The Sun.
London, England, 1837-12-28 00:00:00

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.)

DEAL, 27.—Wind W. S. W.—The Isabella and Canton
sailed last night, and have put back again this morning and
remain.—Arrived and proceeded for the river, the brig Horn,
Ganet, from Falmouth. The Patriot, Dunn, for the Cape
of Good Hope, is reported to have passed last night.
PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 27. —Wind S. S. E. to S. S. W.—Ar.
rived from London, the Malcolm, Eyles, for Madras ; and
Friendship, Bailey, from St. Petersburg.
FALMOUTII, DEC. 26.—Arrived the City of Londonderry,
steamer, from Gibraltar—left on the 16th inst., Lisbon, on
the 20th, Oporto on the 21st, and Vigo on the 23d; and
William Curry, Teneriffe.
DOVER, DEC. 27.—Arrived off the Crusader, M'Donald,
from Van Diemen's Land.

MILFORD, DEC. 27.—Arrived the Maria, Corrigal, Quebec.
DUBLIN, DEC, 25.—Arrived the St. Jannes, Crawford,
from St. John's, New Brunswick.
CORK, DEC. 25.—Arrived the Spermaceti, Allen, from
St. John's, New Brunswick ; Alexander Stewart, Grach, and
Wallace, N. S., from Oporto ; and Valentine, from Gibraltar.
DROGHEDA, DEC. 25.—Arrived the Lady Mary, Jones,
from London. _

NEWRY, Dac. 25.—Arrived the Bellona, Ottagan, from St.
John's, New Brunswick.

The Sir R. H. Dick, from London to St. John's, New
Brunswick, was lost on the Banks of Nova Scotia.

The Belle Isle, Ramsey, from Miramichi, was aground en
the 19th ult. below Madras Island, full of water, having been
injured by the ice.
The Union, of London, bound to Cork, is condemned at
St. Übes.

The Victoria, Seal, from Newfoundland, and the Dream,
bound to Limerick, were destroyed this morning by fire, at
Davis's Wharf, in Tooley-street.

THE FUNDS.-(THIS DAY.)

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

We have received Gibraltar Chronicles to the 15th Decem-
ber. They state that Cadiz was declared in a state of war on
the 12th December, and orders were issued for disarming and
disbanding the 3d battalion and the brigade of flying artil-
lery of the National Militia, in consequence of these two corps
having risen up in arms the day before, and refused to lay them
down until their commanding officer had been set at liberty, and
who was apprehended on the 10th on suspicion of being con-
cerned in the late electioneering row. The town-major and
the second in command vainly tried to bring the revolters
back to a sense of duty. Not only their expectations were
disregarded, but the latter officer was insulted and threatened ;
and the deluded men went further--they sent parties with
drums about the town, and caused everywhere confusion,
alarm, and terror; but they were soon checked in their pro-
gress. Seeing themselves threatened by a strong column,
with which Count Clonard was marching against them, they
desisted from an attempt upon which they were resolved, and
which they clearly saw was strongly disapproved of by the
other corps, and the population in general. On the 12th,
however, the Count still spoke of the state of the City as
critical.

The Lisbon Papers received do not contain any news of
importance. They were still discussing the project of in•
creasing the tobacco duty in the Cortes. All was tranquil at
Lisbon.

LITERATURE.

ENCYCLOPCEDIA BRITANNICA.-PART I.

Containing the Dissertations on the Progress of the Sciences,
by STEWART and IllAcriNrosu, PLAYFAIR and LESLIE.
Black, Edinburgh. _ .

Among the various records of the progress of phi-
losophy, which have appeared in an age remarkable
for its intellectual activity, it would be difficult to find
any one at all to be compared in eloquence, perspicuity,
or philosophical discrimination, with the splendid dis-
sertations in the volume before us. By the universal
concurrence of all whose opinions carry with them any
weight or authority, they are regarded as the most
successful productions of their respective authors.
Nor is it wonderful that they should do so : for in a
retrospect of the march of philosophical discovery
there is so much to stimulate the enthusiasm of those
devoted to its pursuits—there is a charm so irresistible
in the time-hallowed name—which at every stage of the
historian's progress stand as eternal landmarks upon
his path—that he feels honoured and elevated by thus
being the instrument of commemorating the achieve-
ments of genius.
To attempt an analysis of treatises so compact in
thought and expression were altogether fruitless. They
are not more distinguished for exactness of information
and profoundness of view, than for a dignity and elo-
quence of style which it is difficult to impart to such
rapid and condensed details. An able writer in a re-
cent Number of the Edinburgh Review has so well ex-
pressed the characteristic excellences of two of these
dissertations, that we shall quote the passage :
" In the fine historical dissertation of Professor Playfair
prefixed to the seventh edition of the •' Encyclopaedia Britan-
nica," we find all the best qualities of the historian of science.
Here patience of research is ennobled by philosophical preci-
sion; a chaste and manly eloquence gives ornament and ef-
fect to sagacious views and perspicuous commentary, and
while the functions of the judge are discharged with candour,
impartiality and tenderness, they are elevated by a generous
enthusiasm for the mighty names that are summoned before his
tribunal. The general view of the progress of mathematical
and physical science, ch'efly during the 18th century, which Sir
John Leslie contributed to the same work is properly speak-
ing, a supplement to the dissertation of Professor Playfair.
It is written with the vigorous eloquence of that original and
inventive philosopher, and though the details of discovery are
not always gleaned with care, and the decisions occasionally
tinged with prejudices which sometimes mingle themselves
with the highest attainments, yet it presents a masterly sketch
of one of the richest periods of scientific history, and is a
noble monument to the genius and intellectual enthusiasm of
its author."

In an earlier Number of the same work we meet
with the following beautiful and discriminating pane-
gyric of the dissertation by Dugald Stewart :
" This discourse is the most splendid of Mr. Stewart's
works, and places the author at the head of the elegant
writers on philosophy in our language. Few writers rise
with more grace from a plain groundwork to the passages
which require more animation or embellishment. He gives
to his narrative, according to the precept of Bacon, the colour
of the time, by a selection of happy expressions from original
writers. The frequent allusions to the ancient literature of
the East and West are becoming ornaments of a history of
letters. Among the secret arts by which he diffuses elegance
over his diction, it may be most useful to remark the skill
which, by deepening or brightening a shale in a secondary
term, or by opening partial and preparatory glimpses of a
thought to be afterwards unfolded, unobservedly heightens
the import of a word, and gives it a new meaning without any
offence against old use. It is in this manner that philosophical
originality may be reconciled to literary stability, and that we
may avoid new terms, which are generally the easy resource
of the unskilful or the indolent, and often a characteristic
mark of writers who neither knOw nor love their language.
" He reminds us of the character given by Cicero of one
of his contemporaries who expressed ' refined and profound
thought in soft, transparent diction.' He is another proof
that the mild sentiments have their eloquence, as well as the
vehement passions. It will be difficult to name a work in
which so much refined philosophy is joined with so fine a
fancy; and so much eloquent literature with such a delicate
perception of the distinguishing excellencies of great writers,
and with an estimate in general so just of the services
rendered to knowledge by a succession of philosophers.
It is pervaded by a philosophical benevolence which
keeps up the ardour of his genius without disturbing
the serenity of his mind. It is felt in his reverence
for knowledge, in the generosity of his praise, and the
tenderness of his censure. It is still more sensible in

the general tone with which he relates the successful progress
of the human understanding among many formidable enemies.
Those readers are not to be envied who limit their admiration
to particular parts, or to excellencies merely literary, with-
out being warmed by that glow of honest triumph in the ad-
vancement of knowledge, and of that assured faith in the final
prevalence of truth and justice which breathe through every
page and give the unity and dignity of a moral i..urpose to the
whole of this classical work."

With such unquestionable recommendations to the
attention of the public, we feel that we do not require
to dwell longer upon these celebrated disquisitions.
They form the introductory volume to the republica-
tion of the Encycloptedia Britannica, the new edition
of which has now made such forward progress, that
the proprietors are enabled to promise a half volume
monthly to the termination of the work. It is unneces-
sary to inform our readers that the Encyclopxdia
Britannica stands at the head of the works of its
class. The present edition is in every particular
adapted to the improved taste and advanced informa-
tion of the times, and we have no doubt that when
completed it will form, in the words of the proprietors,
" the most valuable digest of human knowledge that
has ever yet appeared in Britain in the convenient
form of a dictionary."

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1837.