The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-02 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 2, 1864.

4, 4 033,
tijo4ltearf. allat t46)‘'
. dr,Nr 44.1

LONDON, TUESDAY, FEB. 2, 1864.

The American
news records nothing of import-
ance. Affairs still remain in the same unsatisfac-
tory, undecided state. Charleston had been bom-
barded for four days when the last despatch left,
and the firing was still heavy, but during the four
days' firing, although no less than 471 shells had
been discharged, we are told that no casualty had
occurred beyond a few buildings being somewhat
damaged. It is said that these shells, although
rendered
discharged at the proper moment, were
innocuous from the worthless condition of them
bustible, or rather incombustible, materials which
they contained. The bombardment of Charleston is
not likely to be brought to a very speedy result,
or to produce any very decisive consequences,
judging from this commencement. Of a similarly in-
significant character is the information telegraphed
from Nashville by General GRANT, to the effect
that on the 14th ult., the Confederate General
VANCE had captured 23 waggons near Tennesville,
but had been pursued by the Federal General
ParmEß, who recaptured the convoy and took the
General and two of his officers prisoners. The
report that General STUART with 5,000 Confede-
rate cavalry had occupied Leesburg, Virginia, is
contradicted, and the secret expedition sent
out by Admiral DAIILGREN in December
appears to have been a failure. Thus does
the civil war hang fire, and nothing occurs
to dissipate the general stagnation. Unhappily
this position of affairs, although productive of no
immediately disastrous consequences, is almost As

baneful in its effects upon. the social condition of the
country as would be a vigorous war. Better things,
or at least more decided measures, are promised in
the Spring. It is said that a two-fold movemeYat
upon Richmond, one by the Peninsula route and
the other by the direct line of advance, will then
be undertaken, with what result remains to be seen.
It would almost appear to a bystander that the
combatants themselves are becoming aware of the
hopeless nature of the conflict which they have
undertaken, and yet they are not sufficiently aware
of it, for the conviction to prodcce any result be-
yond, perhaps, that of paralysing their efforts for
good or ill. Meanwhile, such " good-natured
friends" as Mr. MILNER GIBSON and Mr. BRIGHT
give approving encourage:ment (even the pacific Mr.
BRIGHT!) to the continuance of the fratricidal
strife. No word of warning comes from any judi-
cious looker-on ; on, the contrary, these mistaken
advisers seem only resolved to " fool them to the
top of their bent, and by word and deed to
encourage the fatal mistake of persisting in an
impossible effort to restore the Union—a mistake
which too late, perchance, the best friends of
America will have reason to deplore.

The statistics of the general health of the metro-
polis are a matter of common interest and impor-
tance. There are few of our social arrangements
which work better than the system of registration,
and if we attempt to picture to ourselves the con-
fusion, the alarms, the false rumours which would
prevail if we possessed no channel of accurate and
minute information respecting the spread of disease
and death, we can in some measure appreciate its
value. Besides dispersing imaginary fears, the
Registrar's Report is useful in detecting hidden
evils, in watching the progress of epidemics, in
noting the conditions most favourable and unfavour-
able to human life, in pointing out dangers and
abuses, and in many ways forwarding the public
interests, Every change is watched, every un-
favourable symptom noted. No sooner does any
disease show a marked increase than the attention
of the Registrar is immediately drawn to the fact,
and precautionary measures are recommended.
The statistics of births and marriages are likewise
important, and much collateral information is sup-
plied by these tables. The annual report, which
Dr. LETHEBY has just presented to the Corporation
of London, presents some noteworthy aspects. In
the first place it is to be remarked, that the births,
deaths, and marriages registered within the City
during the past year are all below the average.
Nor can we attribute this diminution to that change
in the habits and ways cf the population which
makes the City less and less a place of residence,
for the calculations are based, as we all
know, upon an average corrected according to
the increase of population. According to this
estimate the births have declined from an annual
proportion of 3,350 to 2,962 ; the deaths from 2,969
2,870; while the marriages have remained nearly
stationary, having only changed from 1,702 to 1,701.
The various discussions that have taken place re-
specting the salubrity of a city life will induce the
reader to look with some interest for Dr. LETHEBY%
report on that point. It seems, according to the
figures before us, that a city life is not necessarily
unhealthy to persons in early and middle life.. The
great mortality exists in childhood, under five years;
39 per cent. of all the deaths were those of children
under that age, and Dr. LETHEBY reminds ns that
such a mortality is excessive, owing to the small
body of children in the city ; the limited number
of the births and the continual addition of adult
life, looked at under these conditions, it appears that
nearly 89 in 1,000 of all the children below five
have died in the year. In some parts of the city
one child in every five dies before it is a year old ;
in others, one in seven. These facts suggest reflec-
tion, and enforce the necessity of inquiring into the
causes of so high a rate of infant mortality. It is
inconsistent with the rest of the facts brought for-
ward, seeing that the circumstances of city life are
not generally unfavourable to men and women.
There is a general loss, we are told, of about four
years in the life of every man in the city ; but
when we examine into particulars, we find this
difference not to be altogether attributable to
city influences. The merchant and shopkeeper reach
the average age of 57 ; the clerk, 54 ; the tailor,
shoemaker, and other toilers of like class, 51 or 52;
the cabman and carman, 50 ; the costermonger and
hawker, 49 ; the printer, 45. It is, therefore evi-
dent that the duration of life mainly depends on a
man's habits and condition. A further proof that
any increase of mortality is not especially due to
their city homes is found in the fact that the death-
rate is much less among the women than the men.
The real dangers of a city life are poverty and over-
work—agencies whose fatal influence extends far
beyond the city boundaries. 145 of every 1,000
deaths in the city occur in workhouses, and half of
those deaths are among five labour classes. This
account pleads strongly for the adoption of the
scheme of city infirmaries recently proposed, to make
up in some degree to the poor of that part for the
removal of the workhouses to a distance. The city
has many rich and ample endowments which might
be thus turned 'to profitable account, unemployed
sums which are yearly accumulating or diverted
from their original purpose. Such weather as we
have recently experienced mows down the popula-
tion before there is time to look round and realise
the mischief. We should be on our guard before
the danger comes, so far as we may. The aged,
the infirm, the weak, the poor, those who habitually
subsist on insufficient quantities of food, who cower
in fireless rooms, who shiver in scanty clothing,
are ready to fall an easy prey to the first " cold
wave" of the atmosphere. Those who are in a con-
dition of life to avail themselves of adventitious
aids, should not fail to do so at the first approach of
keen winds and sharp frosts, and all classes should
join in distributing with an open hand, food, cloth-
ing and fuel to the needy. Our late experience has
taught us impressively that King Frost is our
enemy, and that the " fine, seasonable weather" so
often praised and rejoiced over carries the seeds of
disease and death to too many among us. Mean-
while these statistics of city life suggest some
reflections. In the first place, it is worthy of notice
that nearly four-tenths of the deaths in the City
arise from respiratory affections. Despite the close
lanes and crowded houses, fever is not by far the
most fatal agency. This points out very clearly the
necessity that exists of providing as much fresh air
as possible for the population, by carefully pre-
serving whatever open spaces yet remain, and by
encouraging the opening of parks, cricket-grounds,
fie., within
easy
reach of the lanes and alleys of
the City.
The attention of employers should be
called to the vast responsibility that devolves on
them with regard to the health of their workmen,
to the necessity of providing sufficient means of
ventilation in work-rooms,
shops, and offices. Pure
aa
ni rd, pl
aubrne
nwr arteeart
rda, anfficient , t
01 ontahl ig, nb gn n adna
wfi rheo,
shall say what a change would
be wrought in the
health of the population could
these blessings be
secured. Their combination would be
approach to the Elixir Vitae which we could attain,
and the average span of 50 or 56 years might, under
their beneficent agency, stretch out to the old four-.
score. But another point deserves attention. The
hurry•scurry of our lives is as fatal to the npper

and middle classes, as other evils to the artisan and
the hawker. Diseases of the brain and nerves are
reaching an alarming amount, and from their in.
fluence neither food nor raiment will protect us.
Overwork brings its sure reaction alike to rich and
poor, and nature will exact her inevitable penalty
for the infraction of her laws. The returns of the
Registrar preaches many sermons, but the two fore-
most are those which teach us impressively the
duties of moderation and of charity, if we would
not add ourselves to the victims of the over-worked
mental and moral system, nor see our poorer neigh-
bours swell the list of those sacrificed by undue
exhaustion of the physical powers.

The election intelligence just new is very full of
interest, and the circumstance of there being so many
vacant seats naturally leads one to surmise what
will be the result of the struggle. The days for
piece party contest are over, yet notwithstanding
the moderation of tone that has supervened there
must of course prevail to a certain extent a degree
of contention, and the different views of the rival
candidates will be advocated with more or less
success. There is one satisfaction in the reflection,
that whichever aide wins it will make no difference
in so far as regards the actual state of things at
present. Merely to remain passive and quiescent
during the Parliamentary session does not require
any very elaborate enunciation of political opinion
or great degree of energy expended by the advocate
of a particular cause or upholder of a popular mea-
sure. It is all very well for proposers and seconders
at the nomination of a candidate to declare that he
is a worthy exponent of the sound doctrines of re-
form, that he will be a shining light, and a zealous
champion, to guide the course and guard the rights
of the constituents committed to his charge ; but
who does not know the fallacy of such an argument,
the illusory nature of the promise, the unstable
foundation of the hope expressed and the expecta-
tion put forth. When, as is now very rarely the
case, the independent boroughs return Liberals, of
what avail are their efforts, and what result ensues
from the vehement asseverations so eagerly noted
down by curious listeners. Nothing, absolutely
nothing, is done by any of the so-styled re-
formers and enthusiastic patriots. Some excuse,

Ira id or not, as the case may be, is of

course brought forward when the member meets
his constituents, but in the court of conscience how
would the matter stand. At all events, if it is
ao absolutely impossible as they make it out for
reformers to introduce a reform bill, if the Ministers
cannot carry out their luminous intentions, let them
be honest, and not add the paltry offence of hypo.
crisy to the large list of their peccadilloes. Why
is it we notice this eager haste on the part of inde-
pendent Liberals and uncompromising Radicals to
rush to the poll and declare themselves the vindi-
cators of their country's rights, when they must
know all the time that they either cannot, or will
not, do anything when once installed in their places
at St. Stephen's. The temper of the country has
been pretty plainly manifested in respect to these
would-be heroes in a fight that never comes off, and
these martyrs to a cause that is never agitated. The
answer of the English people to such subterfuge and
chicanery, has been to ignore their teaching, and to
return their opponents. Every fresh member re-
turned for the Conservative cause, during the last
year or two, has been a greater loss to the Liberal
party than an acquisition to the Opposition. It is
true that to them the advantages that accrue are
considerable in the way of strength, and the oppor-

tunity of action, but their adversaries' losses are all
in the way of character, and in that respect the
damage is irretrievable. The unseemly haste with
which so many members of the same party seek to
possess themselves of a vacant borough is in itself a
scandal to the party they pretend to serve, and a
reproach to the consistency they advocate. At

1 Brighton, for instance, there was the spectacle of
four candidates in the field, all possessing the same
style of politics with but slight modifications. One
has since withdrawn, but the presence of three ren-
ders the affair quite preposterous. It would
be ludicrous did not the gravity of the
question forbid any merriment. It is, indeed, a
very deplorable circumstance to notice at this
critical juncture of affairs that the party which
professes to represent the spirit of the country in

its integrity and independence—to proclaim the
might of its moral strength, and infuse the influence
of its freedom to the uttermost ends of tho earth—
should fail so signally and exhibit such signs of in-
ternal decay. " How are the mighty fallen !" may well
be exclaimed when a survey is taken of the state and
prospects of the great Liberal party of England.
It was urged as a bitter reproach against tho late
Sir ROBERT PEEL that he had destroyed the Con-
servative party ; but far greater is the damage done

to the Liberal cause by Earl RUSSELL. Want of
candour is the most fatal error that a statesman can
fall into ; and when Earl RUSSELL put himself so
unnecessarily forward in opposing the Reform Bill
of the DERBY Cabinet, and then backed out of
doing anything himself, he inflicted an injury to
the cause which he professed to revere that no
mere deprivation of power could ever have occa-
sioned. It was a loss of character which he sus-
tained, and political reputation once tarnished is
never the same. The manner in which he inveigled
the representatives of the City about the Ballot
question on a former occasion ought to have taught
his supporters more wisdom ; but it is to be feared
that they were only too ready to follow their leader
when he marshalled the way to the land of promise,
which shone so fair with the treasures and glories
of official power. It would simplify matters very
much during the difficult task of electing a member

if those who are free to please themselves would
remember that the cause of Reform is not a whit
advanced by the return of a supporter to the pre-
sent Government, and therefore there can be no
reason to adopt that pretext or urge that plea when
an unfit candidate appears.

LEYASSOR, THE FRENCH COMEDIAN, is at present
acting in various cities in Italy, where his entertainment
enjoys considerable success.

THE ENGLISH SYSTEM OF TRIAL BY JURY will
very likely soon be adopted in Denmark.

Major Kennier committed suicide, says the Court
Journal, by shooting himself, on Wednesday morning, at
his residence 13, Lambridge, Cheltenham.

" WE ARE ALL Low PEOPLE THERE."—Lady
Pasley, of 7, Esplanade, Plymouth, has recently
been relating in our chief morning contemporary, a fright-
flit story of the misery of a little fishing village, called
Beer, in the neighbourhood of Axminster. The place is
actually plague-stricken with measles. The inhabitants
are all fishermen, and at this time of the year always in
want. The children do not die of the disease, but of weak-
ness and starvation after it. Mrs. Bingham, Lady Paeley's
sister, who lives near Axminster, " writes, " the bell is
tolling constantly, and five or six children brought over
here in a cart to be buried daily. The village altogether is
like a thing you dream of. The mothers themselves look
like hungry wolves, without a feeling left for their dead
children, I have only seen one woman crying, until I said
a kind word, such as The summer is coming, and better
times, please God,' and then they sob as if they would go
into hysterics from weakness. In one den to-day there
were six children lying before the fireplace, and I asked the
woman if they were hungry. ' No,' she said, thank God
they are not as hungry as I am, for I have nothing to give
them. I could eat the table-board I' These poor children
die in the dark, and the mothers have to watch for daylight
to see them, not having a candle in the houee." Who is
the clergyman of this parish ? It is curious that 'Lady
Pasley only gives her own address at Plymouth, and her
sister's, at tieaton, near Axminster, and does not refer to the
clergyman who must be employed burying, and we will hope
also visiting, these poor wretches.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[ REITTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

HOSTILITIES IN DENMARK.
KIEL, FEB. 1 (Evening).
The Prussians occupy the heights in the rear of
Eckernforde.

Duke Frederick of Augustenburg has been enthu•
siastically proclaimed by the people at Eckernforde.

HAMBURG, JAN. 30.

Since Field-Xarshal Wrangel's departure for
Kiel serious a►ents are expected. The frosts
which have comed with ice the districts inundated
by the Danes in front of the Dannewerke, will
facilitate invation. The allied army expects to be
before this position in less than a week. General
De Meza will Je summoned to-morrow to evacuate
Schleswig. Sxould he reply in the negative, orders
will, no doubt, at once be issued to advance.

Meanwhile the separatists display the greatest
activity. Tie delegates from all the different
Sehleswig-Thlstein associations assembled yester-
day at Kiel, end discussed the rules by which the
committee charged with the conduct of the move-
ment are to be guided.

Preparations for the advance into Schleswig
are carried on with energy. Twenty-six thousand
carts and waggons have been ordered at Kiel. The
battalions stationed near that town have received
orders to hold themselves in readiness to march at
any moment. It is believed at the Prussian head-
quarters that war is inevitable. The question, it
is said, is not of a mere military promenade, but of
a veritable taking possession of Schleswig, which,
with either Holstein or Lauenburg, will then be
annexed to Prussia I

Hospitals are being prepared in all directions,
but the chief will be at Kiel and at Pion. After
today, rations will be drawn by the army as in
time of war. It is reported that the German in-
habitants of Schleswig are ready to proclaim Duke
Frederic directly the Danes retire or are driven
out.

THE MAGAZINES.

BLACKWOOD.—" Tony Butler" is continued, and
the very imprudent young hero is displaying his
impetuous temper greatly to his own disadvantage.
The fatal haste with which such characters preci-
pitate themselves to their own ruin is here ably
sketched, and forms at once a sad reminiscence and
a salutary warning to those who study it. " The Royal
Academy Reformed" is an article which demands and de-
serves attention alike from the importance of the subject
and the skill with which it is treated. For many years past
it has been a source of regret to all qualified to judge that
such errors should exist and deficiencies be manifest in our
artistic arrangement. The English want of tact and taste has
been proverbial throughout the continent, but at least half
the blame i ests with those who, either through ignorance or
inadvertence, do not give native talent a chance or allow
genius to make its way to the best advantage. It is truly
stated in this article that the " Royal Academy awaits the
verdict of the country during this session of Parliament,
and must submit to the reform enacted by the Legislature.
May those remedial measures be of a class and character
that shall be efficient and prove equal to the emergency, so
that a serious evil may be removed from the national insti-
tutions of our country, and the genius of the fine arts may
spring up renewed in power, and endowed with fresh spirit
and strength." This paper concludes with an earnest ex-
pression that the house will adequately discharge its duties
in the consideration of this important and interesting sub-
ject. We trust, indeed, that our legislators will not limit
their views to the narrow confines of the times and the
countries which have fallen under their immediate but cir-
cumscribed experience; rather let us imagine that they
may cast their vision across the lands which an Apelles
and a Phidias rendered illustrious, that they may recall to
memory cities which Raphael and Michael Angelo
have adorned, that they may realise the glory of
those epochs which bear the names of Pericles
and Lorenzo. " Cornelius O'Dowd upon Men
and Women and Other Things in General,"
is an entertaining sketch that presents some lively speci-
mens of society, and winds up with a very mock-heroic
sort of affair, in which the narrator was jealous of his wife's
themes in Italian, and fell a prey to the cupidity and de-
signs of the preceptor, a soi disant Count who made a
pretty sum by his educational devices, " Witchampton
Hall" is a very sad tale, that is, however, sketched with
considerable ability, and displays some striking illustra-
tions of character. The moral that may be deduced from
its startling incidents is that sin cannot be glossed over,
and that it will not do to attempt screening crime, for if the
facts are not disclosed, the fatal effects will yet linger be-
hind. " Chronicles of Carlingford" does not advance very
much in this instalment, but the evil rumour gains ground,
and there are few who do not believe in the guilt of the
unfortunate Mr. Wentworth. The mystery which enve-
lopes the plot so far is very skilfully arranged, and the va-
rious complications are. far too much for the hero to un-
ravel, especially as he involves himself still further, by
adopting a lofty and scornful demeanour. " A Ride
through Sutherland" presents us with some very graphic
details and animated descriptions of the country which is
thus specified, and those who cannot judge for themselves
of the truth of the details may form a very good idea of the
peculiarities of the place from the vivid and vigorous
sketches here produced. "Charles the Bold" is an ana-
lysis of the life of that remarkable man, that may in-
interest the readers of this periodical, and enable them to
refresh their memories with the recital ofevents which will
for ever be memorable on the pages of history. The ad-
mirers of " Quentin Durward" will find especial attraction
in this epitome of the career of the renowned Duke of Bur-
gundy, since it goes over times and recalls events which
form the theme and are the chief incidents in that re-
markable and brilliant novel.

FRASER.—A political article of length and
weight sufficient to alarm any reader of moderate
enterprise, is the first thing to greet us in this num-
ber. It attempts to analyse the political temper
and tendency of the nation, but starts from pre-
mises that are not altogether admissible, awarding
to our gay and quick-witted Premier a degree of power and
influence which, notwithstanding his personal popularity,
he cannot be said to possess. Passing on we come to an
able paper on our " Public Works," a department of which
the nation, with all its liberal expenditure, has email cause
to be proud. The expensive mismanagement which has
characterised successive administrations in this respect re-
ceives the satirical censure which it deserves, and it is to be
hoped that the perusal of the long list of blunders enume-
rated in this article will induce some Parliamentary
champion in the early days of the session to do battle with
the First Commissioner on behalf of good taste, common
sense, and public money, In conclusion, our critic ob-
serves that London possesses the finest sites, the finest
river, the finest prospects of any city in Europe, and it re-
quires but taste and judgment to take advantage of them.
After reflecting on the way in which advantage has been
taken of them, and the fruit that remains of the lavish ex-
penditure of many generations, we are inclined to think his
quotation not ill applied to our architectural authorities.

" For what has Visto painted, built, and planted,
Only to show how many tastes he wanted,"

Dr. Vaughan's now complete work on "Revolutions in
English History" is the subject of a careful criticism, dis•
tinguished by its fairness and moderation. An essay of
somewhat similar character is based on the "Life and
writings of Theodore Parker." It is written with care and
thought, and boldly deals with some of those difficult ques-
tions which present themselves to most men at some period
of their lives. There is a paper on " Village Life in Oudh,"
which is apparently the first of a series, and describes an
Indian village and its people in an easy and pleasant style.
In the general observations on Hindu ways and laws, it is
justly enough said that " People talk contemptuously of
the monument of British rule in India. They point to the
Taj at Agra, and the great Mosque at Delhi, and the
Emambara at Lucknow, and say these are the monuments
of Moslem rule—were we driven out we should leave none
such.' Quite true ; but we should leave behind us monu-
ments infinitely nobler and more enduring as well as more
beneficial." The writer proceeds to say, with truth, that
the abolition of suttee and the suppression of female infan-
ticide are nobler memorials than heaps of marble ; while
the roads and railways, stretching from Calcutta to Pesha-
wur, are mightier and more beneficial works than mosques
and palaces, however grand. The interesting story of
"Late Laurels" is brought to a conclusion in this number.
A conflagration at Sharingham brings about the most satis-
factory results to its owner, and the fair lady he has so long
worshipped at a distance changes her mind somewhat un-
expectedly. The respective characters are therefore all hap-
pily; settled,now the vacillating and contemptible Charles is
out of the way, and the curtain falls over a pleasant family
group,

BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.—The editces story
of "John Law'' proceeds with all the great
popular romancist's accustomed brilliancy and
animation, Many other characters figure pro-
minently in the part before us, and we have
several graphic illustrations of Parisian life
and manners in the days of the Regency. The
following is a good description of the Bal de
l'Opera :
Prior to the Regency no balls had been given at the
Opera, which then formed part of the Palais Royal, but the
happy idea having occurred to the Chevalier de Bouillon to
board over the pit of the theatre and raise it to a level with
the stage, so as to afford a large area for dancing, the idea
was acted upon, much to the Regent's satisfaction, and
Opera balls became thenceforward the rage. Hundreds of
wax tapers in crystal chandeliers replaced the dim-burning
candles, producing a magical effect, and brilliantly illumi-
nated the whole theatre, which was so abundantly festooned
with roses and other flowers that it resembled a vast floral
temple. The exterior of the boxes had been superbly deco-
rated with crimson silk, and the stage represented a charm-
ing scene, designed for the occasion by Watteau. Groups
of graceful young shepherds and enchanting shepherdess, s,
arrayed in vestments of azure silk, belecked with riloands,
and provided with silver crooks, might be seen reclining on
mossy banks beneath the trees, the swains making love to
the nymphs, who did not look either coy or cruel.
The seventh part of "Six Weeks at Hunsdon Manor" records
the recovery of Ethel from her illness, and the death of the
poor idiot who had attempted her life. Alexander Andrews
gives us a very full and very interesting account of a visit
to Colney Hatch, which, in reference to the respective
numbers of sane and insane-250 to 2,ooo—he styles "A'
Town full of Mad People." " Count Ugolino of Pisa,'
who occupies an unenviable prominence in Dante's " In-
ferno," is the subject of a paper ; and Francis Jacox con-
tributes a well-written and attractive paper on the melan-
choly refrain of "No More." Dudley Costello continues
his story, and of graver articles there is a good supply,
"Algiers and its Army," "The Camp at Chalons," " The
Cossacks," "The Duke of Augustenburg," and our own
quiet Charterhouse, are the topics sufficiently varied to
furnish something for the satisfaction of most readers.
THE UNITED SERVICE opens with the first in-
stalment of a very interesting paper on " Improve-
ment in Small-arms and Artillery," founded ou the
"Story of the Guns," by Sir Emerson Tennent.
There is much useful information contained in this
chapter on the gradual rise and progress of rifled
musketry and artillery, that perplexing subject on which
so many disagree. The Naval Retircd and Reserve List
receives duo attention. Under the head of "The West
Indies Self defensive," it is maintained that self-defending
colonies on an economical system, and without any vi,dent
changes, might be tried experimentally in the West Indies,
where many facilities exist for bringing a new organisation
into operation. A precis of the account published in the
Revue des Deux Illowles, by M. Xavier ,Raymond, of the
experimental cruise of the French iron-clads, contains some
curious statistical novelties, and after our making every
allowance for M. Xavier's natural partiality for the na-
tional navy, there can be little doubt that the French iron-
sides have acquitted themselves vary creditably. On the
all-absorbing subject of Denmark and Germany, :there is,
of course, an article, in which a statistical list of the popu-
lations of the various states, and the number of their re-
spective armies, may be useful to the superficial reader in
showing him into what minute portions the German Eat..
pire is divided. Anecdotes of the civil war in Spain aro

continued. Mr. Knollya makes a curious "Plea for Poor
Puss," (puss with the many tails). He endeaVours to
shew that its infliction is necessary in some instances to
maintain discipline. Yet, he adds, at the same time, that
its horrors are much exaggerated, and that many an Eton
boy suffers nearly as much pain from the birch. " Turkey
and her Dependencies," "Military Courts-Martial," and
the " Military Engineering of the Ancients," form the
subjects of other papers.
THE BOSE, SHAMROCK, AND THISTLE MAGA-
ZINE.—The following very beautiful poem adorns
the opening pages of this popular miscellany for
February. We are tempted to give it here entire
in our columns as one unbroken quotation; but we
do so, of course, with due acknowlegment to the
able magazine of which it is, this month, not only
the most conspicuous contribution, but of its kind,
in simplest truth, the glory and the cynosure. As
a courtly poem it is worthy of the pen of a Laureate.
Without any question whatever, it is the one only
pcetical effusion apropos to the birth of the little
Baby Prince, the one only poem yet brought
under our notice, that is worthy of preservation or
remembrance. And it will be found upon perusal
to be indubitably worthy of both—that is, both of
preservation and of remembrance. The secret of its
indisputable success as a court poem being, as it
appears to us, mainly attributable to its perfect
genuineness. It is the outepeaking of a true woman's
heart, and, while it is that, it is also the spontaneous
utterance of an accomplished poetess. Without
another syllable, however, by way of further com-
ment, we will give the poem itself in its entirety :
THE BIRTH OF A SON TO THE HEIR APPARENT.

By Elizabeth Sheridan Carey.

There were swift but silent footsteps, and they hurried to

and fro ;
There were eager orders spoken, but in voices whisp'ring

low ;
It had come, the hour of peril; it had thrill'd them with

surprise,
And each one, as counsel asking, look'd in the other's eyes.
A sudden flush of transport, and an icy pang of fear,

A terror struggling with fond hopes, as drew the crisis near;
It had come, the hour of anguish that precedes a mother's

joy,
And His messenger unseen was there, to save or to destroy.
It had come, the dreaded moment, and they watch'd and

waited nigh,
Pale, trembling, hush'd and list'ning, when they heard a

wailing cry :
0 blessed sound, a child was born! 0 welcome gift, an

Heir I
And up to heav'n the Angel bore, a Husband's, Father's

prayer.
Then flash'd the tidings o'er the wires, beneath the clouds
of night,
The tidings that to England's Queen brought solace and

delight :
She knew, and thrill'd with joy to know, He/ first-born
Son, a Sire,
She learn'd that GOD had deign'd to crown the Nation's
haught desire ;
And, glowing with maternal love, nor less with kingly

pride,
Swift o'er the waves she hurried to Her dear-lov'd daughter'

side:
With crimson'd cheek and beaming eye, possest with feel-

ings new,
All breathless to His Mother's arms, the youthful Father
flew,
And folded to that throbbing breast stirred with deep thank-

fulness,
Pour'd forth, in broken words and sweet, His grateful joy's
excess.

Ring out, ring out mad merry peals from tow'r and
belfry gray ;
Unfurl the banner of the Realm, and bid the trumpets
bray ;
Let bonfires blaze, and hymns be heard ; and blent with
cannons roar,
The thunder of our Seas proclaim the news from shore to
shore—
To Peasant's hearth, to Burgher's home, to old baronial
Halls—
To the Camp and to the Barracks, and on board the
Wooden-walls ;
From east to west, from south to north, o'er mountain,
moor, and mead,
O'er land and sea, through town and shire, swift let the
tidings speed,
0, let the Rose of Albion bloom more brightly on its stem ;
More proudly, Scotia's Thistle lift its purple diadem ;
And glitt'ring as with holy tears, the mystic leaves of
green,
The Shamrock of lov'd Erin's Isle, a triple-gem be seen;
While, heard in Cambria's fastnesses and ringing through
her vales,
Llywellyn's Harp in triumph.strain salutes the Prince of
Wales.

As o'er the Ewoods and cliffs and streams, red with the
rising sun,
Through the broad Isles rolls far and wide the booming of
the gun ;
As flutters on the ocean breeze, the Flag to vict'ry dear;
As babbling bells with clangour sweet break on the startled
ear,
And mingling, in the house of GOD, thanksgiving, pray'r,
and praise,
As burning incense offer'd up, unnumber'd voices raise,
0, ENGLAND'S WIDOW'D MAJESTY, Thy people give Thee
joy,
And turn'd to Thee is every heart that greets the princely
Boy ;
Look forth I beneath Thy palace walls rejoicing throngs
appear;
List I louder than rude surges' roar the shouts that fill the
ear :
Behold I with vet'ran troops allied march England's Vo-
lunteers,
And high above the roll of drums ascend their ringing
cheers ;
They come, they come, with martial tread, with blithe
exultant mien ;
They halt, they turn; and rends the air the cry, God save
the Queen I
On, on they press, the rich the poor, the lowly and the proud;
All ranks, all ages fraternise, and speak their hopes aloud.
These gath'ring crowds, these pealing bells, these deaf 'ning
shouts declare
How welcome to the Nation's heart the Crown's presump-
tive Heir.

LIEGE LADY I Sov'reign of our love, not robed in pall

of state
So dear as in the weeds of woe that mark'd Thee desolate,
We made Thy bitter sorrow ours ; we gave Thee tear for tear,
And shall we not Thy gladness share who shared thy pang

severe :
No limit hath the homage due—the reverent sympathy—
To Her whose rule benignant sways the proud, the brave,

_ .
the free. .
No slaviPh fear, no base design, no calculation mean,
No trait'rous project hides beneath the smiles that hail our

Queen ;
In all that moves Her mighty soul and melts Her woman's

heart,
Her joy, Her glory, anguish, grief, 'tis ours to claim a part :
Lo, we have mourned as they who mourn a mother's
with'ring pain;
Lo; we have, pining, waited long for joy to come again :
" Watchman, what of the night ?" we ask light in the

skies afar,
And rising o'er the fleeting shades, behold a brilliant star--
Potent to comfort, He who epake and winds and sea grew

calm ;
And for the cleft and broken heart, Ile sends a healing balm;
In the deep suffering of Thy soul, sweet consolations Thine;
Thy Children worthy of their Sire; and blest Thy Royal
Line ;
Thy Crown, its heritage assur'd; Thy mighty realm at peace,
And Thine, 0 Queen I a Nation's love that grows with

time's increase :
Still more to charm Thy lingering grief, to joyful thoughts
restore,
God gives Thy princely Heir a son, and bids Thy cup flow
o'er.
Be glad, 0 Lady of the Isles, lift up Thy pensive brow,
And pour the sunshine of Thy smiles upon Thy people now.
Son of " Her Husband Great and Good," revered
Victoria's Heir,
In whom rare fruits of culture speak Thy Royal Father's

- -
care,
Youth, pleasures, riches, honours, Thine; to reign, thy
destiny ;
0 Prince 1 earth's purest happiness now heaven bestows on
Thee.

Smile Princess, lov'd and loving, smile through tears
of trancing joy,
Joy such as only mothers know ; yea, bliss without alloy :
Smile, fearless smile I we owe Thee thanks, deep gratitude
and love;
A debt supreme, acknowledg'd here and register'd above.
And Thou, fair Babe, safe pillow'd on that proud and glad-
den'd breast,
Child of our Hopes, to Empire horn, 0, bo thy slumbers
blest.

The unusual length of such a quotation as this from a
magazine compels us for once merely to glance very
cursorily indeed though the rest of the contribu-
tions in the periodical from which the foregoing
extract has been taken. Prominent among these
same numerous and varied contributions are the two
serial stories now appearing in monthly instalments
in the R. S. and T. "Jacob Morriston," the one.
" Misses and Matrimony," the other, The last
mentioned being a capital, harum-scarum, helter-
skelter narrative that Harry Lorrequer himself
might chuckle over with enjoyment. Another
serial tale and novelette entitled " Harry Vowhemp-
ton," have commenced, moreover, in the February