The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-01 00:00:00

FRASER.

Almost all the magazines of the present month
follow in the wake of Blackwood of last month,
and take up the subject of English journalism.
The opening article in Fraser is on this subject.
The writer admits that journalism has risen to the
rank of a profession, that it has gained influence over
the hearts and intellects of the people, that it has
drafted into its ranks education, information, and
ability, that it has altogether fulfilled its mission with
dignity, and has used power beneficially where it
might have abused it. Therefore, the writer argues,
that it is necessary to give the journalist a position
in the social scale, and compares the condition of
the journalist of England with that of the journalist
of France. " The French journalist is in the best
society, flattered by the homage of the rich, the at-
tention of the fair. His name is known in all poli-
tical circles with advantage, in his own with
fame and honour. He is sometimes a peer
always a celebrity." "Journalism in France is the
sure road to the possession of the highest offices in
the state, while in England there is no place assigned
to the journalist in the social circle, and as for poli-
tical rewards, except of the lowest kind, such things
are never dreamed of." The writer in Fraser would
remedy this state of things, and makes appeals ad
misericordiam and ad timorcm to the aristocracy to
grant a social position to the English journalist. The
writer does not perceive that it is because in France
the aristocracy has been annihilated that talent has
fair play, and that not only the journalist, but every
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man of talent, the literateur, the scientific man, the
, philosopher, the historian, each as a matter of
right, assumes that position in the social circle
which is his own by virtue of his talent. In Eng-
land, on the contrary, we have an aristocracy
close, exclusive, and like all aristocracies, gregarious
from very weakness. "It must," to quote the words
of Cobbett, " link and toddle," because (with the ex-
ception of those among them who belong to the aris-
tocracy of talent, and who would, therefore, under
:any circumstances stand alone) if they did not, by
linking, afford each other mutual support—if each at-
tempted to " toddle" singly and alone, each and all
would fail in the attempt, and fall. It is, however,
the characteristic of talent to stand alone. Men of
talent are not gregarious, and the anomalous posi-
tion which they hold in this country is to be mainly
attributed to these facts. Being able to stand
alone, the aristocracy at once envy, hate, and
fear them. Hence the endeavour to ex-
clude them from all " 'vantage ground "
in society or politics, and as they are enabled by the
no n-gregariousness of men of talent to isolate them
and attack them singly, they generally succeed in
their endeavour, but whenever men of talent shall be
brought to understand each other, to know the irre-
sistible power which as an united body they could
wield, to become in fact gregarious, then, and not
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change shall take place in the organization, political
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and social, of the country. The article on journalism
is succeeded by a pleasant bit of sentiment on " Hair
Love," and then comes the " Gallery of Contemporary
Orators." The subjects of the present portraits are
Sir R. Inglis, Mr. W. E. Gladstone, and Mr.
Christie. To the first more than justice is done,
to the second ample justice, and to the third some-
what less than justice. " Passages from an unpub-
lasked French Novel" is a quiet quiz on the
mingled ignorance and impudence of the French
novelists who write on English subjects, and pretend
to improve Shakspere, Johnson, and Richardson.
" The History of Etruria" is a learned review of
Mrs. Gray's work on that subject. The paper, how-
ever, of the greatest permanent value in the present
number of Fraser is, undoubtedly, that on the pro-
pased commercial mission to Japan. After giving a
?Is ume of the various attempts which have been made
to open the commerce of Japan to the world, the last
of which, in 1818, had nearly succeeded, the writer
proceeds to enumerate the various articles which
Ja pan produces, and which she might be induced to
barter for British manufactures. Gold, silver, and
cop per are among the mineral productions of Japan.
;" Another production of the Japanese islands is coal,
Lo ',which, in former times, little importance was attached
by the foreign traders to Japan, though, were we to suc-
ceed in obtaining a footing in that country, we should
probably set a higher value on it than on anything else
found in the whole empire. Respecting its quality, no
information has bcen obtained. We know, however,
that it is plentiful, and that the fields extend over nearly
the whole of the northern provinces, where it would
seem to constitute the only fuel used by the inhabitants.
Popular tradition speaks of a mountain wholly com-
posed of coal, which taking fire some centuries ago, be-
came a volcano, and has ever since continued burning.
In what circumstances the story originated it might now
be difficult to discover. The whole group of islands,
however, is evidently of a volcanic formation, nearly
everywhere rising into sharp and lofty cones, from
which smoke and flame perpetually issue. In many
places we find the craters of extinct volcanoes, with
clefts and vast caverns, from which is obtained an inex-
, haustible supply of sulphur.
"In the south nearly all the fruits of the tropics are
fot Ind in abundance, while the northern provinces greatly
resemble in their productions the less favoured climates
of .Europe."
The whole of this article is worthy of attentive
perusal, and we hope that no unnecessary delay will
be permitted to take place in sending an embassy to
the Court of Jeddo. As this writer justly observes,
"A case has been clearly made out in favour of try-
ing, the, experiment, which, if brought to a fortunate
issue, would provide a vast outlet for British manu-
factures, and tend at the same time to enrich us and
civilise the Japanese empire." The remainder of
this number is occupied by a political article vitupe-
rating the Whiga and free-traders. A review of
• Leign Hunt's book on " Wit and Humour," in which
the reviewer acknowledges that he prefers Prior to
Butler, expresses a desire to see Voltaire in the
pillory, depreciates Rabelais, abuses Sterne, and finds
nothing but dulness in AndreW Marvell ; an amusing
archaeological prolusion about Lord Mayor's day, and
various poems and articles of minor import.