; on which there are two articles—" Central America," and "The Differences with the United States." The latter con- tains a statement regarding the right to the possession of Grey- town, formerly called San Juan de Nicaragua, which shows that the claims o Great Britain date from a period anterior to that of the declaration of independence by the Spanish Colonies, and are therefore of greater antiquity than the existing governments in
* The Dublin University Magazine. March 1856. Published by Hurst and Blackett.
Bentley's Miscellany. March 1856. Published by Bentley. New Monthly Magazine. March 1856. Published by Chapman and Hall. Colburn's United Service Magazine. March 1856. Published by Hurst and Blackett.
Central America. The town of San Juan, it appear*. was first captured, in 1779, by a British force under Sir John palling, in retaliation for Spain having abetted the revolt of tt? British Co- lonies in North America. A small garrison was lt& in the fort at that time. After the declaration of independence in Central Ame- rica the Nicaraguans took forcible possession of the place, and held it a an expedition was sent in 1848, to dispossess them. After some further prosecution of hostilities, the Nicaraguans consented to a treaty which provided that they should not disturb the Eng- lish in their possession or attempt to reoccupy the port. The place was then called possession, and a regular government was established. The writer in Bentley speaks of a "filibustering ex- pedition under a Colonel Walker" having lately taken possession of the place. This is a mistake: Walker's expedition was to Ni- caragua, of which he appears to have made himself master, and great efforts are making to induce the United States Government to recognize him. The expedition to Greytown was conducted by Colonel Kinney, who is not at all recognized by the conqueror of Nicaragua in the mean time, whatever arrangement the two Filibusters may make ultimately.
The opening article in the New Monthly is an account of "The Mosquito Territory," another branch of the American question. From it we learn, that "the debateable land," according to En ,glish geographers, extends from the 11th to the 12th degree of North latitude, forming the Eastern part of the States of Honduras and Nicaragua. The United States Government, however, objects to this liberal definition of boundary. They contend that "the Mosquito Shore" can only properly be understood, in a geogra- phical sense, as applying to that portion of the Eastern coast of Central America which lies between Cape Gracias a Dios and Bluefields Lagoon, or between the 12th and 15th degrees of North latitude. The discrepancy is not quite so great as that which ex- isted in the ease of the Oregon territory, and yet the two coun- tries managed to arrange that quarrel in a satisfactory manner. Surely they will be able to succeed equally well in reconciling their present differences.
Notwithstanding its military title, the United Service Magazine has taken little advantage of the warlike topics of the day. On the American quarrel there is not a single word, and most of the other questions relating to war are only treated in a subsidiary way. Those who take any interest in so small a British settle- ment as the one on the river Gambia will find the "Leaves from Western Africa," by Governor O'Connor, worth notice. The Go- vernor has been making a voyage of observation lately in that region, and he gives some explanation of the circumstances pre- ceding the outbreak of the natives last summer, and the bunung of their fortified town, Sabagee, by the French and English troops. Hadagee, the Black prophet, who was formerly an officer under Abd-el-Kader, and whose intrigues led to the outbreak, has been sent prisoner to the French settlement at Gorse.
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