The Sun.
London, England, 1836-05-07 00:00:00

TAI T' S MAGAZINE.

The reviews in this Number are—as they always
have been, by the bye—admirably written and digested.
The critic does not yield to the very natural tempta-
tion of showing off himself at the expense of his au-
thor, but brings out all the latter's good points, and
places them fully before the reader. Of such order of
criticism are the notices of " Random Recollections of
the House of Lords," and " 11 aumer's England in
1835 ;" which are profuse in their extracts, and not
overlaid with extraneous observation. The article on
" the National Debt," is as heavy as its subject, which
besides has been so often, and so minutely and elabo-
rately discussed, that it is impossible for even the most
ingenious statistic writer to impart to it the slightest
novelty. The gloss has been worn off' the theme, for
twenty years and upwards. " State of Agriculture
is a more seasonable subject, and is treated in a dis-
passionate and argumentative manner. The writer
does not join in the Chandos cry of agricultural dis-
tress, observing,
" We very confidently state it as our opinion, that there is
not the slightest cause for alarm regarding the present state
of agriculture in this country. It has been, for the last cen-
tury, at least, rapidly and steadily progressive, and never was
making more rapid staides than at this present moment, not-
withstanding low prices, and exorbitant rents. The land-
owners seem determined not to submit to a reduction of their
rent-rolls until driven to the last extremity ; but yield they
must, and the longer reduction is withheld, the more seriously
ultimately will the loss prove to themselves. We do not
mean to assert that among some classes of farmers, there is
not distress ; but that distress their landlords can alone remove.
The pastoral districts, on the other hand, were never in so
flourishing a state. On extensive estates in the Highlands,
equal in size to some of the English counties, there is not a
farthing of arrears of rent."

" The See ! the See !" is a parody on a late popular
song, by Haynes Bailey. It affects to be humorous,
but is a very dull, heavy, serious affair. William
Howitt's " Appeal to the Society of Friends at the
present Crisis " contains, like all this sturdy Reformer's
prose writings, some blunt, useful truths. We like
Friend Howitt. He speaks the truth boldly, and has
no notion of mincing matters. We have not forgotten
his admirable book on " Priestcraft," which rung a
startling peal—a regular triple bob-major--in the ears
of the pluralists, and threw two Archdeacons into
hysterics. " Signs of the Times" is a shrewd essay,
by one who is gifted with keen observant faculties.
The Number is an excellent one.

A SUMMER IN SPAIN. Smith. London. 1 836

A pleasant, sketchy book, of no great literary pre-
tensions however, for the author is rather an easy
gossip, than a keen observer. Here and there we find
some picturesque bits of description, as, for instance,
where the author sketches the customs and peculiarities
of the " chapelgorries." The book will serve well
enough to pass away an idle half hour or so.

His Majesty's cutter Quail is not, we hear from
good authority, to be repaired; but her commander is likely to
be appointed to a brig. Vast numbers of people have visited
the wreck at Portsmouth, and expressed great surprise at the
escape, which they consider little short of a miracle.
THE WEATHER.-Notwithstanding the coldness
and backwardness of the Spring, the wheats in this county—
as appears generally to be the case over the kingdom—look
well. The Cuckoo has been repeatedly heard during the past
week in this neighbourhood.— Whitehaven Herald.
The Aberdeen Herald records an instance of fanati-
cal intolerance of a most disgraceful character. Sir William
Seton, a saintly youth, stands forth as the persecutor of the
Rev. Charles Gordon, a Roman Catholic clergyman, whose
name he moved should be struck off the list of directors of a
charitable institution, simply because the Rev. Gentleman's
creed differed from that piofessed by Sir William.
THE SLAVE TRADE.—" We learn," says the
Comic'. Francais, "that a convention for the suppression of
the slave trade has just been signed by the Minister for Fo-
reign Affairs and the Swedish Minister, who on Friday sent it
off by express to Stockholm." _

Let the summer come when it will, the harvest must
of necessity be this year very late, which will probably tend to
enhance the price of Wheat, by the near exhaustion of the
stock in hand. Backward springs are, however, generally the
forerunners of productive autumns.
On Saturday last a deputation from the Corporation,
consisting of the Lord Mayor, Sir Kingston James, Mr. Sheriff
Drummond, and William Long, Esq., left for London, for
the purpose of attending. the House of Lords during the pro-
gress of the Irish Munic►pal Bill in Committee, and, if ne-
cessary, of being heard by Counsel against the extinction of
Corporate rights.—Dublin .Evening Mail.