The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-06 00:00:00

FRASER.

Fraser promises to be one of the most useful
labourers in the cause of free trade. His article this
month on "Foreign Competition and British Agricu-
lture" is most convincing, and proves unanswerably
that the British agriculturist has nothing to fear from
foreign competition, and that he will alway.a be ena-
bled to command a remunerating price for his produce
on an average of years. We commend i t to the
being to them at
attentive study of all farmers, as
once consolatory and instructive. In the course of
an article on " German Quarrels and Unities" the
writer demonstrates that the policy of the House cf
Hapsburg, from the days of the Emperor Rudolph
down to those of the present Francis Joseph, has been
obtain a private kingdom at the cost of the
Empire, and that they first
, weakened, then dila-
pidated, and then, under rancis 11. in 1801, ruined
the
Empire, but that on each occasion they succeeded
in establishing and augmenting the fortunes oftheir
house ; in the following sentiment we entirely

coneur:--
4, The necessity of the existence of the Austrian em-
pir,, in its present condition is, indeed, open to the
gravest doubts. It may fairly be questioned whether
the 'rights' of the House of Hapsburg have not long since
been cancelled by its shortcomings, its treacheries, and
its other crimes."

In an article on "London in 1851," the writer throws
out several hints which will be found by those who
speculate in catering for the accommodation of the
visitors to the "world's fair" both useful and profit-
able ; among them we particularly note the sugges-
tion for opening somewhere in the neighbourhood of
Leicester-square of an office for Comnzissionarzes, at
which foreigners could spply for inforn3atiou and

guides ; and the fitting up of large rafts on the
river with beds, at reasonable charges, for
the acc,aarnodation of' those who will be
glad to get a few hours' sleep on the lowest terms."
The author of the "Age of Veneer" is bitterly sarcastic
on England an:i Englishmen, always ascribing every
action to the worst p: ssible motive. What if an in-
quiry were to be made into his motives for thus " be-
wraying his own nest," like a sorry bird as be is ? We
were highly delighted by scrambling among the
fyren ees with Col. O'llonoghue, who is the most
amusing and vivacious of travelling companions, whose
description of Gaston de Poi; the hero of Froissart,
we commend to the especial notice of my Lori
John Manners, and those who exclaim with him—
" Let wealth end commerce, laws and learning die,
But give us still our old Nobility."
After describing Gaston Phoebus as baying
been, according to Froissart, "an accomplished,
affable, brave, and magnificent Prince," our author
informs us that he repudiated his wife an account of
a dispute touching her dower, and murdered his son
with his own hands ; and thus concludes the history
of this precious specimen of " Old Nobility :"
" This rosebud of the time of our Edward 111. main-
tained great state at his feudal castle of Foix, enter-
tained lei dly men and high-born dames, gentle knights
and courtly demoiselks, gay and gallanttroubadourr, in
his Gothic towers, little thinking that in due time the
stronghold of his power and abode of regal pomp should
be converted into a foul prison, which it is at present.
Be that as it may, the rogues and ragamuffins who are
confined in its banquetting-halls now are probably not
nearly so bad men as the fellows and followers of the
atrocious Phoebus; and, fortunately ter the inhabitants
of every town, village, and hamlet, within a week's ride,
the present occupants cannot stir out at the sound of
' boot and saddle.' Happy are the people whose worst
criminals are prevented from aspiring
!co the commission
of crime beyond that of petty larceny."
The writer of an article on the search after Sir John
Franklin expresses a trust and a confidence that
some of the members of that ill-fated expedition still
survive ; we hope his trust may prove not misplaced,
although we must confess that we now fear the worst.
"Phantoms and Realities" is continued, and we have
besides reviews of "Lord Holland's Reminiscences,"
and of the poems of Mr. and Mrs. Browning.