The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-03 00:00:00

THE ME ihOPOLITAN.

As there is a perceptible struggle for improvement
in this miscellany we are disposed to regard it with
the eye of hope and encouragement. Apart from the •
lighter and more ephemeral of the contributions there
are one or two that betoken a more aspiring spirit.
We cannot but feel amused at the pertness with which
a Mr. Ritchie—not Leitch Ritchie—remarks, " Like
Babington Macaulay, WE delight in illustrations."
Certainly that is the only and the most shadowy re-
semblance. 'We like not the tone of the scrambling
criticism upon Tancred ; there is in it a sarcastic fri-
volity quite unbefitting the character of a reviewer,
as where that fiction is termed "an aristocratical
Pickwick." The remark reminds us of an equally
sarcastic, an equally undeserved, and a much more
caustic observation uttered very recently in our hear-
ing in regard to Mr. Disraeli's abilities, namely, that
he is a millionaire in point of intellect, but that he is
rich only in counterfeit coin. Mr. Disraeli is un-
doubtedly mistaken as to the regeneration of mankind
4,),11,15' through the infusion of the pure Caucasian
,),,11
"Pizs,l, and the re-elevation of the Hebrew race to the
pinnacle of human authority ; he is mistaken in those
visions, and as a proof that he is, we commend him
the perusal of the twelfth verse in the fourth chapter
• ?f the prophet Isaias. But, erroneous as we believe
Ills expeeiations and yearnings to be in this parti-
cular, the sneers with which they are greeted are
assuredly not the welcomes due to his genius. The
biographicalL paper upon Cardinal Wolsey is nothing
better than a string of quotations trorn Cavendish and
The articles written in allusion to America
are among the liveliM in the Metropolitan, and pro-
mise well for the advancement of the character of the
publication.

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r

COLBURNS U.IITL,II SERVICE.
This is an extremely interesting number, it con,
tau
Perilous
more than the usual quantity of narratives of
Perilous Adventure, both by Flood and Field."
The account of the new planet Neptune, with which
it opens, exhibits the wonderful triumph of analytic
science, which led two gentlemen, strangers to each
other, and each in total ignorance of the labours of
the other, to investigate this most intricate problem,
and confidently to predict, not merely the existence
of such a body, and its distance from the earth, but to
calculate its position in the heavens, and each inde-
pendently to arrive at the same conclusions. It
would also afford a singular corroboration of the
Newtonian doctrines, if any additional evidence in
their favour were required. It form an additional
link in the chain that comes within Keplirs law—
a law that has already led to the discovery of
the smaller planets or asteriods—and extends
the known limits of astronomy to nearly
three times the former distance, and opens
the way for new discoveries in still more remote
regions. „The predicting and finding in this case
were not the fruits of accidental finding, persevering
scrutiny, nor telescopic power, but the magnificent
consequence of a judicious exertion of profound
thought and transcendent reasonings." So remarks
the writer of the article in question ; and, indeed,
there is not in the history of science an event
more striking, or circumstances more curious than
those connected with the discovery. The history
of which is now given. We shall let the writer speak
for himself. As to the result, he says
" Thus, then, by a profound computation based on
very slight data, the closet mathematician has been
armed with more than magician's power, arid not only
Pointed out the place in which a new planet must be
tound, but also limited the space in which to much for
it, weighed its mass, determined its diameter, figured
its orbital circuit, and numbered the years of its revo-
lution around the central luminary ! The confident te-
merity of the prediction was astounding, and stn.
gered even the incredulous, for the most sanguine
hope„ could hardly dave expected so full a con-
urination. I cannot attempt to convey to you,'
said Mr. Airy, • the impression which was made on me
by the author's undoubting confidence in the gem rid
truth of his theory, by the calmness and clearness with
which he limited the field of observation, and by the
firnit.e,s with which he pr, claimed to observing astro-
nomers, Look in the place which I have ind;cated, and
-9". will see the planet well. And this wondrous and
sneces,ful exertion or the powers of abstruse research
was received with a burst of rapturous applause through-
out the intellectual world ; and numerous are the w ell-
deserved honours showered on Le Verrier."
‘_..` A Memoir of Zutnalacarregui" gives an account of
the celebrated Carlist General, who certainly ex-
hibited great ability in the conduct of the insurrec-
tion, by which,a year, he advanced himself
from being an unknown partizan officer, at the bead
of a few hundred ill-clad, and wretchedly armed
Pouiants, to the chief Of a well-appointed and well-
disciplined army." A Cruise in the West
" The Fusilier f ar skin " Convict
t'ua
rds, The d dt • n Expedi-
tion, g. lig 8.11 o
theuleailillard I? hum Stories," and " Ltoeoileeti(*)us of
ply Life of a Sailor," are amusing records of