The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-03 00:00:00

„LITEBATURE. •
;WE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF A GRICUL-

TURE,
We recommend to our agricultural readers
" Sketches in Normandy," which give the latest
and-best account of one of the finest provinces
in France. They are in general the results of
personal observation, or founded on reports made
by the Association of Normandy, which was in-
stiti.ted for the purpose of obtaining the most
authentic. information on the productions of the
country, the breeding of cattle, fisheries, woods,
plantations, &c. In statistical details our French
neighbours excel, but in agricultural improve-
nients, and in breeding cattle they are, sadly de-
ficient. A perusal of this description of Nor-
Inandy, which takes the lead of all the rest in
these reports, will soon 'convince the reader of
the tlict. The article " Oil the Utility and Ini-
Portance of Science to Agriculture," by Mr.
'rowers, may be read with advantage. The lid-
lowing remarks on the Corn-laws, in such a work
will rather surprise such men as the Duke of
Iluct.:ngbam and Lord Western :-
- A perfix,tly impartial speculator, loving and admiring
everything connected with the glorious productions of
nature, and educated to no other profession than that of
Pure chzmistry, I see in the workings of the Corn-laws
11" thing, but strife, discordance of opinion, and evil-work-
irq; jealousy. I discover no • beneficial equability of
prices, no remuneratory profits,—but great, deceptive,
and ruinous fluctuations. Bence-I would reduce them
t" a mere by-word,—a, thing below debate or argument ;
ot by the partial free-trade alluded to by Mr. liannam
to /Ce third paragraph of p. 461, but by exalting the
%elen° of Agriculture to a power of prolificity, which
should, as; bethre observed, render all foreign interfe-
rence or supply an affair of mere possible contingency.

- -
TEE STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF SCOT
LAND.
Number Thirty-one contains part of the county
(3,,,, lnverness and three parishes in Ayrshire.
The description of the latter, which in general
are fertile and well sheltered, forms a wonderful
Contrast with that of the parishes in the North,
which probably are the most barren and bleak
in Scotland. The inhabitants in general are ex-
tremely
poor, but little skilled in agriculture,
andoften exposed to severe famine. Among the
t% ester!' Isles this is particularly the case. In
PlauY of these the common buildings or dwell-
-Ings of the peasantry are of the most miserable
description ; the wall is formed of loose un-
tyessed stone without mortar, the centre being
tilled up with earth, roofed with turf and straw,
and bound together by heather rope. There are
Ilyither windows 'tor chimneys, and in one end of
these miserable huts the family live, with their
Fcrws and horses. in the other. In one parish,
11.(quiries were made, when the cholera raged in
the neighbourhood, as to the condition of the
euPle, and it was fbund that there were one
oinked and forty families who had-no change
"'light or day clothes. Notwithstanding these
painful details., however, the accounts of these
"'dd districts possess considerable interest.
From the Statistical Account of Kilmuir,
Isle
of
SkSe, we extract the following graphic de-
scription
Miss FLORA MACDONALD.—The story of the heroic
Ziwinet of Miss Flora Macdonald in conducting the un-
ithrtno,te
Charles, in the disguise pf a maid-servant, from
k e Long Island to Monkstadt, in this parish, is so well
nown that any detail of it here is unnecessary.
f lanY were the trials and severe the hardships which
jl`l to the lot of the gallant Miss Flora, subsequent to
as adventure. She was soon seized and brought pri-
nt'" to London, where she was, with Kingsburgh, and
lany others, confined in the Tower. All admired the
ttatintless part which she had tided, and her case excited
:u'it"l.leh interest. that she-was. visited by the great and
-14.4)1" of the land. Amongst the rest, she had the honour
r
°,l a visit from Prince Frederick of Wales, great-grand-
%tile of her present Majesty Queen Victoria. This
generous
prince was so much struck with the simplicity
and dignity of the fair prisoner's character, that he
interested Himself to procure her liberation. When she
had Obtained her freedom, she found refuge in the house
e Lady Primrose, of l)unnipace, where she was visited
and loaded with honours bydistinguished personages of
all ranks and shades of politics. Returning to her native
L
and, she was married in the month of November,
,V,50, to Allan, son of Mr. Alexander Macdonald, of
"•,'",,-.,"sburgh, who resided at the time of his marriage at
euatigarry, in this parish. Upon the death of her hus-
uand's father, his son, Allan,•succeeded him, and Flora,
then Mrs. Allan Macdonald, became lady of the mansion
• "`,' IC-ing-sburirli. She afterwards went. to North Carolina
with her husband, where he took part in the civil war
*hieli then disturbed the peace of that country. After
Undergoing amany hardships in that quarter, they deemed
itPruntlo return to
,Skye. The vessel in which they
galled from America was met by a French privateer, and
an action took place, in which Flora-appeared- on deck,
where, with her wonted magnanimity, she inspired the
4i,ainen with courage, and assured them of success.
Adthough her arm was broken in the engagement, yet
her native spirit of heroism was not in the least degree
!lautped. She' never more left Skye. She had seven Ail-
ils`ll, live sons and two daughters, besides some who died
; her sons were officers, who distinguished
in the service ►
of their king and country. Her
, on the other hand, became officers' wives.
died ta the lady of Major Alexander Macleod, and
soc„ril" Stein,i in this island, about six years ago. Her
Dot (laughter, Frances, was married to Lieutenant
ulnu d Macdonald, of Cuiderach. Of this interesting
,vo
none are now alive. The celebrated Flora lived
rnat "44vaneed period of life, and retained to the hist
sitilytteity of character, and that amiableness of dispo-
stjaJl, hy which she was always distingished. On the
of March, 1790, she departed this life, little more
two years before the death of her husband. Her
“quains were interred in the burying-ground of this
within a square piece of coarse wall, which was
!!'eted about the year 1766, to enclose the tombs of the
!kingsbuirgh family. Her funeral, it is said, was attended
_l7 no fewer than 3 000 individuals, of every rank and
and all were liberally served with refreshments.

A VICTIONARY OF SCIENCE, LITERA-

,i TURE, AND ART.
The Fifth Part of this excellent work has DT-
I, :Peal'', and among other interesting articles,
• 2et'utants one on Geology, which enters into the
.liiib,Jec• ,
t at
i :,. ettla k length, and displays great research
. newledge of this useful science'. it is in-
-trsPersed with little wood-cuts, some of which
• ,re well executed, such as the granite-blocks
iarLiskeard, called the Cheesewriv, the singular
e luster of rocks at Hillswickness, and Fingal-I's
c
I '4re• ' The writer at the same time gives au
, 'eeeunt of the causes of earthquakes and vol-
""es, together with historical descriptions of
r :11e most. remarkable on record. The articles on
•.. `Her °xi -7;
I ‘(-ir 't., ". "Measurement of Heights,' and
aldry," contain a great deal of infbruaation.
Word "Guillotine," we find an account of Joseph
411 ace Guillotine, which contains sonic facts not
; generally known. He was a physician at Paris,
ju.,, Deputy t,, the National Assembly, and a man
'''. great humanity. From the best motives he
r r"
( )11 arrle u d e d the introduction of a machine
which had been long known in Italy under the
c 'tile of "Mannaja," in Scotland under the name
Ilt., the "Maiden," and which had been us Al in
i ,ligland within the jurisdiction of Halifax.
f „,'.e. was not the inventor, nor did he perish by
',1,44 instrument, as many have supposed. He
as imrisoned during the Reign of Terror, but
released at the Revolution of July, 1794, and
i
i'termed
in 1814, after founding the association
the Academy of Medicine.
r•
. !
.;;•... 1 • _ .D

ÜBLIN UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE.
The present " Portrait Gallery"—which is an
excellent
feature in this periodical—comprises a
ni'f length portrait, accompanied by a biographi-
t4l memoir, of the Rev. Dr. Miller, the well-
ailown author of the " Philosophy of History."
isktnong the contributors, we find as usual Charles
).Iralley, whose military reminiscences, abound-
-411g) as they do, in startling and whimsical inci-
tint, are infinitely more entertaining than any
4,ling in Mr. Gleig's over-rated "Subaltern."
A few Words On the Crisis" is clever, so far as
.ere manner goes', but we strenuously protest
utn
Igniost the political opinions broached in it, and
:nre especially do we deny the truth of the
triter'; hasty remark, that the " financial ditli-
ri_es of England assumed their shapes, ifthey did
,"t originate in, the Reform Bill." Never was
1
o. ere a more untenable pro Position than this.

SMALL WOOD'S MAGAZENTE.
a hazardous thing for any living poet to
attempti continuation of Christabel, yet here
we find it attempterl by a lady, named Stuart,
who has acquitted herself more successfully than
We could have anticipated. Tier, versification.
Possesses much of the flexibility and melody of
Coleridge; but the poem is deficient in that wild
and startling imagery which form so conspicuous
a feature of the original Christabel. We have,
however, seen far worse imitations. In the ela-
borate essay on " Philosophy in its relation with
Christian Intellectualism," a more than average
amount of historical reading is exhibited to but
little purpose, fur it is chiefly the lighter order
Of literature that is patronized by the readers of
Periodicals. The " Dentist of Frankfort" keeps
up with undiminished spirit. on the whole, the
Number is a good one.

POLYTECHNIC JOURNAL,
This Magazine, which is devoted to art,
science, and general literature—a comprehensive
l'ange—contains, in its present Number, an inte-
* estifle; account of the present state of the poly-,
chnic schools in Germany and France, in both
-which countries these usefu linstitutions are, it
Bctems, making rapid headway.