The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-01 00:00:00

FRASER.

In an article on the " Aspect of Contemporary
Literature" with which the present number of
Fraser opens, we meet with some excellent observa-

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tions on the prevalent complaint among artists and
litterateurs of want of patronage. "It never occurs
to them to imagine," says this writer, " that patron-
age is but the homage which men, poor in fancy but
rich in the gifts of fortune, pay to the intellectually
endowed. The act frequently is not voluntary, but
results from a sort of mechanical necessity, accom-
panied by pleasurable emotions." It is time that this
cant of want of patronage should cease, and that the
canters should be told that it is want of merit
that is in nine cases out of ten the cause of failure,
not want of patronage ; and that where there is merit
the public is the best patron. If, instead of toadying
for aristocratic patronage, artists would look to the
public alone for the reward of their labours, they
woul:l become much richer and much more inde-
rendent men. The writer looks upon the prevailing
taste for farcical literature as an indication that the
mental energies of the people have been worked out,
and that they feel that nothing is left but fur them to
make themselves merry and pass away. The next
paper is an agreeable piece of antiquarian gossip,
about the " Ancient PAlace of Greenwich (Placentia)
and the Days of the Tudors ;" and then comes
a spirit-stirring scene in the Ns ilds of Mexico,
entitled the " Bison Hunters." The night ad-
venture with the grizzly bear of the Prairies is most
graphically narrated. The most amusing article,
however, in the present number is certainly the
"Asking a Governor to Dine." It is from the pen of
" Sam Slick," and is not only amusing, hut in-
structive also, as is everything that proceeds from
his pen. No author ever possessed in such per-
fection the happy art of mingling the utile with the
duke as Sam Slick. The following sketch of a
Colonial Bishop is admirable :
" The door now opened, and several persons (not
necessary to enumerate or describe) were announced,
among whom were the Bishop of the Isle of Sable,
recently arrived from England on his way to his diocese,
and Colonel Percy of the thixty-thixth."rhere was
nothing remarkable about the former. One bishop is
very like another bishop. Their dress is similar, and
their conversation generally embraces the same topics.
You hear a little too much of what they are pleased to
call church architecture, though why I could never quite
understand ; and you are somewhat fatigued with prosy
dissertations on towers, spires, transepts, gall( ries, and
buttresses. This, however, is a matter of taste, and
they have as good a right to select church architec-
ture' for their hobby, as a sportsman has his dog and
his gun. Ile was, however, a new one; and it is singular
that these novi episcopi bear a still more striking re-
semblance to each other than the senior class do. Be-
'ides the never-ending topic just mentioned, which they
have in common with all their brethren, they have a
great deal to say about themselves—a subject no less
interesting than the other. New dignity, like a new
coat, is awkward and inconvenient. It is stiff and
formal, and has not a natural set.' Time takes off the
vulgar gloss of both, and directs your attention from
things that annoy yourself, and are apt to excite re-
mark in others. They have also (I mean colonial
bishops) one grand object in view from the moment of
their landing in a colony ; and that is, the erection of a
cathedral so large as to contain all the churchmen of
the province, and so expensive as to exhaust all the
liberality of their friends ; and this unfinished monu-
ment of ill directed seal they are sere to place in a situ-
ation where it can be of no use whatever.

" His Lordship, Job Sable Island, as usual, had his
model, his plans, and his subscription-list ; and, as usual,
though warned that no suitable foundation for such
a massive structure could be found on that enor-
mous accumulation of sand, was determined to per-
severe and exhibit another melancholy instance of
failure, to warn the Christian public how careful they
should be into whose hands they entrust their donations.
We hope our readers will attend to this last ad-
monition, and not entrust their donations for pious or
charitable purposes to a bishop merely because he
happens to be a bishop. There is no political article
in Fraser thin month, unless the Chronique de Paris
an unmerciful "show up" of all the French statesmen
who have administered the affairs of that country
since 1830, can be considered as such ; but we have in
the notice of Lord Mahon, as one of the literary legis-
lators, an admirable retrospect of the political
history of the days of the Reform Bill,
and of the fears which were then entertained
by the party of which at that time Lord Mahon was
one of the most rising and influential members. We
fully agree with this writer in the high estimation
which he has formed of the talents and integrity of
Lord Mahon. His Lordship is, from what cause we
know not, much underrated. We have an article on
the famine in Ireland, which is merely a reproduction
of the various accounts which have appeared in the
newspapers of the distress at Skibbereen, Bantry,
and throughout the south and west of Ireland ; a not
altogether unsuccessful imitation of poor Tom In_
goldsby, in a legend entitled " The Lent Pig ;" an
admirable notice, by Morgan Rattler, of Sir Francis
Head's book on Canada, and some amusing papers of
light literature.

FIRE.—FATAL ACCIDENT TO ONE Or THE FIRE
BRIGADE.-Last night a fire broke out in the house in Den-
mark-street, Soho, originating in the chimney, and was
making great progress, when the Crown-street brigade
engine attended, and one of the firemen, named Benjamin
Cummings, while proceeding up the ladder, fell off the top
of the house into the street. No time was
lust in procuring
medical assistance, but so dreadful were the injuries the poor
fellow had received, that he died in a very short time. The
deceased has left a wife and five children to lament his loss.
A GOOD RETURN.—A party, in Portsoy, last week
realised upwards of SOL for turnip seeds, the produce
of an acre ! !

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The translation of the Rev. IL Macleod, of Logie,
camo before the Free Presbytery of Tain last week.
Three Commissioners appeared from the Presbytery of
Greenock, and several individuals in behalf of the church
of Logie. After hearing parties, it was finally decided
that the call from Greenock be dismissed,