The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-15 00:00:00

inspired oracles, would never have been fools

enough to say aught against the Austrian system of
Government. But cannot M. Von Raumer see
the monstrous injustice:of a foreign state presuming
to control communal affairs in Italy ? That it
seldom refuses to confirm elections is nothing!; it is
its power to interfere at all in such matters that is
the crying grievance. On the subject of education
our author is unusually prolix. He strives hard to
show that Austria is generous and enlightened in
this instance, but, notwithstanding his solicitude to
make out a strong case in her favour, he is com-
pelled to admit indirectly,—for the recollection of
the " hour and a half's conversation," prevents him
from boldly speaking the truth—that " the geo-
graphy and history of the Austrian monarchy are
among the chief studies insisted on ; and that
" Greek is thrown too much in the back•-ground."
Of course, because it is the language of manhood
and republican freedoin, and therefore unsuited to
the interests of a despotic government. In order
to verify his assertion that the principal Italian sea-
ports, Trieste especially, have thriven under Aus-
trian surveillance, M. Von Raumer enters into
several statistical statements—conceived in the
pettiest spirit of Utilitarianism—to prove that a
few more ships seek that port now, than sought it
ten or twelve years ago. And these small chand-

lees-shop details, he thinks, are conclusive of the
matter ! The social welfare of the peasantry ; the
spread of intelligence among the influential classes ;
the advantages of good laws, and well-regulated in-
stitutions ;—these are questions which he scorns to
discuss while treating of Italy under Austrian
domination, but is perfectly satisfied that she is
happy and thriving, because some of her ports con-
tain more ships now, than they did in 1830 I
\Ye- here take leave of M. Von Raumer, and care not
how long it be ere we again meet with him in print.
His volumes are penned in a spirit wholly unworthy
of a liberal-minded man, and are utterly at variance
with all that preceding travellers have told us on

the subject of Italy. The spirit suggested by the
" hour and a hail's conversation " pervades every
portion of them, except when the subject of the
Fine Arts is discussed, and then, ceasing to be
political, the author becomes simply shallow and
prosy.

BROTHER JONATHAN; or, THE SMART-
EST NATION IN ALL CREATION.
Cunningham, St. Martin's place.
We have received the fourth number of this series
of professedly impartial, but evidently exaggerated,
if not actually burlesqued pictures of American so-
ciety and manners. The illustrations by Robert
Cruikshank are clever and comical, and the edito-
rial notes of " Paul Patterson," contain some cu-

rious and interesting matter. The adventures of
Mr. Hugo Playfair (the author's Pickwick) are,
it is said, founded upon facts, and his observations
those which have really been made by an impartial
traveller. Making a large allowance for the con-
stant efforts at drollery—sometimes very happy and
humorous, ?out often overstrained—there is much
internal evidence throughout that the statement is
not untrue. The author seems desirous of main-
taining the character of " Fairplay, and, notwith-
standing his obvious prejudices on the Bank ques-
tion, the '6 workies,” pourtrays some of the
more amiable features of American character and
society with warmth and sincerity. We find a
remarkable and pleasing instance of this in his de-
scription of American courtship (first page of No.
4), which concludes thus—" Here lies the founda-
tion of that domestic quiet,virtue, and harmony which
generally prevails in families over most parts of the
United States." The description of the President's
Levees at Washington, and of the Debates in the
Senate, although, we must think, considerably over-
ably
over-
drawn, are interesting as well as ludicrous ; and the
sketches of the most prominent statesmen and ora-
mtoursc,ha
allowancend their
for party
prejudice—are
drawn, and
instructive. The number is, on the whole, a de-
cided improvement on its predecessors ; and if the
author keep a little more within bounds in his ca-
ricature, we may look for much useful information
as well as entertainment in the sequel.