The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-06 00:00:00

MISCELLAIVEOUS.

The first article in the Eclectic Review for De-
cember treats of the "progress, circumstances, and
character of crime in England." It is chiefly valu-
able as affording in some well-arranged statistical
tables a comprehensive view of the average increase
and decrease of crime throughout the various counties
of England. Alluding to the enormous increase of
crime between the years 1821 and 1831, the writer
very judiciously remarks that that increase is most
probably more nominal than real, the improved sys-
tem of police facilitating the detection of offences.
Since 1831, however, notwithstanding the detective
vigilance of the police, the number of criminals has
decreased in an extraordinary degree, snore especially
in the metropolitan and manufacturing counties.
From this circumstance, argues the writer in the
Eclectic, "it is palpable that some powerful principle
counteractive of crime has been in operation."
This very excellent paper concludes with the cheer-
ing reflection that the progress of the people in know-
ledge and morality, within the last thirty years, has no
parallel in the preceding history of the country.—The
Metropolitan for December is more than usually in-
teresting. " Mr. Higginbotham's Catastrophe" is
exquisitely ridiculous. An interesting article upon
" l'alfourd's Lamb" is marred by a very unmerited
diatribe against the humorous writers of the present
day.: the author of this invective has argued from false
premises ; he has drawn a picture of a most repre-
hensible " gent," who can " neither love nor hate,
believe nor pray ;" and he tells us that such is the
reader of comic sketches ; whereas, it is against this
very class that the keenest wit and the bitterest irony
of the comic writers from Punch downwards
is most especially levelled ! The Sporting
Review gives us a spirited glimpse of a
" steeplechase," three horses are in the air, in
the act of " taking" a wall—the saddle of one is
tenantless. Among the literary contents of the
Sporting Review is a biography of the late William
Scott.—The Belle Assemblee is adorned with a por-
trait of Helen M'Gregor. The literary contents are,
as usual, very interesting and attractive. The accom-
plished editress (Mrs. Newton Crosland) has contri•
buted one of her earnest and effective narratives.--
Sharpe's London Magazine has in no wise de-
teriorated from the improved appearance which
we commended some months back. Its lite-
rary and pictorial contents render it equal to
most, and superior to many of its periodi-
cal contemporaries. The present number con-
tains a very beautiful view of " The Meeting of
the Waters," and an engraving of Rembrandt's "Jew
Merchant." Mrs. Cowden Clarke has written an
interesting chapter on " Shakspera's Individuality of
Characters." The author of " Frank Fairleigh"
continues his serial novel ; and reviews and miscella-
nies fill up the remainder.of Sharpe's.—TheFarmer's
Magazine contains an engraving of" A Pen of Short-
woolled Sheep," most beautifully executed. The
expression of the animals' countenances does as
much credit to the artist as their enormous
bulk does to the breeder. The Farmer's also
contains " A Short-horned Cow," and " Cymba,
the winner of the Oaks." The ordinary quantum of
agricultural information and advice is to be found in
the December number of this most excellent periodi-
cal.—The Church of England Magazine now comes
within the sphere of criticism. It contains, as usual,
a selection of religious instruction and interesting
reading apportioned to the five Sundays in December.
This number also contains a juvenile tale for Christ-
mas-day, which may be perused with pleasure and
advantage in the nursery and school-room.—The
Patent Journal contains an amazing variety of
scientific information; and the Repertory of new Patent
inventions gives, as usual, a list of all new patent in-
ventions, with beautifully designed steel engravings
of the same.—Le Follet contains three plates of
fashions—the newest Parisian fashions, we presume—
so exquisitely drawn, and so delicately' coloured, as to
render them worthy of being treasured up in the
album. The Colonial Church Chronicle, as its
name imports, furnishes particulars respecting the
missionary and ecclesiastical affairs of the Colonies.
—The first article in Simmonds' Colonial Magazine
asks the momentous question, " Does not the pre-
sent crisis of England need new sources of revenue."
—To retrench our expenditure is not enough, says the
Colonial, we must increase our incomings, and
" one new source of revenue might be effected by
facilitating the intercourse between England and her
rich colonies in the Eastern hemisphere, by shorten-
ing 'the 'passage to the Pacific ;" and this is to be done
only by putting in execution the long•talked-of pro-
ject of cutting through the Isthmus of Panama.—The
new numbers of Murray's Home and Colonial Li-
brary contain Lord Alahon's Historical Sktches.