The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-16 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE _HISTORY OF EGYPT.
By Samuel Sharpe.
As the author of this noble volume very judiciously
of s ryes in his prerace, after the histories of the Jews,
of Greece, and of Rome, the next in importance among c
the ancient empires of the globe is, without any ques•
Lion, that of Egypt. From that wonderful and myste-
rious land we have derived our chemical and mathema-
tical knowledge ; from the emulation excited by its
primitive inhabitants first emerged the arts of architec-
ture and of sculpture ; to its political systems we can
almost trace the root of our legislative learning ; and
the original texture of our philosophy, our poetry, and
(or practical studies have derived their colouring from
parsing to us originally from the country, of the Nile.
When we reflect, moreover, that the obelisk of Hello-
ro!is was in existence at the remote date of Abrahaaen
migration—that the colossal figures and tumuli which
still excite our awe amidst the sands of Africa have
braved destruction during four thousand years—when
we remember that Plato strayed among its acacia
boughs, and that Pythagoras has strode upon its beach
—that Thebes was in such glory before the birth of
Homer, and is in such ruin now—that the Pharaohs
battled with the prophets, and that Alexander there
purposed the erection of a city which should continue
for ever and for ever the capital of the world, bearing
his name to the most remote posterity—when we turn,
,
moreover, to the deeds of prowess achieved by the ET-
peror Napoleon, under the shadow of the Pyrsinus'
and then bel.old the stability, and prosperity, and g2(V.,
of the prrsent government, under the jurisdiction of Wet
illustrious oid man, Mahomet Ali—it is impos,ible not
to rtgaid with an exceeding interest the narration of
the History of Egypt. Mr. Sharpe has seized upon a
noble subject for the employment of his historical learn-
ing and of his literary powers ; and nobly has he accom-
polished his endeavour.

THE MILITARY STRENGTI-1 OF
THE UNITED STATES.
The military strength tit the United States is usua f
far overrated ; we are blinded by her immense natural
resources, and do not consider that these resources, from
want of a sufficient population, are only to a small ex-
tent developed, and from the weakness of the Central
Government can be but imperfectly employed. We
rather estimate America by what she may possibly be
at some future distant period, than by what she actually
is at this moment.

The most exaggerated ideas are entertained of her
naval power ; we fancy her a rival of the English.
The American navy in 1845 consisted of the follow-
ing vessels t—eleven ships of the line, viz., one of
120 guns, seven of 80, and three of 74 ; seventeen
frigates, mostly of 44 guns, with a total of 738
guns ; thirty four smaller vessels, of 30 to 6 guns ; two
steam-boats of 500 horse-power, one of 220 horse-powers
and one of 120 horse-power, total 1,360 horse-power.
The American fleet in 1845 was manned with 6,100 T'
men, of which only 960 were American born, the zllflJ9--""
of the remainder being English. In this statement, are
comprised the unseaworthy-vessels. The greatest o
the Americans could send to sea within one month being
five ships of the line and six first-class frigates. n°l"
ever,
ever, America has important sources for her navy in h 000
er
numerous merchant-ships and steamers, employing rce
63,000 men, of which, however, above 40,000 are born
Engishmen. The English royal and merchant tool
employs 288,630 men. A great merchant navy can ow,'
he:of importance when backed by a strong war navy,
which the seamen brought up in the former can be wale
available.
The American army in 1844 consisted of 8,616 men e;
this, in proportion to the total population, is but 1-22,7-
the French army, and 1-26 of the Bavarian army-
though the Americans have done much, by their miissart.
school at Westsoint, to diffuse military science; and
though they have, even in time of peace, a dispron:
tionately large number of officers, yet are these insuhl
eient to give the necessary readiness esti skill to ito
army suddenly and largely increased in time of solrl'
Of a sufficiency for the militia, rated at 1,7 BQ'
or 9.2 per cent. of the population of 1844, 18.9841,..,
inhabitants, or of any supply of available
ides
or artillery fer even the greatest necessity, 11° nird,
can be entertained. Without these, in open gr°e--
like the whole coast land of the States is througuoug
Napoleon's guard itself could have done nothing, 113°,,,c
less a militia, with only a sprink ing of military kr
__l
ledge and forms. The prepon lerance of sg.rielli ufire%
population will, however, cause this militia to here
any
:uss
ph) sical appearance, containing many strong, r b
men, and also, what cannot be too highly prized. 113 the
of them will be practised marksmen. Still, the usore
physical condition of the army is set forth, the /Dore
the total want of organic homogeneity felt, as als
principal quality of a regular army—subordination'_
This will also be increased by the unrestrained freest:en
of the Americans in their civil life. t, rrsi
gard
No illusions ought, however, to be allowed wit-
to the number of militia that can be brought toget._lees
Male labour is there scarce. At harvsst-time the mill !„
will disband itself, and for such periods the enemy will
reserve their chief attacks.
One of the greatest obstacles to a good and especially'
long-enduring conduct of a war. is the want of a strong
central Governmei,t, which can dispose unrestrictedly
of the military resources cf the confederation. The diffe-
rent states of the Union will feel the burden of the war
in very various proportions, especially the states on the
sea board, as navigation and trade will be at a stand still.
Among these in particular,• whither the war will be ac-
tracted by the thicker population, the number of large, rieh
towns, and perhaps also by a commercial jealousy of its
flourishing manufactures. The sudden fall of all sorts of
paper in consequence of a war, as well as the change in the..
also ofthaprecions metals and all other articles, will cause
a change in the money-market and state of credit, that
would be felt throughout the Union, but most in New .
England, as the seat of the greatest trading capitals-
The Western States, on the contrary, will only feel the
war in its effects of a stoppage of the sale of their ,P 11)"
duce, and increase in the price of manufactured gemr•
The successes of the Americans in the war of inde,
pendence, as also in the war of 1812-15, have caused the
Americans greatly to overrate their own military
strength. They ascribe these successes to their strength,
while, in fact, they only resulted from a rare combination
of fortunate circumstances. In the war of independence
the capitulation of Burgoyne at Saratoga was the
foundation of all subsequent successes, by giving occasion
to the alliance with France. The disparity in the talents
of the respective commanders, the French alliance, and
the then pending war, in which England was engage('
with France, Spain and Holland, were all causes of the
success of the American arms.

The war in 1815 showed repeatedly in the highest
degree the little dependence to be. placed on the militis,
and proved that quadruple superiority cannot compee"
sate for radical deficiencies in a military power. Bow'
they seldom speak in America of the numberless
defeats sustained by the Americans in their own states
and in Canada ; they only sp( ak of Jackson's victory ill
New Orleans. General Jackson would not, however,
have been so successful before New Orleans but for the
delay and errors of the English commanders.

The chief stratagetie ide-a of England vin- 1812 waif
to attack the la,gest and most popular cities that could
ontribute most to the war-taxes, and to waste the sur-
ounding inhabited country. As the prevailing winds
.n the American coast are favourable to voyages from
north to south, and vice versa, these expeditions would
:ollow quick upon one another, before the Americans,
,•oncentrated on one point, could be again dispersed.
These tactics will serve for another war, as troops
would be quickly transported from one part of the
,oust to another with ease and speed, and on the other
side, the importance of the coast towns has enormously
:ncreased since that period. New York in 1844 had
431,000, Philadelphia 310,000, Baltimore 161,000, and
Boston 118,000 inhabitants.
The United States have certainly a great number of
seam-ships, but compared to England but few large
sea going steam-ships ; they are also wanting in means
of nrmam-nt and practised men for the marine and-ar-
-ttlery service. Nor are those procurable endowed with
hat obedience and endurance in danger peculiar to die-
etplinsd troops. The American river boats might cer-
ainly be fitted for sea by widening the keels, and other-
wise strengthening them, but their mode of construction,
Ind the weakness of tht it machines, would unfit them for
,earl ke purposes, or speed in a heavy sea. ,
In spite of their disproportionately small means of re.
,istance, the Americans, blinded by their cheaply gained
41ory in the wars of 1776 and 1812-15, persist in chal-
lenging the English by their cbichanery and rhodomon-
What
wouldeb'e) pbpecoormteed when
the tade of all kinds. The latter are slow to commerce a
wwamr,kiwchaicuhse, whilethem
the it c
mostoul d result
serious in i
nfjeuwryl real
rhealiebdeyovsi
3:
vawopnuhwlot
employed.
h:cg.eutheer
al
dsdea.,
States produce three-fourths o
million and a half of the English
people
Americaetrheebycot forces
great sums lent by the g
El w,
supply then,
ofwould cotton all
when a part of the force
now main-
the East Indies stand,
- •order there was withdrawn to be employed
taming
States ? Would
the United not Canada rise,
againstilv if England refuses to admit her
wheat at any
down the
lower rate than American,
of Canadian land, now so kept I,
value up uy the present
dig.,rential duty ?
Could England bring the greatest art of its
would
cotton from India and E
hold a firmer tone gypt, she doubtless
against America than • now,
when the hands of the giant are chained. by fetters,
which although only
as if of iron. If even If
lcotdtel)), are as strong
conces-
sions and diplomatic hooedgwlakingys, masked
succeed Lonpceres:
serving peace yet awhile, still will this in the end
avail nothing ;it will, in spite of all, come to war. The
real causes of quarrel do not lie in Oregon, nor in
Texas, nor in Mexico, tor in Canada, but in'the ever
increasing demands of the Americans. But if England
must strike the blow, it will be boldly and.deciswely
struck, that all may -be over between one cotton
especially
England refuses
merchant and another. Some fine morning we
shall read in the papers that an English " experimental
squadron" has destroyed the American fleet or bom-
barded New York. The south and east will clamour for
peace ; the west, whom no red=coats can hint, will not
yield, but will probably refuse to pay. The notion of
America's present military strength will then burst like
a soap-bubble.—Augsburg Gazette.

SUICIDE OF A YOUNG LADY AT GREENWICH.--0/1
Saturday an inquest was held at the residence of Captain Fowle,
of Myrtle-place, Greenwich, to take into consideration the death of
Miss Jane Grant Wilkinson, aged 30 years, who committed suicide.
Miss Anne Fowle stated that the deceased was her sister-in-law, and "
had returned from Barbadoes six weeks ago. Up to Sunday last she
appeared In her usual health and spirits, but on Monday she became
melancholy, in consequence of the continued illness of a younger
sister whom she had brought over wills her from the West Indies,
labouring under temporary lunacy. Witness went out at the de-
ceased's request, and bought an ounce of the essential oil of almonds,
which she said she wished to take back to Barbadoes with her for
culinary purposes. On the night of Wednesday she heard the de-
ceased groaning in her bed, and upon going Into the room she dis-
covered that she was just dead. The bottle which had contained
the oil of almonds was in the bed. A medical man proved that the
deceased took enough poison to destroy eight persoue. The Jury re;
,i turned a verdict el' " Temporaryilititteirdittti,",--