The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-02 00:00:00

MONTHLY CHRONICLE.

In an article on the subject of the " Foreign
Policy of England," which heads the present Num-
ber, the writer briefly enumerates the mistakes
committed by the Duke of Wellington's Govern-
ment in this important branch of their Administra-
tion ; and then proceeds to comment in just and
pertinent terms, on the system pursued by the
Whigs from the period of the accession of Earl
Grey to office. Their Indian policy,
in particular,
he speaks of with high praise—and deservedly so,
for there is little doubt that the restoration of the
;ingdom of Cahoot has made our empire in the
East safe for many years to come, for—we quote
be writer's words—" independently of its direct
influence in establishing a barrier between India

and the Powers of the \Vest, the moral effect has
hcen immense, which the decision of the Eritish
Government has had upon all the Princes of the
East." The essay on the " Extinction of the
Human Races" is so curious and so interesting

hat we could have wished it had been discussed

it greater length, and in a closer spirit of investi-
gation. In the remote parts of Northern and
Eastern Asia, we are told—

" Remains have been discovered which prove that
nearly the whole of that great continent was )nee
,)ccupicd by hu:nan races, whose very names have
perished. Some of these nations appear to have trade
some progress in arts and civilization. Their tombs are
found spread over the countries eastward of Jenisey. In
those remote countries such remains are in great num-

iers, and of magnificent construction ; they contain or-
naments and various implements of silver, gold, and
copper ; there are girdles of the precious metals, braze-
'cis decked with pearls; in the same tombs are fragineits
of earthen manufactory or porcelain. I shall not at
.resent detail the arguments which have satisfied tile
earned academicians of St. Petersburgh that such reFcs
relonged to races of people long ago extinct, who must
nave disappeared before the light of history dawned
open these countries, but shall hasten to remark, that
discoveries leading to a similar result have been traced
through the New World, from the countries bordering
on the Mississippi and the Ohio, where tombs are
found containing skeletons of a different confer-
.nation from that of the present native tribes,
to the high table land of Tetecaca, in the Peru-
vian cordillera, where those strangely formed skulls are
;een which deviate so widely from the usual form of

uman heads. Eves in the islands of Polynesia, vesti.

;as are discovered which have been referred to a former
;•ace of inhabitants ; and to conclude this series of ob-
iervations, there are facts which indicate that extensive
countries in Europe were occupied by races of a diffe-
rent physical character from the present natives, in

times which preceded the arrival of Celts and Goths,
and other Indo-Germanic nations from the East."

" Fragments from Goethe," are flowing and musi-
ad enough, so far as mere versification is concerned,
but we cannot vouch for their accuracy, not having
he good fortune to be acquainted with the original.
" Sketches of Spanish Generals" furnish us with
some characteristic portraits of the most celebrated
Carlist and Christino commanders in the late san-

,tninary war in the Peninsula. We subjoin a sketch
the well-known priest, Merino, who, it seems,
tas rendered more substantial service to the cause

4 Don Carlos, than any General since the days of
Z umalacarreguv :
" Merino is about sixty-eight years old. In size he
considerably baneath the middle stature, his height
oot being more than about five feet four inches. Ap-
parently, his frame is of the must fragile and delicate
texture ; yet, under this appearance of physical weak-
ness, his health is of the most robust and enduring kind.
His features are sharp and strongly marked, and convey
in expression of a strong and determined character.
His eyes are large and deeply set, and are shaded
by large and overhanging brows. His habits
are of the simplest and most abstemious kind, even for
a Spaniard. Contrary to the universal custom of his
countrymen, including even ecclesiastic', he never makes
use of tobacco in any shape. Ile drinks neither wine
nor any strong spirit, and may be said to make but one
repast in the day ; a small cup of chocolate, a glass of
pure cold water, and a morsel of dry toast, form his
morning refreshment, and his evening meal is almost of
in equally slight nature. It is said that his power of
dispensing with the necessity of repose is wonderful ;
sod it is asserted that about one hour, or one hour and
a half in the twenty-four, is all the time that he spends
in sleep. He seldom enters a house by night, and he
never passes the period between twilight and dawn in
the same place with his followers. The few moments
of repose which ha allows himself, whilst on the field,
are snatched either on horseback, or on the ground,
with his head reclining on the saddle, or buried in the
mane of his charger. As soon as the hour of sunset
approaches, he halts his troop, and orders them to encamp
on the spot which he points out. Followed by a single
attendant, who performs the duties of secretary, or ser-
vant, as the occasion may require, be retires within the
recesses of the forest, at two or three leagues distant,
and only re-appears in the same place at sunrise the fol-
lowing morning. Merino despises the elegance or splen-
dour of military uniform, and his followers are as re-
gardless as their chief in the article of dress."
The character of the Spanish General, Cordova,
is hit off' with spirit by one who appears to be inti
mately acquainted with him. The details of his
sudden rise are curious ; but we have not space for
extracts. In the " Secret Anecdotes of the French
Police" occurs a strange story of the Duke of
Buckingham's flirtation with the Queen of France,
Anne of Austria. This Duke, it may be remem-
bered, was sent over on a particular embassy to the
French Court by Charles the First, but instead
of attending to his political duties, he took it into
his head to make love to the Queen. She re-
jected his overtures, and he was in consequence
speedily compelled to -decamp from Paris. The
whole circumstances of the case are here given with
a most piquant particularity. Anne of Austria must
have been a personable woman, for Richelieu also
made overtures to her, and because she dismissed
him, as well as the Duke, he persecuted her throug:i.
out his political career. Of the remaining articles,
the best is that on National Education.