The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-16 00:00:00

SPORTING REVIEW.

Craven opens the Number with the usual sketch
of " Tbe Racing in July." The Newmarket Meeting
—the Liverpool Meeting—and last, but not least, the
Goodwood Meeting, are commented on by this keen
sportsman with the ability and judgment for which he
is so remarkable. The extent to which the sweep
system is now carried on has excited his ire in no
ordinary degree. Maxwell contributes one of his
inimitable tales, " The Reminiscences of a Grouse
Shooter." Although the denouement is melancholy,
the naive and original manner in which it is related,
in the peculiar style of the gifted author,
will mingle a smile with the sadness oc-
casioned by the result. The manner in
which Phil Martin is caught by Amelia Sophia
Brodigan, is richly comic. He is captured at a pic-
nic, which is described as " a sort of out-o'-door trap
used by she adventurers to seize on a disjointed sen-
tence uttered by some simpleton, when three-quar-
ters clewed, refer him to mamma, and regularly
ruin him before he has time to bless himself." We
have also several clever contributions from " Oxo-
nian," " Gelert," " Harry Hieover," " Linton,"
" Hawthorn," and other worthies; and two excellent
engravings, one of Cymba, the winner of the Oaks,
and the other, " Once more upon the Moors," con-
stituting altogether a very excellent number.

MISCELLANEOUS.
The Metropolitan Magazine for August opens with
the second chapter of " Swissiana," which is an
amusing narrative of a traveller's wanderings in
Switzerland. Besides the ordinary instalments of the
two novels, " Clarendon" and " Marmaduke Hatton,"
which have for some time occupied a prominent part
in the Metropolitan, this number contains several
abort and amusing tales, the best of which are " The
Man Monster" and " The Inspired Poetess." The
latter conveys a not insignificant lesson to would-be
" Sapphos.' Poetry, as usual, abounds in the
Metropolitan—poetry of various kinds and various
qualities, from the lengthy drama of " Pharoah," to
the light and agreeable verses of Mrs. Abdy and Mrs.
Crawford. The most interesting article in the
Eclectic Review is that which criticises Lord Hervey's

Memoirs of George II." The recently published
" History of Chevalier Bayard," Staughton's
" Sketches of the Puritans," and Davis' " Es-
timate of the Human Mind," give occasion to
three able papers on those diversified subjects.
The last article in The Eclectic on the " Re-distri-
bution of the Representation," contains some very
valuable remarks upon Parliamentary reform, eluci-
dated by facts and figures which enable the
reader to form an accurate idea of the re-
lative political position of the metropolitan,
mining, manufacturing, and agricultural counties.
The article on " Sabbath Economies" is well-
timed and well-written; but, much as we appreciate
the religious spirit and liberal opinions of the writer,
'we cannot but consider him as mistaken in some of
his premises. For example, he condemns Sunday
trading (such as the petty " trading" referred
to in the Bill recently introduced into Par-
liament), on the ground of its injustice to-
wards the working classes, whereas it is the work-
ing classes, chiefly and almost solely the working
classes, who would suffer by the passing of the pro-
posed measure. What does it matter to the rich man
if the
c public-house or the chandler's shop be closed
o
on Sunday,
he has only to ring his bell and order his
servant
to bring a fresh supply of provisions from his
'eellrched cellar, whereas the poor man, not pos-
se seed such a resource to fall back upon, must
perhaps go without some of the common comforts of
life on the very day he is most able to enjoy them.
This is only one instance of the practical injustice of
the proposed measure. The Belle Assemblee is as
attractive and agreeable as ever. The portrait of Rose
Bradwardine adorns the new number of this magazine,
besides the indispensable plates of "fashions.' The
literary contents are a melange of poems, tales,
sketches, and other various specimens of " light read-
ing." The opening paper, a letter from Italy, on
" Cathedrals,' gives a description of St. Peter s—a
theme upon which travellers, from Childe Harold
downwards, have almost exhausted the powers of lan-
guage, but apparently without conveying an adequate
idea of the "ark of worship." The writer of this letter
throws an entirely new lig ‘ht upon the interior of St.
Peter's. It has been left for him to tell us that You
go round and round the tremendous building, and are
penetrated with the same lively emotions as on view;
ling the stock of a great London upholsterer !
In penning such a sentiment as this, we
think the writer might, in common courtesy,
have employed the pronoun I instead of you,
for v,ve doubt not he is as solitary as he is original
in his opinions. One of the most interesting, be-
cause one of the most appropriate papers in the
.Pa tri clan for August, isathe biography of the- Arch-
duke John of Austria. Under the head of " Ro-
mantic Heroes of History," this magazine- contains a
very attractive memoir of Cola Rienzi, a memoir not
rendered less attractive because the opening scenes of
the great:'4ibune's' career are taken from Gibbon and
the closing:, scenes from 13olwer. Sharpe's London
ArVaaine •`, is - visibly improved. The present
number, -4 adorned by two steel engravings,
and is flinciful 'portrait, and the other a view of
••: 'ere-Batan-Serai, in illustration of a tale of
that name by Miss Pardoe. The Yere-Batan-Serai,
or Swallowed-up Palace, is, Miss Pardoe tells us, the
greit subterranean wonder of Constantinople. It is
an immense cistern, supported by columns of marble,
*lnd floored by several feet of water. The engraving
of this singular scene is moat effective. The dim
recesses of the cavern in the background, and the
marble pillars in the foreground, revealed by a
vivid light carried by some solitary boatman,
•1 have a most enthralling effect. The Farmer's
Magazine contains "portraits" of Van Tromp,
the winner of the St. Leger, 1847, and the " Baron
of Ravensworth," a short-horned prize bull. Besides
a variety of articles valuable and interesting to the
farmer and agriculturist, the Farmer's Magazine
for August gives a full report of the great Agricultu-
ral Meeting at York, and some account of the first
formation of the Agricultural Society. The London
Repertory of New Inventions, in addition to its ordinary
monthly catalogue of new patents, contains some in-
teresting remarks upon the "Organisation of Labour."
The Church of England Magazine, as usual, furnishes
a series of religious and interesting reading for the several
Sundays of the Month. Lowe's Edinburgh Magazine
contains several interesting articles, the best of
'hich is on " European Politics—France, Germany,
and Austria." The following explanation of
the causes of the rapid disorganization of the
Austrian empire are well worthy of general consi-
deration :—" Last February the Emperor Ferdinand
ruled over thirty millions of subjects, the greater
portion of whom were believed to be peaceful and
well affected ; and his vast territories, which included
some of the fairest provinces of Europe, were de-
fended by a numerous, highly-disciplined, and faithful
army. Life and property throughout his dominions
were rendered secure by an admirable though de-
si.Notic system of police, and the material prosperity of
the people, as evinced by the progress of industry,
was upon ' the increase. The empire was at peace
• with all the world, and could boast of the firm alliance
of the two greatest of the continental powers, France
and Russia. Abroad it was represented by diplo-
Inatista eminent for their experience and their rank,
and at the head of the civil government at home
there was placed a statesman inferior to none of the
present age in the splendour of his reputation. There
were many elements of human grandeur, and much,
promise of stability in this fair and complicated struc-
ture ; but the event has clearly shown that there was
• something wanting to ensure its safety in the hour of
danger. What was the fatal source of weakness, the
. hidden malady which affected the political frame of
this great empire throughout its vast proportions ? It
was simply this, that the Austrian system was built
, entirely upon a false foundation. It proclaimed
aloud that man was unworthy, from his nature, of
civil liberty, and the voice of outraged public
opinion has replied by levelling the system
with the dust." Simmonds Colonial Maga-
zine is, as usual, exclusively devoted to colonial
interests. In speaking of the new colony at Van-
couver's Island, one of the writers of this magazine
very justly observes, " The settlement of the North
American coast will determine the future empire
of Great Britain in the Pacific Ocean, and
so it becomes the duty of Parliament to

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