The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-03 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS.

Colburn's United Service contains its usual amount
of military information, and, as might be expected,
dwells pretty largely on the national defences. There
are three chapters devoted to projectiles, &c., and a
eriticiam on Sir Charles Napier's address to the Go•
vernment on the national defences. The article on
" Piracy on the Coast of Borneo" is ably written, and
justly censures the conduct of the humanitarian fac-
tion for blaming Sir James Befoke for molesting the
innocent aborigines, who, however, instead of fishing
in a small Corricle, according to Mr. Hume's version,
navigate prahus one hundred feet long, containing
upwards of one hundred and fifty men. A. brief
outline of the visit of the Nepaulese Ambas-
seder to London and his previous history are original.
Newton's London Journal of this month contains
several interesting descriptions of divers patents lately
granted, amongst which are Howard's, for the improv-
ment in ploughs, and Adams's, for improvements in
rifls and other firearms, The article on " Preserved
Meats for the Neva! Service" remarks on the fearful
scourge that the scurvy was to our navy not long
since, and the benefits derived from the substitution
of preserved meats in place of salt provisions. As
evidence of the dreadful havoc caused by this disease,
Admiral A'&son's memorable expedition to damage
the interests of Spain in the Pacific Ocean by inter-
cepting the annual treasure. ship, or galleon, on her
return to Europe, is sufficient. In spite of everything
that care and experience could do, Anson tells us he
lost fully four-fifths of his men by scurvy ee-Of four
hundred men with whom the Centurion left England
only two hundred lived to reach the island of Juan
Fernandez, and no more than eight of these were
capable of doing duty. The list of patents
granted, and other general information is to
be found as usual up to the present time.
The Colonial contains a history of the aboriginal tribes
of Australia, and the discovery of New Zealand.
Fredrick Hestage discovered Australia in 1616, and
called it New Holland, but although many Dutch
ships visited the coast in the hope of making disco-
veries, it was not until 1642 that the south coast of
Australia and Van Diemee's Land was discovered by
Tasman, who so named it in compliment to his be-
trothed, the daughter of the Governor of the Mau-
ritius, tee fair Maria Van Diemen. The account of
the destruction of Lagos, the decline of the slave
trade, and the history of the Kafir war, are inte-
resting. The Sportsman of this month contains an
interesting article entitled " The Pedigree of Volti-
geur—Origin of the Race-horse—with a table of
pedigrees. The plates,, which are executed in their
usually well-got-up style, represent hot ses at
rest in the fields, entitled " Hours of Idle-
ness," and the result of " A Decided Course."
The Journal of Agriculture,
and Transactions of the
Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, commences
with an article on artificial thaeure, in which is shown
the various amalgamation of ingredients most suitable
for different soils, with an analysis of their chemical
compounds ; hone dust, and its applications, are
particularly noticed. There is also practical infor-
mation to be found in the chapter on the properties
of clays most suitable for draining-tiles and other
purposes. An article by Mr. Ritchie, C.E., on the
cennearetive edventages of fixed and portable steaae-
eigines for agricul'ural purposes, gives en interest-
ing account of some of the various mealier. at pre-
sent in use and in contemplation. In the Gentleman's
Magazine the articles of this month are in their
u•uel well-written style; but we would advise the
editor to curtail the 'is': of deaths, which be is too
fond of publishing, and which few care to reed.