The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-02 00:00:00

LITER4TURE.

ENGLAND'S COLONIAL EMPIRE, an Histori-
cal, Political, and Statistical Account of the Empire,
its Colonies and Dependencies. By Charles Pridham,
Esq., 8.A., F.&G.S. Pol. 1. The Mauritius- and
its Dependencies;
The author of :this volume has undertaken a gigan-
tic task. He proposes to give the history of past and
present of all the43ritisb Colonies, to enter minutely
into the statistics of each Colony, and by bringing
together from every available source, every species of
information relating to the subject of which he treats,
to produce a work that shall "accurately describe
the components of an Empire, that considered
in any point '•of view is as unrivalled for
its grandeur and its fame as for the 'spirit
of wisdom and justice, by which its affairs are
administered." Such a work. has long been a desidera-
tum, and judging from the manner in which Mr.
Pridham has performed that portion of his task,
which relates to. the Mauritius and dependencies,
treated of in the volume now under consideration,
we are inclined to the opinion that the task could
not have been undertaken by any one more able or
more willing to do full justice to the subject. He
. .

opens with a description of the geographical position
d extent of the Mauritius, and then gives a minute

account of its history doAn to the close of 1845 ; the
list incident narrated being the joint attack upon
Tamatave by the French and English. From Mr.
Pridharn's account, it would appear, that for the
hostility of the Ovahs, we are indebted to the
eidtnte cordiale the (halls finding the English so

constantly aiding, or, at all events permitting, French
aggression, naturally confounded the commerce-
loving English with the conquest-loving French,
and we have suffered accordingly from keep-
ing bad company. Sir IV. Gomm, after the at
tack on Tamatave, ordered a survey of the whole
coast to be made:—

" In one of his descents, the English officer was met
in a deprecatory tone by. the Ovahs, who assured him
that it was far from their intention- to insult or oppress
the English, and that they would never have experienced
such treatment had they not conceived that his country-
'man had combined with the French, who had always
squght to overthrow their independence, in a design fur
die subjugation of the island."
It, would, perhaps, be as well :that the disposition of
tl Ovahs towards England should be tested, and
that, if found friendly, a treaty should be entered
itttq with them, and, if necessary, British protection
tiAttnded to them. This is the more necessary when
IR bear in mind the disposition to aggression which
the French have constantly exhibited ever since the
Island of Bourbon was restored to them. An in-
rriice of this spirit of encroachment is given by Mr.
dham. The Island of Amsterdam and St. Paul's
}Ave always been considered as dependencies Of the
Mauritius :

," Recently, however, some merchants of Bourbon,
sensible of their value as fishing stations, and knowing
that the surrounding seas abounded in cod of the best
-quality (they having caught, with a limited supply of
labour, 1,200 fish daily, and expecting, with their pre-
sent means, to increase their catch to 2,000, and thus
supply the Bourbon market with salt cod, the principal
food of the negroes in that colony), induced the Go-
vernor of Bourbon to declare-these isles dependencies of
that island, and have occupied them with a number of
negroes, who are superintended by Europeans, that are,
in their turn, directed by a Pole. This person has had
the,effrontery to forbid British and American vessels
from fishing in the neighbourhood, and assumed the
protection of French colours. The conduct of the Go-
vernor of Bourbon has, it is true, been censured by the
Minister of Marine, and the permission to use the na-
tional flag has been withdrawn, the style being changed,
and a blue edging been substituted; but those who are
familiar with the history of French aggression, from the
time of their intrigues in Acadia to the present day, will
not fail to remember that they ever make the acts of in-
dividuals the cloak of national aggrandisement, for the
quasi claim of the former being permitted to become
prescriptive by lapse of time, is presently superseded by
that of the nation, which cannot so well be resisted.
The design of the Governor of Bourbon in seizing on an
island of so little importance would be incomprehensible,
did n6t the recent movements of France to recover her
lost ground in this ocean furnish a key to the mystery.
I apprehend also that the honour of Great Britain is as
much compromised by this intrusion, trivial as it may
appear, as it would be in a case where the stake was
greater, nor is it a mark of foresight to permit any other
than her own people to occupy islands which will be-
come yearly of greater importance, as the trade with
our Australian possessions is augmented."
Having given the history of the island, Mr. Prid-
ham next proceeds to treat of the manners and cus-
toms of the inhabitants. He then enters minutely
into the physical history of the island, its Zoology,
Botany, Geology, and climate and diseases.
'He then treats at great length of its agricul-
ture and its commerce, of its ports and har-
harbours, and lastly of its government and literature.
The concluding chapter is devoted to the history of
the Dependencies of the Mauritius, including the
Seychelles group, Rodriguez and several other smaller
islands, of the importance of the possession of the
Mauritius to the English, and of the value set upon
it by the French to re-possess it, some idea may be
formed from the following passage from the great
work of Abbe Raynal, who says " policy foresees
that if the Isle of France (the Mauritius) were aban-
doned (by the French), the English would drive all
foreign nations out of the seas of Asia, and would
possess themselves of all the riches of those vast
countries. " That the French ardently desire
to re-possess themselves of this island is openly
avowed by many of their political writers,
and that some of the old French colonists

bear but an unwilling allegiance to England
cannot be denied. But these colonists are utterly
powerless. A noble act of justice has secured to us
the possession of the Mauritius. The emancipated
negro and Indian population, are to a man, thoroughly
and completely loyal to England, because it is only
by the maintenance of English supremacy, that negro
and Indian liberty can be secured. With the follow-
ing extract, in which this subject is fully discussed,
we must conclude our notice of this work. One of
the few published during the course of 1846, which
must become a stock work of reference and authority—
If there be any external cause of alarm from any
power in the world, as respects the tenure of our Indian
empire (which may reasonably admit of doubt) it must
arise from France alone. If she were in possession of
this island, and her squadrons could escape from blockade
in Europe, or from art intercepting fleet on the passage
and further elude the observation of the Cape squadron,
or overpower it by its superior force and reach the Mau-
ritius, the fleet might be here recruited, and be detached
on predatory excursions (as before) against British com-
merce, or eluding. the Indian squadrons, burst on some
part of the extensive coasts of the peninsula, and landing
troops unite with the disaffected Mussulman. But this
hypothesis being reversed, and the obstacles we have
mentioned being only in part removed, while the advan-
tage to be derived from the• possession of.the Isle of
France should be in the hands of a rival, such an at-
tempt would be indeed hopeless; for granting that Bour-
bon might prove commodious enough (supposing the
difficulties above mentioned to have been overcome) for

the purpose of temporary refreshment, yet it possesses
no port of refuge in tempestuous weather, and could
afford no adequate protection to a fleet which would be
soon attacked by the divisions of several squadrons.
There is little difficulty, moreover, in perceiving that
even these advantages would be denied it ; for the Bri-
tish Government, from its possessing .a monopoly of the
earliest channels of intelligence, would immediately dis-
pose of the question in the event of a war by assuming
the offensive, for which they would be greatly favoured
by their occupation of the Mauritius, and direct an at-
tack against the remaining possessions of France in these
seas, and against such an attack the French have no
effectual means of resistance. Under such circumstances
the situation of a French fleet from Europe (again as-
suming that it would escape the dangers of the passage)
would excite mingled contempt and pity rather than ap-
prehec,sion. Bereft of all means for refitment, where

such means could be readily obtained, without a port,
from which it could derive protection against the ele-
ments, or defend itself in case of an attack, after a steam
or sailing voyage of several thousand miles, such a fleet,
with its weary and despairing crews, would become the
prey rather than the assailant of the first British squa-
dron it might encounter.
" It has been lately urged, that, in the event of an at-
tack on this island by France, no dependence can be
placed on the loyalty and fidelity of the French popula
tion ; but, assuming this to be correct, that population,
compared with the other inhabitants, is only as one-
twelfth, and of that a considerable portion has been de-
tached from any connexion with the chimerical views
entertained by an insatiable clique, of the prospect of this
island ever reverting to France in the event of a war, by
the judicious and conciliatory conduct of the Govern-
ment. Of late years British-born subjects, both as
planters and merchants, have been gradually increasing
in wealth, numbers, and influence ; while the negro and
Indian population are to a man in favour of a govern-
ment on whom alone they are dependent for protection
the slightest semblance, therefore, of treason, from what
quarter soever originating, would meet with the most
condign punishment. Perhaps in none of the British
colonies can any class or section of a community
for good
found
more in the power of a government, good or evil,
than the French population of the Mauritius.
" Admitting, thtn, that many parts of the coast are
assailable, yet the difficulties of a march in such a coun-
try, coupled with the impediments arising from the at-
tacks of the vast irregular army that might be almost,
instantly assembled, would prove next to insuperable ;
while an effectual resistance could be offered by the capi-
tal, till such time as assistance could arrive. But fur-
ther, assuming that by some fortuitous circumstance, at
present out
.of the reach of possibility, France could
make herself master of this island, such mastery would
in the very nature of things prove but temporary, from
her inability (unless she continued to hold the maritime
supremacy in this ocean) to subsist her troops, the island
being dependent on Madagascar for the supply of the
commonest necessaries.
" With respect to recent French aggressions in these
seas, it may be observed, that their aim would appear
to be to secure a footing (which they do not at present
possess) on the main island of Madagascar, and by
creating divisions among the natives to acquire a terri-
tory in the tropics, which may compensate them for
those in which they have been supplanted. Their pre-
sent possessions are Bourbon, Nossi Beh, and St. Mary's
% -
off the eastern coast of Madagascar, and Mayotte, and

some on the north-
west coast. The last possession haa
• not, however, as yet
been recognised by Great Britain, .
other islands of the Como' '
and measures are
said to have been resorted to in its a, icluisition whichdemand inquiry. 'though Mayotta ca. I be of little
benefit to France for the purposes of aggrea. "We or even
defensive warfare, it is useful by its position in relation
to Madagascar for the conduct of intrigues, i4na gives
her the command of the Mosambique Channel.

RAIL WAYS; their Rise, Progress, and Constructib.n.
With Remarks on Railway Accidents, and Proposalslfoi
their PreventioLt. By Robert Ritchie, F.R.S.S.A.,
This is a complete history of the art of railways
making from the first rude attempts at constructing-
"stone wheel tracks" up to the present time. The
author goes into minute details as to the construction
of every variety of rail and of every species of loco-,
motion—discusses the merits of the different species
of sleepers—enters elaborately into the comparative
merits of the gauges, and comments at length on the
advantages and disadvantages of the atmospheric
system of propulson. His classification of railway
accidents according to their causes is judicious, and,
his suggestions for their prevention are worthy of
consideration. His volume is, in fact, a resume of all
that is known at present on the subject of railway
construction and locomotion ; and whoever wishes to.
be au niveau des connoisances aciu,•lles as regards rail-
”y engineering should attentively peruse Ritchie on
rail ways.
TH.

rE BRITISH A L.MAIVie.IND COMPANION

FOR 1847.
This valuable annual still keeps up its high cha--
racter. The Companion contains a vast amount of
valuable information on the Legislative statistics and
public improvements of 1846. The article on the
Progress of Education in England is well written
and well timed; and Mr. Knight has conferred an
obligation on all those who take an interest in the
subject, by his judicious condensation of such a vast
amount of information in so small a cornpa-s.

SPOR'IINti INTELLIGENCE-
HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.
Brighton hrrs., Mon., Patcham ; Wed., Racecourse; Fri.,
Dyke—i to 11.
Brookside hrrs., Mon., Newmarket Hill; Thurs., Tels-
combe-tye-10%.
Crawley and Horsham lids., Mon., the Fox, Three Bridges;
Wed., Clark's Green ' • Fri., Crab Tree—i to 11.
Eastbourne hrrs., Mon., Lighthouse, East Dean; Thurs.,
Snap Hill; Sat.; 'Willingdon Old Mill— to 11.
Earl of Harewood's lids., Mon., Gartorth Bridge; Wed.,
Marston ; Fri., Towton-10i.
Worcestershire hds., Ron., Cotheridge ; Wed., Upton
Snodsbury ; Fri.. Bishop's Wood-10i.
Ludlow lids., Tues., Staunton Lacy ; Fri., Shakruhurst.
Herefordshire lids., the first open day, England Gate.
Shropshire hds., Mon., Mountford Bridge; Wed., Cloverly ;
Fri., Kennels--i to 11.
Wheatland hds., Tues., Weston; Fri., Willey Park-10i.
East Essex lads., Tues., Bellchamp Bells; Thurs., High
Garret; sat, Notley Gate-101/4.
Essex Union lids., Wed., Moor Gardens; Sat., Rettenden
Common.
Essex and Suffolk hds., Tues., Little Bentley Hall; Fri.,
Sproughton Wild Man-10i.
Suffolk hds., Mon., Ashley Village ; Thurs., Hepworth
Marlborough-10%.
Mr. Horlock's hds., Tues., Bowden••Hill. •-.
Duke of Beaufort's hds., Mon., Batt's Lodge. - •.
Mr. Locke's hds.. Tues., Haskingi Penning; Thurs., Pert-
wood Turnpike Gate-11.
Sir R. Sutton's bds., Tues., Glaston ; Wed., the Buit,Vi-
tham Common; Fri., Titton Wood ; Sat., Langham.
Quorn lids., Mon., Shearsby Inn; Tues., Retcliffe,Hall;
Thurs., Houghton on the Hill ; Fri., Ratcliffe Hall. i
Mr. M. Ingram's hds., Mon., Chartley Park ; :Thurs., Ked-
leston Inn ; Sat., Swarkston Bridge.;•. • . •v• •-•
Dorrington lads., Mon., Cotgreave,Village ; • Wed., Keg-
worth Station; Sat., Hathern Turut to 11: ••••
Burton hds., Mon., Fiskerten Low Wopd; Tues.v*Bard-
ney ; Wed., Wellinore ; Thurs., Hackthor4; Gate Bur-
ton ; Sat., Lanworth Bridge-11.
Mr. Hellier's lids., Mon., Tothill ; Tues. -Merehae(bn the
Hill-10i; Spilsbuty ; Fri., Hamton ; 4at., Weifoti.Wood
—l2. ,
Sherwood hrrs., Tues., Mansfield Radicourse;':Fri4liing's
Mill-11.
Mr. Deacon's hrrs., Wed., the Thom-on.RoboroughDown ;
Sat., Sheepston Village-10. - - - ,
Mr. Horndon's lads., Mon., Viverdon ; Tbur6., St. Stephen's
Down, Launceston.

•
HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION, ac.; .DROMPTON.—
Yesterday evening a very numerous meeting of the sub-
scribers to the above institution was held in the Board-
room of the,llospital, at Old Brompton. Edward Spree,
Esq., in the chair. The principal business of the evening
was in reference to the appointment of an assistant-
physician, the election of whom is fixed for the 14th
instant. It was also a source of the greatest satisfaction
that the plans adopted for the ventilation and warming
of the numerous extensive wards had proved so highly
effective in aid of medical science. Many highly dis-
tinguishea visitors have inspected the building, since it
Ras opened, and scarcely a day passes without some ad-
ditional names upon the visitors' book. The number of
in-patients yesterday, of both sexes, amounted to sixty.
AN - IDIOT FROZEN TO DEATII.—A lamentable
death occurred at Freckenham on Tuesday morning last.
A poor creature named Charles Chittiek, who- had never
been in his-proper senses, and had been ailing f,,r a time,
went to bed. between eight and nine ,o'clock on. Monday
evening, in a lower room of the house of his sister, Mrs.

Plutn.,,er, with whom he rt sided. Another sister also,
and Mrs. Plutemer's clau,Ater, slept in an upper apart-
ment. A little before 11 o'clock, as the daughter I,y in
bed, she heard the di-ceased call, saying he wanted to go
out, and she sp 4te to him. She then heard him undo
the front door, which banged after him ; and she then
lay awake about an hour afterwards, until becoming
alarmed at his absence, she went down stairs to call him,
which one of the family had been in the habit of doing
upon previous occasions, when he appeared to be gone a
long while. The front door was on the jar, and the pin
by which it was fastened lay on the table near by. A
search was immediately made, but he'could not be found,
all the places about the preraies being examined, but
without success. His shirt and night cap were left on
the pillow of his bed covered over with the clothes. The
aunt was called, and a further search was made every-
where they could think of, but without effect. It was
dark, and freezing sharp. His day clothes lay by the
side of his bed. Information was immediately conveyed
to the neighbours, and about eight o'clock on Tuesday
morning a labouring man, named George Smith, accom-
panied by Frederick Sergeant and James Payne, who
had gone.out searching for the poor fellow, found him in
a meadow in the occupation of Mr. Knight, lying flat on
his back, entirely naked, and quite dead. Higqyel Crewe"-'
open, and he was dirty as if he had been through water.
The spot where he was found was about 200 yards off
his cottage, and the river was nearer the cottage than
the place where he was found. An inquest was held on
Thursday, at the Boar Inn, Freckenham, before H.—
Wayrnan, Esq., when the above facts were deposed to
by the principal witnesses, Elizabeth Plummer adding-
that she heard the deceased say he should not live till
Christmas, which he had said several times before.
had been under the surgeon's hands, but not since -
Michaelmas time. Mr. Pelham Aldrich, surgeon, of
Mildenhall, deposed that he had known the deceased six
or seven years, and had attended him professionally.
He laboured under an affection of the spine, which at-
tacked the lower extremities. He was of weak intellect,
and about 46 years of age. Had seen his body since his
death, and observed no external appearance of injury or
violence. From information he had received, and from
the appearance of the body, he was of opinion that death
was occasioned by exposure to the inclemency of the
season. Verdict accordingly.—Bury Herald.
THE WEATHER, &C.—THE PARKS.—Thursday,
the weather continuing its severity, the several metro-
politan parks were crowded with sliders and skaters from
the earliest hour of admittance until dusk. On the'
ornamental water in St. James's Park, in the course of
the day, two very serious accidents occurred, but fortu-
nately unattended with loss of life. The first occurred
to William Simpson, a gentleman of property, residing
at Peckham Rye, who was skating, when, through an
accidental misarrangement of the skate, be fell backwards
with great violence, breaking the ice and immersing
himself in the water. Immediate assistance was ren-
dered, and with great difficulty he was extricated, totally
insensible from the effects of the fall. He was removed
in a very injured and weak state, being unable to walk
without support. The second accident occurred in the
afternoon to a lad named Somers, who was sliding on

the ice near Buckingham Palace, when, comilig in violent
contact with a gentleman who was skating, the poor
fellow was thrown heavily, causing a severe fracture on
the head and arm. The Serpentiue, in Hyde-park, was
much frequented during the day, and many accidents
occurred, but not et* any serious consequence. owing to

the proutpt assistance rendered in each case by the ice-
men of the Royal Humane Society. The two fiozen
lakes-in Kensington-gardens, and that of the Regent's-
park, were visited by upwards of 5,000 individuals, and
with but one exception no accidcuts occurred beyond an
occasional breaking of the ice. On the ice of the Re-
gent's-park, a youne, man unl`,rtunarely slid
and a
l'hdeainegeebr onu,
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;s phoet ,
waan:d ,
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earl: x.
pi anxiety
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recovered.ll,
A'TTEMI'TS AT ROBBERY IN EAST LOTHIAN.--
Since the atrocious outrage and robbery at Beene, in
'the neighbourhood of Haddington, occurred, a number
of farmers and others in the district have got all the
windows on the first floor of their houses strongly secured
with iron bars; a watchdog is also kept, and in many
cases a loaded gun in readiness. All these precautions
are most necessary, as the Begbie affair seems to be but.
the beginning of a system of robberies. Last week three
Irishmen, supposed to be "navvies," paid a visit to the
farm-house of Cartrae, in the parish of Garvald. They
broke a pane of glass, and attempted to open the
window-shutter of the room, but being well secured,
a degree of violence was used to get it opened,
which aroused the inmates. On the farmer it quiring
what was wanted, they would not :peak, but con-
tinued working with the window fastenings The gentle-
man threatened to fire if they did not desist and go
away, but no attention was paid to him, and he from an
upper window fired a pistol at them. Immediately after
this, one of them, with a strong Irish accent, exclaimed.
"Let's be off, boys," when all three ran away. At two
o'clock on the morning of Thursday, a similar attempt
was also made by thtce men to break into the manse of
Athelstaneford. The breaking of the window glass
awoke the reverend clergyman, and on repeated ques-
tions being put as to who they were and what they de-
sired, no answer was returned. The manse stands at
the end of the village, apart from any houses, so that it
was impossible that the human voice could be.heard by
the villagers, to come to the rescue of their minister ;
but he, with great prudence and presence of .mind, took
from the lobby a large hand bell, and, going to the • .
highest window of the house, opened it, arid began
ring-
ing the bell with great vigour. This had the desired
effect. It made the villains decamp, and brought they u
inhabitants of the manse to ascertain the cause of this"! )
untoward ringing.---Berwick Warder,