The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-05 00:00:00

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE.

Wonderfully silent is our political essayist of the
Dublin University at this extraordinary period of com-
mercial change; the great achievements of free trade
appear to have frightened his editorship into this un-
usual state of silence,—a silence, however, which we
cannot induce ourselves to regret. In lieu, of any
lamentations at the downfall of protection, the magazine
leads off with an agreeable story of a Roman sculptor's
first-love. For one article we can express our personal
obligations; we allude to a survey of " The Insurrections
and Insurgents of Italy," translated from the Revue des
Meux Mondes. In those two short chapters the reader
obtains a perfect knowledge of the different moral con
vulsions which have disturbed the Italian states during
the past century. Seeing that it has long been the
fashion to regard the domination of Italy under
Napoleon as a most vicious and baleful despotism, we
are rejoiced to find a correct exposition of that great
man's policy brought before the English public in a con-
densed and popular manner like the present. Far from
reducing everything into subserviency for the purpose
of insuring the continuance of a tyrannic sway, and
that at all risks, at all hazards. and at the expense
of any and every subordinate portion of the kingdom,
Napoleon infused into the Government of Italy, u
healthier tone than that country had ever before acquired
What does our writer say respecting the modelling of
his Italian constitution ? This—

" Everywhere talent was sought out, and obtained its pro-
per place and due reward. Equality of right was, at the
same time guaranteed by the cede, by the new organ-
isation of the tribunals and the administration, and
by the laws, which were highly favourable to industry
and manufactures, and to the developement of the power
of the middle classes. * * * Dating
from 1808, there was throughout all Italy but one
code, one system of judicial organisation, one financial
system, one method of public instruction ' • the brigands
were rapidly disappearing; the public roads were rendered
safe to travel ; and fusion of manners and intermingling of
interests, was harrying on the work of nationality. At the
same time, a spirit of activity was infused into every mind ;
the peninsula began to be covered with new monuments ;
ancient structures were completed and repaired; vast roads
were traced out ; agriculture made astonishing progress ;
and the arts, sciences, literature, and even the Italian lan-
guage itself, never received greater encouragement, than
during the reign of Napoleon As to
that section of the aristocracy which did cot side
with Napoleon, it was annihilated by the salutary
influence of that arrangement which elevated to the
highest posts in the State men whose only recom-
mendation was their talent. The democratic party had
noiselessly appeared, absorbed into the highly-popular admi-
nistration of Napoleon. The democrats saw that liberty and
equality, though not now talked about, were, notwithstanding,
realised."

These are important admissions, and show in its true
light the abstract beneficence and practical good devolving
upon the inhabitants of those classic territories through
the agency of the Emperor's sovereignty. Nor is the
subversion of that wonderful man's power in Italy attri-
butable to any fallacies or discrepancies in his code, but
rather to extraneous circumstances of a most unforeseen
description. An internal agitation was excited by the
aristocratic party, who had been slighted by Beauhar-
nais; and this agitation was furthered still more by cer-
tain democratic factions of no principle whatever, either
moral or political. Fanaticism, in the shape of a new
sect, entitled the Carbonari, tended at the same time to
stir up the more ignorant among the population; while
a foreign interference on the part of the Austrian Go-
vernment fomented the difficulties of the Viceroy Eugene
—difficulties which were brought to their consummation
by the disasters of the Russian campaign. Thus—in
our estimation, and in *the estimation of all sensible
readers of Italian history—a most benign and humanising
rule was subverted. Has the cara e bella Italia been a
gainer or a loser by the change of masters ? Is not its
present position a sufficient answer? " Stray Leaflets
from the Oak of German Poetry," are rugged and occa-
sionally uncouth, but rich with thought and feeling.
" Glintings of the Shannon" are picturesque ; but the
following, by that accomplished author, G. P. R. .Ttmes,
is the most powerful and apropos contribution in the
Number:—

ON A WAR WITH AMERICA.
A cloud is on the western sky,
There's tempest o'er the sea,
And bankrupt States are blustering high,
But not a whit care we.
Our guns shall roar, our steel shall gleam,
Before Columbia's distant stream
Shall own another's sway ;
We'll take our stand,
And draw the brand,
As in the ancient day. •
They count on feuds within the isle,
They think the sword is broke,
They look to Ireland, and they Emile—
But let them bide the stroke.
When rendered one in hand and heart
By robber, war, and swindler art,
Home griefs all cast away;
We'll take our stand,
And draw the brand,
As in the ancient day.
Oh, let them look to where in bonds
For help their bondsmen cry—
Oh, let them look ere British hands
Wipe out that living lie.
Beneath the flag of Liberty
We'll sweep the wide Atlantic Sea,
And tear their chains away;
There take our stand,
And draw the brand,
As in the ancient day.
Veil, starry banner, veil your pride,
The blood-red cross before,
Emblem of that by Jordan's side,
Man's freedom-price that bore.
No land is strong that owns a slave,
Vain is it wealthy, crafty, brave:
Our freedom for our stay,
We'll take our stand,
And draw the brand,
As in the ancient day.
Shout, dusky millions, through the world!
Ye scourge-driven nations, shout !
The flag of liberty's unfurled,
And freedom's sword is out !
The slaver's boastful thirst of gain
Tends but to break his bondsman's chain ;
And Britain's on the way
To take her stand,
And draw the brand,
As in the ancient day.
This is a fine, stirring, and noble-spirited poem. The
number altogether for March is really excellent.