The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-23 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

REIGNS OF EDWARD THE SIXTH AND
MA RY. —2 }Tom.
Bentley, London, 1839.
In these eminently useful volumes the author has
given us rather the materials for a history of the reigns
of Edward the Sixth and Mary, than the history itself ;
for there is little in the way of original narrative, the
work being chiefly made up of important public docu-
ments selected, with very few exceptions, ftom the col-
lections of manuscript original letters preserved in the
State Paper Office. Of the valuable nature of these
manuscripts, Mr. Fraser Tytler thus speaks in his pre-
face :—" So important are these stores, and yet so little
are they known or appreciated, that the author believes
he does not overstate the fact when he asserts that no
perfect history of England, either civil, ecclesiastical, or
constitutional, can be written till this co►lection is made
accessible by catalogues, to men of letters." In order
to render these official documents more intelligible, Mr.
Tytler illustrates them by historical introductions, and
biographical and critical notes, in which he shows
himself conversant not only with the great outlines,
but with the minutirn—if we may use such a
term—of that particular portion of English and
also of European history of which he treats. His brief
introductory sketch of the triumphs of Charles the Fifth
in Germany is clearly and concisely written, packing up
much matter within small compass ; and not less satis-
factory is his account of the Protector Somerset, who,
he seems to think, was unjustly condemned, observing
that, " he was innocent of the only serious charges brought
against him ; and that his ruin was the result of a con-
spiracy of the Duke of Northumberland, who felt that
he might yet cross his path, and bridle his ambition."
Mr. Tytler leans rather to the favourable side of Queen
Mary's character, who, he says—adopting the language
of the Protestant Bishop Godwin—" was a lady very
godly, merciful, chaste, and every way praiseworthy, if
you regard not the errors of her religion." As a speci-
men of the author's style, we quote a portion of
his closing address to the reader, which is as grace-
ful in sentiment as it is eloquent and nervous in
expression :—" These ancient letters, and with them
the author who bath endeavoured to demonstrate their
value, must bid thee farewell. To him they have been
pleasant companions, nay, instructive friends. May
they be so to thee ! May they inspire thee with that
passion for the search of truth, amid the ruins and
relics of days long gone by than which, if thou wilt credit
an old angler in these Lethean pools, there arc few
happier employments. Trust him when he tells thee
it is to wander with a pure object through a pleasant
country. In the journey thou wilt be led on by the
hope of discovery, and cheered by the feelings of pro-
gression ; the difficulties thou meetest will be but so
many little hills, on surmounting which a sweeter and a
sweeter valley, or forest-glade, or ivy-covered castle will
open to thy ken ; the search too will teach thee many
a lesson of charity and self distrust ; thou wilt become
a lover of history, not from any lower motive, but for
its own sake ; and she—l mean the fair Muse, to
whom historic truth is dear—will, like a generous mis-
tress, repay thy devotion by meeting thee, not in the
saloons of the great, or the ambitious circles of the
learned, but alone in thine own library, the scholar's
true palladium."

ARTS AND ARTISANS AT HOME AND
ABROAD.

Tait, Edinburgh, 1839.
There is.an immense
.deal of sound, practical, and
available information contained within the boards of this
little volume, which is the production of a gentleman
named Symons, one of the Assistant Commissioners of
the Hand-loom Inquiry. The work is divided into
chapters ; treats of the rate of wages at home, and ge-
nerally on the Continent ; of the physical condition of
the artisans, and also their moral and mental state, both
here and abroad ; of Combinations ; of the Progress of
the Manufacturing Arts ; and above all, of Factories,
and the system therein pursued. But perhaps the most
important chapter in the volume is that entitled " Or-

ganic Remedies for the Evils under which the Labour.
ing Classes suffer," which is penned in a forcible but
moderate spirit, and in which the author observes that
the " primary evil under which the people suffer, is
want both of education and representation." Both
these remedies he would apply to the evil, but of course
would wish to see the one taking precedence of the
other, remarking with much good sense, " I deny the
right of a man to participate in governing others, who
is bereft of the knowledge essential to govern himself."
The question of the Repeal of the Corn-laws forms the
subject of another chapter ; and we need hardly 'add
that Mr. Symons is in favour of their Repeal, adding
that they " are among the most iniquitous enactments
of our statute-book."

ROME, APRIL 6, 1839.—The marriage of
Prince Doria Pamphilli with Lady Mary Talbot was so-
lemnized with great pomp, on Thursday last, at the Earl
of Shrewsbury's palace, in the Corso. The ceremony was
performed in a beautiful private chapel, by his Eminence
Cardinal Guistiani, immediately after which, according to
Roman etiquette, the bride and bridegroom repaired to St.
Peter's, in a splendid state coach, to offer thanks, where an
immense crowd of spectators were awaiting their entry.
on their return, they were surrounded by their relations
and friends, all uniting their warmest felicitations on the
joyful event, and after partaking of an elegant dejeuner,
the happy pair set off to pass the honeymoon at the villa
Doria, near Genoa; from thence they proceed to Turin.
to pay a visit to their Majesties (Prince Doria being nearly
allied to the Royal family), and continuo their route to
England, where they spend the summer. There were pre-
sent at the ceremony Cardinals de Gregorio and Bernetti,
the Sardinian Minister, Prince and Princess Orsini, Prince
and Princess Ruspigliosi, Prince and Princess Barherini,
Prince and Princess Salmona, Prince and Princess Cam-
pagnano, Princes Chigi, Massimo, Arsoli, the Earl and
Countess of Beverley, and Ladies Percy, Lord Clifford,
Lord and Lady Stafford and Sir Augustus and Lady A.
Foster, and the Right Rev. Dr. O'Finan, Bishop of Kil-
lala. Besides the above, the following were present at
the dejeuner : —Prince Galitzin (Governor of Moscow)
the Countess of Jersey, the Countess of Carlisle, and
Lady E. Howard, and the Hon. C. and Mrs. Ilertie
Percy.

The rumour which has been prevalent during
the last fortnight, in naval circles, of the intention of
Ministers to send a demonstration fleet to the Baltic,
turns out to be correct. It is to consist of ten seventy.
two's, to be commanded by Admiral Gage, viz.—the. Bel-
leisle, Benbow, Blenheim, Cornwallis, Hastings, Illus-
trious, Agincourt, Ha.ake, Edinburgh, and a tenth, the
name of which has not transpired. It wot'ld seem that
information which has reached the Foreign-office of the
aggressive disposition which has recently been manifested
by Russia, has led to this determination. Orders have,
sae are assured, been received to countermand the apart-
ments which were preparing at Mivart's hotel, for the re-
ception of the Grand Duke of Russia. We learn also,
that Count Nesseirode has been dismissed, that Count
Orloff has superseded him, and that the war party in the
Russisn Cabinet are in the ascendant. Have these
changes any thinr, to do with the organization of the
above-mentioned treet ? United Service Gazette.