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

many of which, in like manner, we have carefully ex-
tracted or referred to. The animus of the work is essen-
tially humanising; its diction is peculiarly nervous and
rrins,eci; its plot, with a few minor exceptions, is in-
genious; and its effect altogether bold, harmonious, and
original- No poem of equal length has issued from the
English press for such a number of 3 ears as we have not
the heart to enumerate, with anything approaching to
the ability of the " New Titnon' —it augurs a resuscita-
tion of our bardic glories. Earnestly we commend the
author to his pencil and the woodlands; with due exertion
he may carve himself a niche for posterity.

MAGAZINES-(CONTINUED.)
FRASER.

In these days, when bitter reproaches, abusive epi-
thets, and calumnious charges form the arguments of
one section of the political world the Conservative
leader, if we are to place any confidence to words, is
more detested by many of his former friends than any
Whig, or Radical, or Repealer ; it is a relief to find one
writer, at least, viewing his conduct with calm impar-
tiality, and doing justice to the statesman whom the
writer considers as lost for ever to his party. This is a
proof of good sense, and by-and-by it will have many
imitators—for many of the Tory school at present have
recourse to abuse from sheer vexation, and forget the
first principles of justice and charity in the midst of
disappointments which they never anticipated. They
will, like the writer, be convinced in time that Peel's
conversion is no selfish act—that it is rather a great
sacrifice of power, of friends, of principles long che-
rished, and of many ties which no rational being would
break asunder, but from dire necessity or pure love of
his country. This is fairly admitted. "We give,"
says Fraser," Sir Robert Peel full credit for a conscien-
tious change of opinion on the great question which is
now under discussion in the Legislature. But for such
change, indeed, his conduct would be quite inexplicable.
He has become a free-trader, because be believed that
free trade would benefit 'his country." He then admits
that the system of free trade may be very good—that the
repeal of the corn-laws and the removal of protection
from our heavily-taxed manufacturers and artisans may
be a wise thing, but then says he, measures like these
should not have been proposed by the Conservative
leader, and be should not have dragged his friends
through the mud. This " dragging of friends through
the mud" has become a favourite phrase with a certain
class—a class so obtuse that they cannot perceive the
folly of using it. Why are they dragged through the
mud? Because they will neither walk, nor drive, nor
be led. They are obstinate as the most obstinate of all
classes, and if they can be saved from ruin no other
way, what other resource is there but to lay hold of
them vigorously, and drag them through either mud or
water, or whatever lies between them and a place of
safety? It is equally preposterous to say that the Con-
servative chief should not have performed this act.
Who, then, could have done it? Neither the strength
of Lord John Russell, nor all the power of Mr. Cobden
and the League, without years of ruinous agitation, and
scenes which every friend of peace, and every sincere
patriot would regard with deep anxiety and horror. if
any two facts connected with these measures are more
palpable than others, they are these. Sir Robert Peel
can gain nothing personally or politically by the change,
and there is not one statesman in the country but him-
self who at the present day can carry it. However, the
article altogether is very fair, and one or two portions of
it might be read by the protectionists with advantage.
We will give one as a specimen. It is well known that
the landlords boast loudly that they, and their tenants
and farm labourers, and other dependents, are the best
customers at the markets of Manchester, and Leeds, and
Birmingham. Listen, ye protectionists, to your friend:—
"In favour of a free trade the argument unquestionably
lies, that there are periods in the history of all nations when
the system of policy which reared ceases to be applicable to
their maintenance; exactly as in the individual man, the
morale nd even physical culture which most avails in youth
becomes injurious in the vigour of our days, and kills if it be
persevered in to old age. No fact, for instance, can be more
perfectly established, than that the customs and excise, and
other sources of revenue arising oat of the system of protec-
tion were stretched by the Whigs, in 1839, beyond their just
limits; that they imposed upon both dealers and consumers
inconveniences innumerable, and had ceased to be profitable.
In like manner the old assertion that the agriculturist is the
manufacturer's best customer, will not bear a moment's in-
spection. That the home market is more to the manufac-
turer than all the foreign markets into which he makes his
way, we quite believe ; but the error is to suppose, that the
only buyer in this market is the agriculturist. Consider
what the articles are which the manufacturer produces. He
gives us cotton-piece goods for our shirting and our sheeting,
for the gowns of our wives and daughters ; he gives us
broad cloths and narrow, and woollen fabrics of other sorts
for our coats, trousers, waistcoats, blankets, and such like; lie
supplies us with stockings, shoes, bats, cravats. Every ar-
ticle that is used in the furnishing of our houses—our win -
dow-curtains, bed-curtains, carpets, chair-covers, are the pro-
duce of his loom. Now, who are they that consume these
different articles chiefly? Does the country gentleman, with
his rental of five thousand a-year, expend half so much upon
the clothing of his own person as a spruce clerk in the Ad
miralty, or a shopman in Howell and James's? And when
you look to the farmer, what is his every-day costume? A
shooting-jacket, which lasts him on an average five years—a
pair of corduroy breeches, leather gaiters, and high-lows, to
work his way through which will take him three years at the
least. It is only on market-days and Sunday that he arrays
himself in his green coat and yelL)ws, and these are carefully
pulled off and folded and laid away again as soon as the oc-
casion ceases. Nor is the case different if we compare the
style of dress that prevails among the operatives, and that
which suits the tastes and purses of the agricultural labourers.
We venture to say, that more money is spent upon wearing
apparel in any one thriving street in Manchester, than in
half the purely agricultural villages of Lancashire put to-
gether."

In this number, the other articles in general are respect-
able, and a fe.v of them excellent. We may mention
among these, " The History of a Literary Man (Laman
Blanchard), by Titmarsh;" " Newman's Theories;" and
" Contemporary Orators—Lord Palmerston." The con-
cluding advice in the article on " Puseyism" ought to be
listened to with religious care by every friend of the
Reformation:— _ _

" Every bond of union with such a party ought to be reso-
lutely and immediately broken asunder. Friendship, habit,
kindness, personal advantages, what are these to an uncor-
rupted heart and a conscience void of offence? Under cover
of our own betrayers, Rome advances. Not a moment ought
to be lost. Let the separation from the Jesuitism of Pusey
and the development of Newman, be instant and complete.
Severe crises demand decided measures.

"If private sympathies still weigh down and detain the
struggling disciple,—if the anchor, encumbered by drifting
weeds, will not rise to the hand,—then one course only re-
mains, and that is to cut the cables and prepare for action at
the signal, which ought now to be making from every high
place of education throughout the kingdom,—' Enemy at
Sea.' "