The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-28 00:00:00

the science of pure space : algebra is the science of
pure time." In time and space all human beings
live : they are the dimensions of our existence.
And, as humanity wants nothing more than the
abstract, the science of space adds to geometry geo-

graphy. Similarly, chronology is a supplement to
the algebra of time. As every nation has its geogra-
phic boundaries, so almost every race has its special

epoch. The Hebrews, with unparalleled sublimity,

- -
start from the warld's creation ; we are now in the

year 5684, according to their ;reckoning. Rome

sturdily fixed the building of the city as the first
day of its calendar—as if the world had nothing
worth record before the great asylum arose•on the

seven hills. The birth of Christ has fixed the point

of departure for all Christian nations, and the flight
of the false prophet for all Mohammedan. Of course

he most simple and philosophical commencement

would be the very beginning of humanity, if only
chronologists could agree as to the precise date of
this occurrence; but, as the different dates assigned

vary over a period of more than 3,000 years, it is
vain to attempt a chronology on this prin-
ciple. A" Manual of Dates," like Mr. Townsend's,

is of infinite value to the author and to the student

and should be on every library table. It enables a
man instantaneously to verify or rectify his ideas.
It is the key to history. One's recollection of a
particular period, with all its prominent
dramatis persona, is revivified by a single re-

'erence. You have in such a book the very

essence of history and geography—ay, and
even of politics because these things are
inseparable from chronology. A chronological

manual ought not to be an encyclor zelia, yet must
in some degree partake of that character. The
compiler is only bound to deal in dates, but, com-
passionating his readers he sometimes expands
into definitions. Consequently a book of this
kind is very interesting to read, apart from
its value for reference ; and, as Macaulay re-
marked, that his favourite resource on a rainy
day was Johnson's folio Dictionary, we may be for-
given for suggesting that Mr. Townsend's "Manual"

would serve admirably for a similar purpose. It is
impossible to open it any where without meeting
information that the reader has either forgotten or
had never known. The compilation of this work
must have been immensely laborious. It contains
959 pages, of which about 40 are index. It is
easier to judge the contents of such a volume
from the index than from the cursory examina-
tion with which a reviewer must necessarily
Content himself. The index is in treble columns,
each column containing between 80 and 90 entries;
and of these columns 171 are devoted to the statutes
of England. More than six are given to sieges, from
Abbassabad to Taragoga. Sea fights, from Abydos to
Zuyder Zee, occupy about a column and a half. Bat-
tles, as might be expected, take far more space; they
monopolise more than 15 columns, between Abancay
and Zpyt. And here let us pause to show a collateral
use of such a work as this. Let the reader honestly
say whether he knows anything about the battles of
Abancay or the battle Zyp—the Alpha and Omega
of Mr. Townsend's series. Where were they
fought? When were they fought ? Who were
the commanders-in-chief ? Who beat whom ? Those
pedantic examiners who puzzle the unlucky young
gentlemen who are candidates for the civil service
would be enabled to perplex their victims far more
thoroughly by using the "Manual of Dates."
There are many points in this work which deserve
special commendation. Let us take the wants of
the political student. He requires to refer to the
Administrations of Great Britain. Under that head-
ing he finds them tabulated from Godolphius' in
1702 to Palmerston's second in 1859. Each is de-
scribed under its own special title. Take those which
had queer sobriquets. There is the " Broad Bottom"
Ministry, with Mr. Pelham at its head, both
First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of
the Exchequer, and seven dukes among his
subordinates. There is the " Long-lived "
Administration which held office for two days in
1716. There is " all thetalents"—Canning's felici-
tous nickname—which had in reality only one able
man among its members. All these we find care-
fully registered by Mr. Townsend, with sufficient
explanation in each ease. Indeed, if we found any
fault with this book, it would be that the descrip-
tive or explanatory !part is more complete than
could fairly be expected in a manual of chronology.
This is a fault on the right side, so long
as it does not lessen the number of
purely chronological references which the work
contains:: andlthanks,to the industry of the compiler
and the liberality of the publishers, it appears to us
that the number of entries is far greater than in any
other chronological dictionary which we have en-
countered. Editorial labour has been admirably
supplemented by typographic arrangement while the
excellence !both of paper and type deserve nigh
prise. The compilation of a work like this must have
been a weary task ; but Mr. Townsend will, we
hope, find some reward in the consciousness that he
has furnished all who write and all who read with
an invaluable and indispensable chronological
manual.

MOLDO-WALLACHIA,

TO THE EDITOR OP " THE SUN."

Sirt,—The proceedings of Prince Couza, the Hospodar
of Moldo-Wallachia, having recently called forth the interfe-
rence of the representatives of the Great Powers at Constan-
tinople,it is:only natural that Englishmen,who paid co dearly
for the' pacification" of the Principalities some years since,
should inquire what acts of the Hospodar have provoked a
remonstrance from the Great Powers.

The condition of the Greek monasteries in Moldo-Wal
lachia was one of those causes of domestic dissension
which had furnished an excuse for foreign interference,
and was, therefore, submitted to the consideration of the
Conferences. These monasteries were founded at different
periods within the last three or four centuries, by men who
wished to provide for their compatriots and co-religionists
harbours of refuge, so to speak, where they may receive
religious and secular instruction, and where what remained
of the learning of the East may be still preserved. Num-
bers of young men are brought up in these establishments,
and, after having passed through a certain course of
study, are sent at the expense of the institution to the
different European capitals, to reap a more abundant
knowledge. Considering the abnormal condition in which
the Christians of the East have been placed during so many
centuries, we cannot overrate the services which these
monasteries have rendered to Christianity and civilization.
These monasteries are constantly spoken of in despatches
and public documents as the "dedicated convents,"because
their founders, in the spirit of the times in which they
lived, had submitted them for special purposes to a certain
authority. They were for the most part dedicated to the
monasteries and churches in the Holy Land, such as the
Holy Sepulchre, &0., and are known collectively as the
Holy Places.
Between the Egumenes or heads of the Greek monas-
teries, and the Governments of Moldavia and Wallachia,
differences have for k ome years existed ; and, in order to
adjust these disputes, it was decided at the Paris Confe-
rences that arbitrators should be chosen by each party, and
the points in dispute submitted to them. Should the arbi-
trators not agree, an arch arbitrator must be chosen, and if
the parties interested should not be able to agree upon the
choice of each arbitrator, then the Sublime Porte, in con-
cert with the guaranteeing Powers, was to elect such arbi-
trator. These conditions are laid down in the 13th Proto-
col of the Paris Conferences, and are alike binding on the
representatives of the monasteries, the Hospodar, and the
Great Powers.
But how has Prince Couza acted? Unmindful of hir
obligations to the guaranteeing Powers that in 1859 recog-
nised his double election, he has set at defiance the proto-
cols of the Paris Conference, he has sequestrated the re-
venues of the Greek monasteries, he has interdicted the use
of the Greek tongue in the public worship, he has ordered
the judges not to allow the advocates of the monasteries to
plead their cause at the public tribunals, unless aided by
the officers of the Crown ; and, finally, in the June of the
present year he irsued an ordinance by which the sacred
vessels, and vestments, and documents of the converts were

seized.
-When we remember that, some five or six years since,
Prince Couza was plain Colonel Couza, and when we see
him thus defying the authority of his Suzerain, the Sultan,
and the Groat Powers of Europe, ono is tempted to think
that his draught of kingship has been too much for his
reason. When remonstrated with, he coolly declared that
his sequestration of the monastic revenues was "definite."
The Great Powers have expressed their determination to
carry out the conditions of the 13th Protocol of the Paris
Conferences,—l remain, sir, your obedient servant,
A LOVER OF FREEDOM.

Mr. S. H. Foley, R.A., has nearly completed an
equestrian statue of Sir James Outran), a sitting statue of
Sir Charles Barry, a monument in memory of the late
General Bruce, and a statue of Father Mathew. He has
received commissions for two statues of the Prince Consort
—one for Birmingham, and another for Cambridge.