The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-21 00:00:00

MORN.] NG. ,t 1 f'y 1,110.N_

L ITE RA T U it E.

EDINBURGH REVIEW, No. 146.
Longman, London 1841.
Colonel Napier's History of the Peninsular
which has been so severely attacked by the or:111;e
of the Tory party, because it exposed the errors of
their policy as regards Spain and Portugal during
Moore 's and Wellington's campaigns in those coun-
tries, forms the subject of the first notice in the .‘
present number of the Edinburgh Review. A
highly favourable opinion is expressed of the Gal-
lant Colonel's history, of which the Reviewer says
The work comes before us both as a work of ad
and a testimony ; it might fail in the one capacity, yet
retain all its value in the other ; but if it justly dial'
lenge our admiration in both characters, then will it
take its tank in after times with those few but precious
records of antiquity, wherein the writer was an actor
as. well as historian. Judging the work as 3
testimony, we find that it brings before us a newt
correct, and striking view of a series of transactions
of importance, equalling any that are recorded in the
story e,f mankind. Looking at it as a work of art,
it demands our admiration as a clear, net'
vous, and interesting narrative, enriched with
profound and original disquisitians on the
art with which the author is peculiarly con'
versant, viz. that of war, and of which the
campaigns he de: cribcs afford unequalled illustra'
tions." This is great, and not unmerited, praise
but we must protest against the remark that the
historian relates "a. series of transactions of inn'
portancc, equalling any that are recorded in the
story of mankind." The Peninsular war could of
course only have been of such importance, with re.
ference to its effects on the colossal power of Na.
poleon, and thereby on the destinies of Europe
but it was a mere episode in the great struggle'
which was not decided in Spain and Portugal, het,
among the snows of Russia, and on the field of
Leipsic. Had Napoleon never invaded the Czar 'e
dominions, or, even subsequently to that disastrous
event, had he been able to maintain his ground in
Germany, and beat back the Allies ; the 13ritish
campaigns in the Peninsula, however successful'
would have had but little influence on his fortunes;
Spain and Portugal would indeed have been rescued
from his iron grasp, but he would still have been 8
mighty conqueror, with the greatest and fairest
portion of Europe at his feet. In hastily runnilig,
over some of the leading events in the Duke °'
Wellington's Peninsular campaigns, the Reviewer
observes of his Grace that " the very safety of Eng'
land, brought to imminent hazard by the ignorance
and vices of faction,and of factious Ministers, depend.
cd on the fortitude, sagacity, and good fortune of one
man alone—and that man was the Duke of Wel'
lington, who directing, and being assisted by, the
indomitable courage and energy of an Enlt
army, and favoured, too, by the fortune whichoha'
deserted the great captain of the age, saved us freer
disgrace and ruin, and brought the bloody contest
to a successful issue." On the " Life and Gelling'
of Rubens," is a criticism on the paintings of this
great artist, whose splendid colouring and fertilit;
of invention are dwelt on with special emphasis'
The remark that " his notions of the human figer
in both sexes were so biassed in favour of Flemish
exuberance, as to render them very unfit vehicle'
aalb "
for the representation of refined sentiment, digniuto
passion, or pathos,' will be corroborated by al
are familiar with the paintings of Itt hag'
"Wrongs and Claims of Indian Commerce" is
well considered statistic article, in which, after red'
commending that a fair proportion of the hr(4,l
current, of British enterprise should be direete
to the shores of the east, to which end the
diffusion of popular information is the first
requisite," the Reviewer insists that the amend' e
went of the laws under which lands ars
sold for the recovery of arrears of revenue, rshs
measure indispensable alike for the security 0' t",if
public resources, and to give safety and facilitY
transfer, and warmly urges its adoption, " with°ll,
loss of time," by the Indian Legislature. "1.4°,
hart's Ancient Spanish Ballads" is a review °'('
„
delightful little work published many years sg
and lately republished. In this criticism we are
assured, and the observation is a just one, that t
tj
translator 's has caught the emphatic feature, %lie
has in so doing combined sufficient fidelity in d
copy without losing the freedom and unconstrain
flow of his original, which he has frequently o,',
proved by a judicious pruning." " Effects of t'Ll
Protective System," enters into this often-discuss,
luee,u,:i dr considerable length, and advocates jig',
alia a thorough reformation of the policy of Pr°, I
tection, the Reviewer contending that " onlessi,
decided change shall take place, our manufaeturl
interest will be placed in the most imminent J,,efi;
pardy." On the " Financial State of the
Roads" is another article, exclusively of a;placll,-a1
character, and is penned in a just and 01°,1'1.'0
spirit. Of " France and the East" we Shall
present say nothing, as we shall probably take
early opportunity of canvassing the question of
another part of The Sun. " Comic JJramatiets
the Restoration" is a lively, ingenious essaYt.P.eo
vaded by a sound and healthy tone of criticism
and morals. We quote a passage or two,
spirit of which we cordially agree, and whte-roje
fl
suggested by the 'grant indecencies of the CO
writers of the days of Charles the Second ,03
" Dryden defends d or excused his own offences t ;Is
those of his contemporaries, by pleading the exej;gb
of the earlier English dramatists ; and Mr. Pei;e,
Hunt scents to think that there is force in the Pro
We altogether differ front this opinion. The er.ips
charged is not mere coarseness of expression. ie
terms which are delicate in one age, become grt)s',l3o
the next. The diction of the English version o'f ,Ol
Pentateuch, is sometimes such as Addison would and
have ventured to imitate ; and Addison, the stse":o
of purity in his own age, used many phrases which td
now proscribed. Whether a thing shall be designs
by a plain noun-substantive, or by a eircumlocutief'ir
mero matter of fashion. Morality is not at atil
terested in the question. But morality is deer,' -IA
terested in this—that what is immoral shall eft s,
presented to the imagination of' the young and",lle,
ceptible in constant connexion with what is attrac,/,is
For every person who has observed the operation of
law of association in his own mind, and in the ininui to
others, knows, that whatever is constantly present
the imagination in connexion with what is attracts 0,
will commonly itself become attractive. There is bet
doubtedly a great deal of indelicate writing in Flee 0
and Messinger ; and more than might be wished el r
in Ben Janson and Sitakspearc, who are comparatisenf
pure. But it is impossible to trace in their plays.
systematic systematic attempt to associate vice with those tP l i
which men value most and desire most, and virtue 0
everything ridiculous and degrading. And seciil.
systematic attempt we find in the whole dramatic 'l.Ol.
raturc of the generation which followed the return
Charles the Second."

FIRE AT BERMONDSEY.—Yesterday
abut four, a destructive fire broke out on the Pre'lPer
occupied by Mr. Witcher, tallow-melter, Crucific-lathe
Bermondsey. It appears that the fire originated re
warehouse, but from what cause cannot at present be 0,
certained. From the early hour at which the fire eesih
merited, and from the inflammable nature of the mat
the flame had attained a terrific ascendancy
before
red,
assistance could be rendered, or any engines had arriead
On their arrival the firemen immediately cornMeli.de•
operations, and, having a plentiful supply of water, the
ceeded, by great exertions, in confining the fire Teta
area in which it commenced, the adjoining buildings %tot
but partially injured, but it was not till nearly bsi7rteo
seven o'clock that the fire was got under—even
bgeb
o'clock the firemen were still playing on the ruins. 7 gr,
emitted vast columns of smoke. The whole 01 hoot •
Wileber's extensive warehouse, covering a space Of Duos
a quarter of an acre, is completely destroyed, merelYtio.
bare walls of the dwellinge-house are left standing. 0
fortturatei)v.se very valuable cart-horse was burnt t'4,130
cinder, although every effort was made to save it. tie,
greater portion of the valuable stock of raw and ineenrhe
tured tallow, &c., has become a prey to the flarnes• sod
brewery and store-house belonging to Messrs. Ce%roi.
Mr. Harrison, the woolstapler's, warehouse, were c°ttod-
derably injured, and some damage done to the sur" scot
ing buildings. The amount of damage cannot at PI! oa•
be estimated, but is supposed to exceed 4,0001. It is
derstood the parties arc all insured.
AMERICAN SINGING.,—" The 01
Mill," by Russell, is published by Prentiss.(Le‘riV-willi i 1
Mill,"
properly sung you can hear the water fall and the
move.—Boston Post.
hli
ANCIENT CONCERTS.—The sAventy-fifth
son of the Queen's Concerts of Ancient Music will
COto-
mence on the 10th of March, and the rest of the Pen: 21st
sores will take place as follow :—March 246, April., .th
and 28th, May sth, 12th, 19th, and 26.1 n The Jue""'tho
will be performed on the 2d of June, which will close
seas,n. fi ell/
HAYDN'S NATAL DAY.—It has been rtsta.
settled that Ha3dn's magnificent composition, The 1.
sons, shall be performed by the Professional Cber,,a
ciety on the 31st of March, being the natal day of the
mortal author, who was born in 173'2. ore'
A LOUISIANA LESION.—We have been ibe
sented with a noble specimen of the lemon, raised 071 air,
plantation of M. Foideveau, at Atthkapas, in the °Pebo
which for size and flavour equals anything that ce!?:ebee
desired. It measures in circumference seventeen two
one way, and the other eighter n inches. Its weightlf4o
pounds fourteen ounces; it is estimated to make a
of good puncb.—.LQuistaha Advertiser.