The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-04 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD,

BRAT URE.

Fraser.—An interesting criticism of the recently
published letters of Thomas Moore is the first article
in Fraser for January. A brief account of Robert
Herrick and his vicarage will be read with pleasure -
by many. The account of Wenham Lake Ice, and
the manner in which the lake is ploughed and the
ice divided, will, we doubt not, interest and asto-
nish the majority. It is well worth reading..
" Hypatia." is continued ; and many other interest-
ing articles are to be found in Fraser for January.

The Journal of Agriculture.—The first paper is
on Agricultural Architecture and Engineering,
continued from last number. It contains a great
number of illustrative figures. "Emigration," and
" Ireland as it is," are two of the most generally
interesting articles. There is a great variety of
agricultural information, and many useful tables
and calculations are given.

This month's number of the Zoist contains its
usual mesmeric information ; amongst which may
be noticed a chapter treating on the cure of ovarian
dropsy by mesmerism and galvanism, by Dr.
Motherwell, and some interesting cures in cases of
St. Vitus's dance, and other nervous complaints,
by galvanism.

The Journal of Psychological Medicine and Mental
Pathology. Edited by Forbes Winslow, M.D.
There is a very long article entitled " British
Institutions for the Insane," which gives very mi-
nute details of those asylums, their mode of treat-
ment, their rules and observances, &c., and the
general impression is that the result of such in-
quiries is favourable. " The Treatment of Crimi-
nal Lunatics," and " Bethlem Hospital," have
likewise articles devoted to them, containing a
great deal of desirable information. The systems
pursued in Bethlem Hospital are censured, and a
hope is expressed that measures will shortly be
adopted to remedy such glaring evils as are there
found existing. It is remarked that kindness is the
most effectual remedy for madness and as Much as
possible coercion should be avoided.

Australia as it- is : its Settlements, Farms, and
Gold Fields. By F. Lancelott, Esq. 2 vols.
Colburn.
The author of this work is the mineralogical sur-
veyor in the Australian colonies. lie is, therefore,
evidently well qualified for the task he has undertaken
of describing the gold fields and general appearance
of the country with which, as a resident, he must be
naturally well acquainted. Though so much atten-
tion has been lately called to Australia by the dis-
covery of the gold districts, it is still compara-
tively- little known, and as it is regarded with more
curiosity than formerly, this work will prove very
acceptable to the public. The author announces
his aim to be rather to instruct than to amuse, but
though not calculated to attract the superficial
reader, those who peruse it will find much to inte-
rest as well as to inform. There are descriptions of
the manners and customs of the colonists, and the
zoology, botany, and mineralogy of the country.
Much practical advice to emigrants is also give n,
though little is said of sheep and cattle farming,
which subject, as the writer justly observes, has
already been treated of by others. The great differ-
ence between Australia and this climate is not per-
haps generally known. The following account is
interesting, as realising the distinction
" Almost everything in nature is, in Australia, th
reverse of what it is here. When we have winter the
have summer ; when we have day they have night ; w
have our feet pressing nearly opposite to their feet.
There, too, the compass points to the south ; the sun
travels along the northern heavens ; the mercury of the
barometer rises with a southerly and falls with a northerly
wind. The plumage of the birds is beautiful, their notes
are harsh and strange ; the swans are black, the eagles
are white; the moles lay eggs, and the owls screech and
hoot only in the day time ; the cuckoo's song is he and
only in the night ; the valleys are cool, the mountain
tops are warm ; the north winds are hot, the south win ds
tfun re his(the mdouuetkh
are cold ; the east winds are healthy ; the bees are with-
out sting ; the cherries grow with the stone outside ;
stead
ofof tahetobni;ides has a broomer another
creature bil-
leted platypus) unites with the body, fur, and habits
of a mole, the webbed foot and bill of a duck. Many
of the beautiful flowers are without smell ; most of the
trees are without shade, and shed their bark instead of
their leaves ; some indeed are without leaves, in others
the leavesthe co are vetrrtical ; and even the geological forma-
, tion of uny as far as ascertained, is most
singular."

There is an account given in the first chapter of
the early discoveries, and the years in which they
were made. There are also two illustrations, on
representing the town of Adelaide, the other gimme
g
a plan of Sununerhill and Lewis Pond Creeks.

EXHIBITION OF POULTRY.—The entries -which have
already been made to the Poultry Exhibition, at the
Portman-square Bazaar, next week, are stated to amount
to nearly 2,000 pens of specimens. The show of poul-
try will be divided into 51 classes, consisting of Spanish
fowls, Cochin China fowls (cinnamon, buff, brown and
partride-feathered, brown or white), Dorking fowls
(single combed, double or rose combed or white), Malay
fowls, game fowl (white and piles, black breasted, and
other reds, blacks, and brassy-winged, except greys,
duckwings, and other greys and blues), gold. pencilled
Hamburgh specimens, golden-spangled Hamburgh,
silver-spangled Hamburgh, Poland fowl (black
with white crests, golden with ruffs or beards,
silver with ruffs or beards), bantams and any other breeds,
geese and ganders, ducks (Aylesbury drakes and ducks,
Rouen drakes and ducks, Muscovy drakes and ducks),
turkeys and guinea fowl. The pigeon classes are thusdi:
vided—Pouters and croppers, carriers, dragons,d almond,,,
tumblers, short-faced mottles, short-faced b?.l
shoer!
short-faced beards, short-faced tumblers, Jacebuitneers,,
good
nuns, turbits, fantails, barbs, magpies, small pouters,
beards,
feathered flying bald heads, good feathaetreder:lerigng tum-
blers feathered flying mottles, good feathered h
be nine classes
and
biers and foreign birds. There are
white, yellow
andwhite,
rabbits, viz., long ears, blackd and
to be
_
• rabbits' ... "
, white,
~ rrhgryprize;
The ob-
jectbwehsittes,elfttlooisuershaenlld,
fboroluiegoan
breeds of poul-
awarded consist of medals
the various
of the club is to improve.
eh of English farm-yard
t oft , and to render this Urn
d valuable feature than it
producery' a more imp'rq/suctonantry. The regulations of
has hitherto been inttlu
and sums of Money.
high condition, beauty of plumage,
the club state
is to be considered as a point of
;il.l3will be preferred above mere weight,
only that are remarkable for their
merit in those 1p apish
Dorking, Malay, and Cochin
awnhdi
op. ulraitttyeroforic.elieys
size, as the Spa
F A HALF CEXTURY F.
FRUITS 0
-•- ifty years ago
THE
boats were unknown
—now there are 3,000 afloat
nem;
erican waters alone. In 1800 there was not a
China."
single railway in the world—now there are 10,000 miles
in the United States, and about 22,000 in America and
England. Half a century ago it took some weeks to
convey news from Washington to New Orleans. Fifty
years ago the most rapid printing-press was worked by
hand power—now steam prints 20,000 papers an hour
on a single press. Now is a great fellow, but will be
much bigger half a century hence.—Philadelphia Ledger-
It is stated in a Sligo paper that it is the intention of
Mr. Wynne, the under secretary,
to proceed to the
Continent for enm. 44 r___ ki_ _ ,

The Marquis of Chandos having declined to relinquish
his seat for Buckingham, Mr. - Dudley M. Perceval, of
Christ Church, will be put in nomination to-day, in op-
position to Mr. Gladstone. The poll will be kept open
to-morrow and Thursday, and from the numerous pro-
mises of support, there is every probable hope that Mr.
Perceval will be,returned. We therefore, once more most
earnestly entreat every member of Convocation to attend
at Oxford, and record his vote as soon as possible.—
Morniv Herald.

LIMERICK COUNTY. "
Wednesday week, the 12th instant, has been fixed by
the High Sheriff for the election in the oounty of Lime-
rick, rendered necessary by Mr. Monsell's acceptance of
office as Clerk of the Ordnance. The office is one which
has hitherto been filled by a military gentleman, and
Mr. Monsell is the first Roman catholic Who has been
appointed to it since the revolution of 16SS. Judging
from the fact that he has escaped the attacks of all the
party organs one may conclude that Mr. Monsell's ap-
pointment is not an unpopular one.

Bentley's Miscellany.—The readers of Bentley's
Miscellany will be charmed with its good appear-
ances and fair promises for the new year. Albert
Smith, in a few pleasant lines of introduction, tells
us that twelve years ago he made his literary debut
in the pages of this magazine. He now is to be,
not the editor exactly, but an occasional contribu-
tor and superintendent. He gives us this month
a capital sketch from his portfolio de voyage,
" Brown, a Travelling Sketch." Mr.. Shirley
Brooks, who, some littl time since, related to the
readers of Punch the history of "Miss 'Violet and
her Offers," commences a tale, "Aspen Court : and
who lost and who won it," which is illustrated by
Leech. We cannot say much for the lines "On
the Funeral of the Duke of Wellington." " The
History of a Heart," an allegorical poem, is very
happily conceived and beautifully executed. "Who's
your Friend ?" is an amusing sketch, and the few
pages relating to the Countess of Lovelace will be
perused with interest. A portrait of this lady is
contained in the Miscellany. Professor Creasy has
commenced a history of the Imperial Four—Alex-
ander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and Napoleon.
" Society and Letters in 1853," is worthy of atten-
tive perusal.

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock.
THE LONDON GAZETTE.

(THIS EVENING.)

MASTER OF THE HORSE'S OFFICE, DEC. 30.
The Queen has been pleased to appoint the Righ Ho-
nourable John George Brabazon, Earl of Bessborough, to
be Master of her Majesty's Buck Hounds, in the room of
the Right Honourable James Alexander, Earl of Rosalyn,
resigned.
The Queen has also been pleased to appoint the Honour-
able Alfred Paget (commonly called Lord Alfred Paget), to
be Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal to her Majesty, in the
room of the Right Honourable Charles John Lord Colville,
of Culross, resigned.