The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-04 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

VITAL CHRISTIANITY. By Alexander Vinet.
This is a republication in an English version of a book
already known most favourably to the ethical scholars of
every European country. The translator is Robert
Turnbull of Boston and we must acknowledge that he
has rendered his author into our mother tongue at once
faithfully and elegantly. To those who are unacquainted
with the volume under notice, it may sound like an as•
surance that its tendency is exclusive and sectarian when
we say, that Dr. Vinet is the professsor of theology at
Lausanne in Switzerland. The religious animosities
which have embroiled the inhabitants of the Confedera-
tion, would seem at first to justify that suspicion. But
emphatically such is not the case. The book is ad-
dressed to no particular class of religionists, it does not
inculcate doctrines peculiar to thin, creed or to that creed,
it does not even touch upon the merits of the different
sections of christendom or ettiogise any one of them at
the expense of the rest. Dr. Vinet regards Chris-
tianity in an aspect truly sublime—apart from every-
thing conventional. He appeals to the hearts of all
christendom, he considers the Church established by the
fishermen of Palestine in its comprehensiveness, not in its
exclusiveness. His writings speak at once to the imagi-
nations and judgments of all the believers in christianity
without distinction. The very mysteriousness of his
theme does not involve his lucubrations in mystery ;
his ideas are clear and distinct, and he expresses them
in the most limpid diction. Of the generous character
of the volume there is no necessity to speak, seeing that
we can refer the reader at once to the chapters entitled
" Power of the Feeble" and the Box of Ointment." "Vital
Christianity" is altogetheZ a singular composition ; but
its moral objects—naeaely reconciliation and incitement
—are eminently gobd.

MUSIC.
THE MUSIC BOOK. Part IV.

This number contains two pieces of music by Mrs.
G. A. a, Beckett (one a beautiful duet, from the opera
of The Young Pretender, the words of which are from
the pen of Mark Lemon) ; one song by Balfe, words
by Barry Cornwall ; a song by Romer, words by
Mark Lemon ; and a set of quadrilles by Tully.
These names are alone sufficient to prove the spirit
with which this excellent musical periodical is con-
ducted. This, the fourth part, fully sustains the high
fame which the work has already acquired.

WOOLWICH, FEB. 2.—The Centaur steam-frigate,
in charge of Captain Ramsey, with the officers and crew of
the Terrible steam-frigate, passed through the Downs on
Sunday last, with provisions for the west coast of Scotland.
When in the Princess Channel, a part connected with the
eccentric motion of one of the engines, became impaired, and
she had to proceed with her sails sot and the
other engine,N_
and under these circumstances, when she passed the North
Foreland, was able to make seven knots per hour, the wind
being favourable. It was intended to make for :Plymouth
before touching, to repair the defect. The Birkenhead: steam-
frigate arrived at Woolwich yesterday, to have some defects
made good, and is expected to proceed to Deptford to convey
meal and rice to Ireland. Captain Becher, recentlyap-
pointed to command the Mastiff surveying-vessel, visited
Woolwich Dockyard yesterday, and assumed the command
of the Mastiff.
DESERTION OF A SOLDIER WHILST ON GUARD.
George Cooper, aged 19 years, was brought before the county
magistrates at Rochester, on Alonday, charged with deserting
from the 18th Regiment, which he joined seven months ago.
The prisoner, it appeared, was placed on guard at the Gun 1
Wharf, Chatham, on Saturday night, when shortly before
midnight he effected his escape by scaling the garden-fence,
taking with him his firelock, bayonet, and ammunition, but
leaving his side belt in the sentry-box. Having thus made
ahti
na
hp ea,mh,eaproceeded towards
sCtaa
nn ttefrrbouniryc,
aanntde
robnu ar
yr r iv
B ianrg_
racks, he was stopped by one of the rural police, named Fury,
in whose custody he was brought up. The musket the
withapfrtiesrov,n.earrdtsoofkoundin the
him
Tim BLESSINGS OF ETIIER.—A variety of in-
stalicem have lat-ly been recorded in the public journals, in
and the
bayonet was
was
sillintaard3 loaded,
dal-g h
which severe surgical operations have been performed,
without the patient having the consciousness of pain.
The principle seems capable of being extended much
farther. A few days ago, Professor Simson stated to
his class, that he had practised with entire success,
the inhalation of sulphuric ether in a case of the
most difficult form of labour, and where otherwise the
sufferings of the patient would undoubtedly have been ex-
treme. The mother was lame and deformed. A remarkable
circumstance pointed out in the case by Dr. Simpson was,
that, whilst breathing the ether, t!,e labour pains or throes
Ait tlJe mother (in
no pains. This is we believe, the first instance in whicn this
new and extraordinary agent has been employed in the prat'
Lice vf midwitery,--Caledonian Mercury,

MAGAZINES CONTINUED.
_ DOUGLAS JERROLD'S.

By far the most important article in the present
number is the one entitled " Prospects of British
Commerce in Japan." We entirely agree in opinion
with the author of this article, that the fact of the
failure of the American and French missions is a
reason why no time should be lost in sending an
English mission, organised upon a proper scale of
magnificence, to the Court of Jeddo, and we also
believe that such mission would be successful.
France has so little connexion with the East that it
is not likely the Japanese Government would pay
much deference to any mission from a nation with
which she is so little acquainted. The Americans
have appeared in the Eastern seas much too recently
to have made any deep impression on the minds
of a people who look with reverence on anti-
quity. The Dutch, self-degraded by their unworthy
concession to Japanese prejudices, are looked upon
with sovereign contempt, as beings of an inferior race.
The Spaniards and Portuguese are hated, on account
of the attempts made by their Priests to subvert the
Japanese Empire, and which led to the expulsion
and exclusion of foreigners from the Japanese terri-
tory. Indeed, we suspect that the profession of the
Roman Catholic religion by any nation, would be a
bar to its entering into any relations with Japan, for
the present at least. Certain we are that the appear-
ance of a Roman Catholic Priest, as an attach 6 to
any mission to Japan, would be a serious obstacle to
its success. England, however, is not Roman Catholic.
Unlike Holland, she has never succumbed to Japanese
prejudices; she is an ancient nation, having heretofore
had treaties with Japan upon a footing of perfect
equality. Her flag is well known in the Japanese
seas. Her success in the Chinese war, her moderation
in the hour of victory, and her faithful adherence to
treaties are known and appreciated by the Japanese.
The great majority of the nation, it is evident, are
most anxious to be permitted to trade with strangers,
and from the tenour of his answers it is manifest
that the reluctance of the Emperor to re-establish
commercial intercourse with the rest of the world
arises more from a respect for the old traditions than
from conviction of the truth of the arguments ad-
duced
in favour of the policy of exclusion ; and when
he shall be solicited by his ancient ally to again enter
into terms of amicable relationship, on a footing of
perfect equality, there can be but little doubt that he
will listen t 3 the overture, and, giving way
to the representations of his subjects, consent to
renew his ancient treaty of commerce with England.
Before the exclusive system was adopted the Japanese
were among the most enterprising traders of the
world, trading even as far as Java its their junks.
Of the ralue of the Japanese trade we may judge
from the fact— 4
"That the Portuguese, when they first opened a trade
with Japan, made prodigious fortunes in the course of a
few years. Macao was entirely built with the profits of
this trade, which, during a certain period, were literally
incredible, upwards of three hundred tons of gold having,
it is said, been shipped off annually. The lowest gain
upon which the merchants reckoned, as the result of a
voyage of two or three weeks, was cent, per cent. both
ways ; and the Dutch, when they succeeded to the Por-
tuguese, being a still more needy and unscrupulous peo-
ple, sometimes raised this to five hundred per cent. Nay,
one of the most re4pect,ble writers who professes to
based his statements on the commercial archives of the
Dutch Company, avers that occasionally as much as five
thousand per cent. was cleared.
"These facts we mention, not as aiming at or desir-
ing such gains, but merely by way of illustrating the
value of the apadese trade, the riches and extent of
which, in the present state of our information, it is im-
possible to calculate. Nearly all the latest accounts con-
cur in rspresenting the population of the group at be-
tween forty-five and fifty millions, all of whom have
made some progress in civilisation, and might become
customers for the good of Europe and America; though,
from indications not to be mistaken, we may conclude
would
tEnglilt
universalsmanufa etufareysouarnitdes.tl,r productions of India
be the

Such is the-market which if we employ the proper
means will most assuredly be open to us, and there-
fore do we trust that the Government will lose no
time in employing for us those means, and achieving
for themselves one of those bloodless victories, the
glories of which far transcend all the triumphs of
war. " The Dreamer and the Worker "is continued
in this number. The story does not advance a step,
but we have some pretty descriptions of Welsh
scenery. Angus Reach contributes a pleasant
prolusion, entitled " John Bull and his Bul-
locks," the bullocks being the denizens of the
Smithfield Bullockery, against which Angus Reach,
in common with every other sensible man, raises his
voice, and raises it in vain, for Smithfield will not be
put down until an alderman shall have been tossed
up; then, and not until then, will the nuisance be
abated. The remaining articles of this number are of
average merit. We, however, miss St. Giles and St.
James.