The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-24 00:00:00

enables the conductor to control the train in any part of
of it. I never heard of any tear that passengers would I
needlessly meddle with it.

You travel all night, perhaps, or on a long journey two
or three nights in succession. There are sleeping cars, where
for a shilling extra you can have a berth made up, and lie
very comfortably under your blanket all night without dis-
turbance,. There is a wash-room in the coraer of this car
for your morning ablutions.

These railway ears, day and night, are not always as well
ventilated as they should be. There are some which are
supplied with warm air in winter, and artificially cooled air
in summer, in which the ventilation is perfect. There are
various contrivances for changing the air and excluding
dust, which answer a good purpose. Free competition and
demand and supply, it may be presumed, will in time make
them universal,

From the specimens we have given it will readily
be seen what pleasant information may be gleaned
from Dr. Nichoi's very interesting pages.

Four Years in the lonian Islands : their Political
and Social Condition, with a History of the Brt.
tish Protectorate. Edited by Viscount Kirkwall,
lately on the Staff of Sir Henry Ward, seventh
Lord High Commiasioner. Two Vols. Chapman
and Hall.

" The cession of the lonian blends," very justly
observes the author in his preface, " is assuredly
one of the most extraordinary events of the day,
the dot appreciation of which should not be a
matter of indifference to intelligent and patriotic
Englishmen. A great kingdom has voluntarily
retired from a most influential position in the
east of Europe, and has ceded to another nation
one of the strongest fortresses in the world."
Believing that very little is accurately known in
this country either of the social or political condi-
tion of the lonians,,or of the merits and faults of
the British Protectorate, Lord Kirkwall has eiadeae
vowed to supply this want of information by the
publication of this very opportune work. To en-
able his readers to form a correct judgment on
the subject, the noble author has given an in-
troductory historical sketch, with a particular ac-
count of the Venetian and other Governments
which preceded the British protectorate. The pro-
tectorate itself occupies the remainder of the first
volume, the ten chapters into which it is divided
being each successively devoted to the history of the
Administrations of the ten Lord High Commis-
sioners who have held dominion at Corfu, from Sir
Thomes Maitland, who was appointed after the
Treaty of Paris in 1815, down to Sir Henry Storks,
whose tenure of office is but just at an end. Mr.
Gladstone's famous mission is of course dwelt upon
at some length. Lord Kirkwall expresses his
wonder that he (Mr. Gladstone) "should ever have
thought the passing of his proposed reforms pos-
sible. Neither the English nor the lonians in
Corfu," he adds,' had ever believed it. Both were
strongly opposed to the contemplated change."
" To love not wisely but too well," says Lord Kirk-
wall, in reviewing these proceedings, is a very dan-
gerous quality. It is best to wait for reciprocity
before pouring out one's whole heart to strangers.
Mr. Gladstone, who had come out such a warm
Philhellene, departed thoroughly disgusted with
the Greeks in General, and with the lonians in
particular. He would persist in believing that the
comparatively few and timid friends of the Pro-
tectorate were the chief causes of a failure which
was due entirely to the fact, that to understand a
people thoroughly even a great genius must live
some time amongst then, speek their language,
and see them at unguarded social momenta. Mr.
Mr. Gladstone," he adds, " bequeathed to his suc-
cessor a most Unenviable legacy. The vvisest states-
man in Europe would have moiled frOm the task.
One great genius had been sent out by another
great genius, and yet had failed unmistakably. It
appears, therefore, to have been decided in Eng-
land that extensive knowledge and distinguished
ability were incompatible with success in the Sep-
tinsular Republic, and that an ordinary man of
business would make the best Lord High Commis-
sioner. With what results this decision was fol-
lowed, will hereafter fully appear. The severe
manner in which the English press assailed the con-
duct of the great Philhellene throughout his mis-
sion, led the public to expect that Parliament would
take up the matter, and call him to some account.
This, however, was not the case, and the subject
soon fell into oblivion. The reason was very natu-
ral, if we consider the state of political parties at
that time. Mr Gladstore had been sent on his mis-
sion by the Conservatives, who could not, therefore
be expected to find fault with his proceedings. On
the other hand, the Liberal party was silenced by
the fact that on his return to England be became a
member of the Wtiig Cabinet ; thus making a most
masterly retreat from his serious repulse in the lonian
Islands." Such a result proving an exception to the
adage, "between two stools," &c. Leaving histo-
rical interpretations and political perplexities, the
second volume of this work is filled with pleasantly
written personal reminiscences of a four years'
residence in the lonian Islands, chiefly at Corfu,
the loss of which, as a place of British resort, is
much deplored. " Corfu, as a naval and military
station, and as a pleasant winter abode for civilians,
will always be deeply and generally regretted. As
regards English society and hospitality it was a
second Malta, whilst in every other respect it greatly
surpassed the attractions of that ' military hothouse.'
Witte regard to the subalterns of the army, the ex-
cellent shooting in Greece and Albania, with the
delightful yachting excursions, and the paper hunts
of the ladies and gentlemen, rendered Corfu in their
eyes a kind of earthly paradise. English civilians
and distinguished foreigners also visited with p!ea.
sure, especially during the winter, the beautiful
capital of the Seven Islands." A very effective
picture of the manners and customs of the lonians
may be gathered from these pages of recollections
Here, among other anecdotes is