The Sun.
London, England, 1837-04-01 00:00:00

FRASER'S MAGAZINE.

In an article headed " Should Clergymen take part
in Politics," Oliver Yoake is decidedly of opinion that
they should, taking tor granted, of course, that the
Tory parsons exercise patamount influence throughout
the country, and tioially regardless of the scandal
brought upon the establishment by the late indecent
displays of the Exeter-hall fanatics. This may be a
Conservative, but it is certainly not a Christian view
of the case. Clergymen have no business with poli-
tics. There is quite enough strife in the world, with-
out their embittering it by their uncharitable inter-
ference. They should confine themselves to the pul-
pit, and the diligent tending of their flock. Were they
to restrict themselves to this, their legitimate vocation,
they would have no leisure for party warfare. But in
nine out of ten cases, it is the negligence of the parson
that creates the parson-politician. " Maria Memo-
rabilia" is by Nimrod. It is a string of anecdotes.
brought very pleasantly together. The author, Ive see,
pronounces an anathema on all soups - and broths.
What will the shade of Sir William Curtis say to
this heresy ? Here is Mr. Apperton's opinion, who,
as an experienced epicure, is entitled to our most re-
spectful consideration :
" But I am not altogether qualified to give my opinion about
soups ; for although I am the son of a man who never dined
at home without soup, I very rarely touch it, not five times in
a year, I consider it the worst possible start over the maho-
gany—not only relaxing to the stomach, but, with myself,
acting as a damper to the appetite, sufficient to destroy half
the pleasure arising from a 'well-cooked dinner. And it would
seem that it was always considered a damper. In the cele-
brated song of " Wedneabury Cocking," the guests are to
dine for a groat ; but on 'condition that, before they begin
upon the beef, they are to swallow a gallon of broth. This
recalls to my recollection a fact that occurred many years back
in Cheshire. Two gentle Men, afterwards eminent in their
profession—one of thenk indeed, became chief-justice of Eng-
land—served their clerldship with a very rich, but excessively
miserly, attorney in that county, whose larder was generally
very ill supplied. I know not what we shall do, sir,' (he
resided in the country), said his housekeeper to him one day,
on finding that- two of his clients intended stopping to dine
with him; there will not be dinner enough, I fear.' Have
you brothed the clerks,' inquired the lawyer. ' I have,
replied the housekeeper. ' broils ens again,' resumed
the miser. Another droll anecdote was current aboul this
said lawyer ; but how far characteristic of him, in would be
indecent in me to say. Being overtaken on his road home
one night by a violent storm of thunder and lightning, he be-
came very much alarmed, and was glad to avail himself of the
company of a neighbour who was going his road. You
need not be afraid,' said the man to him - if the devil was to
come he would take me, and not you.' Why so?' asked the
lawyer. He knows lie is sure of you,' was the answer.
The "Remembrances of a Monthly Nurse" are be:-
ter this month than they have yet been. " One or two
Words on one or two Books" contains a fierce assault
and battery—and, so far as we can judge from the ex-
tiacis, ilQt numeritcti—vli " the S.udent of Padua,"
The Reviewer quotes the preface to this tragedy,
which is in wretched taste, and shows a hopeless spirit
of self-conceit and egotism. The " Atlas and Our-
selvps" is 4 very pretty quarrel go: up Ilqween Fraser,
the iitimeuni; and Atlas, We leave It as it

• •
stands, for our'(iontemporaries are quite able to anslA er
for themselyt s.

• TAIT'S MAGAZINE.
critical notices. of " Lockhart's Memoirs of
Scott;" and of " Prior's Life of Goldsmith," arc by
far the best articles. in this 'Number—not that the
others arc bad, but'that these are first-rate. They give
you the very heart and marrow, " blood, bones, and
all," of the works which they discus;. The ori-
&nal observations too are worthy of all laud for their
pithy and senteotiou:3 sagacity. The Reviewer of
Scott's Memoirs speaks in becoming terms of vene-
ration for that great man, which is creditable to his
sense of justice ; for we can easily sec that he is a red-
hot Radical, and moreover "a good hater." Of Gold-
smith—. Poor Guldv," as Johnson affectionately used
to call him—it is impossible to speak too highly,
whether as man or author, and accordingly the Re-
viewer lays on his praise with a trowel. " Affairs of
Canada" is a clever, condensed sketch of the present
state of affairs in that colony. The writer is Mr.
Tait, who is thus, "like Cerberus, three gentlemen at
once"—that is to say, editor, contributor, and pub-
lisher ! Promo the " Beggar's Wallet," we quote a
dainty extract. People, says Dr. Johnson, like to read
about good eating and drinking, and the following
will, we think, give them an appetite :
" It was at Falkstone Feast that the simple heart of Mat),
Grey became very unexpectedly exposed to the seductions of
a London suitor. Falkstone is a pretty village on the con-
fines of •Nottinghamshire, which, every November just as its
soil becomes glutonized into the consiteney of pitch, and the
little brook by which it is traversed swells so as to render the
lower grounds impassable—rewards itself for the arrival of
winter and typhus fever, by celebrating its annual feast, dedi-
cated, in the olden time, as well as its parish church, to the •
cloak-rending saint, St. Martin ; and solemnized, in latter
times, with considerable slaughter of fatted calves, and a
massacre of half the fowls and turkeys of the barnyards of
the neighbourhood. Every 11 th of November down come
flitches and hams from housewifely chimneys ; barrels of
strew, beer are broached in the richer farms; long-hoarded
and long-bearded bottles of currant or cowslip wine are
brought forth ; a glorious confusion of pork-pies and apple-
pies steams in the oven ; and scarce a hut or hovel in Falk-
stone so wanting in means or public spirit as not to show a
well-scoured deal-table covered with some sort of cheer, front
the well-spiced round of pressed beef, down to a barley loaf
and angle of pale-faced Derby cheese—in order to welcome
from afar the kinsfolk and acquaintance, the hundredth cousins
or neighbours' children, who repair for the annual renewal
of such associations, to tine clayey parish, constituting what
is called their "native soil.' Ihe custom is as good as it is
old. Patriotism is the natural growth of such attachments. •
As the abounding river is fed by tributary streamlets, love
of parish, county, country, form an inevitable gradation of
virtue."

We recommend the above savoury extract to the
attention of our City Aldermen. It will serve as a
capital whet, dillested half an hour before the next
Lord Mayot's Feast. " Highland Biography" is full
of the hardest and toughest Scotch words. We like,
however, wir.q little we can understand of it. " Rhymed
Rambles" display all Ebenezcr—what a name for a
poet !—Elliot's usual strength of feeling.