The Sun.
London, England, 1837-05-05 00:00:00

°tie causes-r-the absurd restrictions sought to be im-
posed upon it by the Republican, Monarchical, and
'Constitutional Governments. In his examination of
the present state of the French press, he condemns
the projects of
.111. de Girardin, a deputy, who has
obtained some celebrity by the publication of cheap
newspapers—riz., nnvspapers ruinous to the principle:
of the purchaser and the finances of the• vender.
" Centralisation and Localisation" is the best article
that has yet been published on the subject of the Irish
Municipal Reform Bill. It is the first attempt that
has been made to reach the philosophy of the question,
by an examination of the effect of municipal institu
,tions upon the feelings and habits of society in all
ages and nations. Neither is it so abstract as for a
moment to carry the reader beyond the .region of
actual occurrences. The leaders of the Whig,
Tory, and Radical parties, are kept passing
and repassing before him, each more intent
upon the fate of a ministry than the high destinies of a
suffering people. The Reviewer exposes the disho-
nesty of the Tories in feigning such an apprehension
of the overwhelming power of Mr. O'Connell, and de-
nounces the insolence with which the State Church
claims for herself an absolute dominion in a land in
which her foot-prints may be traced in blood and tears.
" Churchism,” he observes, " has been—(duting the
recent debates upon this Bill)—extravagantly candid
and instructive. Last year she withdrew the mask
with a sort of hesitating shame ; this year she throws

it in our face in defiance. She tells us not clearly only,
but insolently, what she has become and what she in-
tends to be. We no longer hear of Church-and. State,
but of the State included in the Church :—in a word,
the Church everything, the State nothing. Hence all
the outcry about a transfer of power, and what is still
more absurd, the practicability of prosecuting it ; a re-
fusal of general and positive rights, rather than risk the

chance of transferring au existing unjust monopoly."
This is so true, that to support it by argument, infe-
rence, or illustration, would only tend to weaken the
impression which it must make on every well consti-
tuted mind.
The capture of the Vixen by Russia, and the delay
which the Imperial Government makes to offer repara-
tion to Great Britain for the insult offered to her flag,
constitute the subject of an article which will make a
deep impression upon the public mind of England.
The Reviewer—to afford Russia an opportunity, we
presume, of availing herself of Dr. Lushington's defi-
nition of what; constitutes maritime jurisdiction, the
Learned Doctor having expressly declared that "At
must be founded on possession de jure and de facto"
—offers the following suggestion to the Russian Am-
bassador at the Court of St. James's, to which we pray
his Excellency to give his best attention :
" We would, with all reverence for her eminent representa-
tive in this country, recommend to his Excellency to make di-
ligent search in the archives at Ashburnham House, or if not

there to be found, to write to his Court for the following do-
cuments, for the satisfaction of Lord Palmerston and the Bri-
tish Parliament, viz.:—
_

" A statistical account of the number of square miles or
versts possessed by Russia between the range of the Caucasus
and the Euzine, from the embouchure of the Kuban to the
borders of Mingrelia.

" The particulars and extent of lands cultivated there by
:he inhabitants owing allegiance to Russia, who pray fora con-
tinuance of the blessings enjoyed under her sceptre.
" Further, an account of the number of native inhabitants in

this Circassian and Abussian territory who pay tribute to the
Emperor ; the amount of the revenue collected from the coun-

try,aand the sites of the different public establishments there,
exclusive of the forts of Anapa, Glrelerigik and Sukum Kal6,
so honourably acquired from the Porte.
" As subsidiary pieces justificatives,' it might be desirable
to produce a copy of the appointment of the Governor-in-
Chief of Circassia, a dignitary whose name and fame arc to-
tally unknown in western Europe, with a list of the Sub-
Governors of the various districts or provinces, their places of
residence and the range of their circuits in visiting the sub-
jects of his Imperial Majesty under their charge, for the ad-
ministration of justice, and their instruction in the duties of
obedience, religion and morals, according to the catechism for
the use of the Trans-Caucasian governments.
" In case of difficulty in obtaining these returns, we would
suggest the expediency of immediate recourse to the Porte for
extracts from its registers on most of these heads relating to
Circassia, when subject to its dominion and governed by
Turkish- Pachas.

" It would then be evident that only the rebellious character
of the natives prevents Russia from enjoying the same autho-
rity and deriving the same advantages from the occupation of
the country. The ingenuity of the Dragomans might be
rather at fault to persuade the Reis Effendi of the existence of
these records, of which be would never have heard. Should
this be remedied, not a doubt could remain of the cession
having really been made, and the right of the Sultan to dis-
pose of this portion of bis empire to his good friend and ally
the Autocrat of all the Russias, ' for the better definition of
their respective boundaries, and in order to repress the incur-
sions of the Caucasian tribes.'

" The objections to possession de jurd and de facto being
thus disposed of (with some illiberal exceptions), the case will
be made out in due form, and considered sufficient no doubt to
satisfy the dull intellects of the British nation, and relieve
alarmists from their terrors of seeing the country disturbed for
such a paltry affair as the seizure of the Vixen"

To the Noble Lord who directs the foreign re'a-

tions of this country, we recommend the perusal of an
article on the " Fate of Cracow," which -though
penned in a spirit far from favourable to his Lord-
ship's diplomacy, yet contains much of what the
people think respecting the downfall of that ancient
Republic. We have ourselves dwelt so frequently upon
the oppressions endured by the Cracovians from the
blighting influence of Russia, Austria, and Prussia, in

;he Councils of their little• State, that it is unnecessary
'or us to enter now into the harrowing details which

are here collected of the tyranny of the Northern

lespots. `The article on the " Ballot" is perhap the

most powerful ever written against that measure, as in-

tended to apply to the election of Parliamentary Repre-
sentatives. It will call forth a host of pamphlets on a

question which already is all but settled by the country.

COBBETT'S ENGLISH HOUSEKEEPER.
Cobbett, London, 1837.
This is the cOmpletest ork of the sort we have yet
met with. The directions, which are numerous, are
given with terseness and simplicity, so that he who runs
may read. The authoress does not profess to be ha-
bued with the culinary lore of a tide, but:she is quite
scientific enough to satisfy all reasonable gastronomists.
Some books appeal to the head ; othets to the heart ;
this appeals to the stomach. Not a few of the direc-
tions—those especially which regard venison stews, and
pasties—are racy enough to create an appetite " under
the ribs of death." . Then the bills of fare ! These
have a flavor about them, equal to that memorable de-
scription of a French breakfast in .‘ Quentin Durward ;"
and might operate as a provocative to the inost languid
palate. If, as Peter Pindar has observed, " the road
thro' the stomach's the way to the heart," then we
have no doubt that this savoury duodecimo will enlist in
its behalf the sensibilities of themajority of its readers ;
for the Barmecide's account of his visionary supper was
not more unctuous than some of its con-amore receipts.
But not content with giving directions for cooking, Miss
Cobbett gives also directions for carving—a matter well
worthy the serious consideration of all diners, whether
at home or abroad. The art of carving scientifically is
one by no means vouchsafed to the majority. It'requires
patience, self-possession, and a steady hand, qualifica-
tions which belong to tl4 few, not the many. The au-
thoress's remarks on this branch of her subject display
consummate knowledge of the theory of the art; we
therefore recommend them to the attention of those
among our readers who are anxious to acquire cele-
brity as prompt and judicious carvers. The hook is
illustrated -with a variety of useful engravings.

A BIRTH-DAY TRIBUTE.
Fisher, London, 1837.
This is a poem in honour of the birth-day of the
Princess Victoria, and is from the pen of L. E. L.
It is not saying too much, of it, that it is better than
one lialf the odes in laud of Royalty that we remem-
ber to have seen. Miss Landon always versifies with
ease and freedom, and frequently with sweetness, as