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 BritishAgri:u.;
ture" is most convincing, and proves unanfsewarer bi
that the British agriculturist has nothing to
be fernoan!
foreign competition, and that he
to them at
bledo
n atno commandaverage
ofa remunerating
yea
years.
lv e
c:ol2lclineli
ie:fgriol ivrd alisst produce
to
the
attentive study of all farmers,. as be
the Quarrelsctp ovn e y BonfdthUelliHtioeus"sethoef
In the course of
once consolatory and instructive.
an article on "German
writer demonstrates that
day's
of the Emperor Rudolph
Hapsburg, from the
presnt Francis Joseph, has been
kingdom at the cost of the
dAbitwani a t o
athop
(1 d that they first weakened, then dila-
Empire,
and then, under Francis 11. in 1801, ruined
those of
ethek
piloted, 1.1
ire, but that on each occasion they succeeded
Ik:establishing and augmenting the fortunes of their
house ; in the following sentiment }•e entirely
concur:—
.• The necessity of the existence of the Austrian em-
pire in its present condition is, indeed, open to the
gravest doubts. It may luirly be questioned whether
the 'rights' of the Iloust of Hapsburg have not long since
been cancelled by its shortcomings, its treachtries, 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 Commissionaries, at
which foreigners could apply for information and

guides ; and the fitting up of large rafts on the
river with beds, at reasonable charges, for
the accommodation 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 and Englishmen, always ascribing every
action to the worst possible 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 he is ? We
were highly delighted by scrambling among the
Pyrenees with Col. O'Donoghue, who is the most
amusing and vivacious of travelling companions, whose
description of Gaston de Foix, the hero of Froissart,
we commend to the especial notice of my Lori'
John Manners, and those who exclaim with him—
" Let wealth and commerce, laws and learning die,
But give us still our old Nobility."
After describing Gaston Phoalaus• as having
been, according to Froissorr, "an accomplished,
affable, brave, and magnificent Prit.ce," our author
informs us that he repudiated his wife an account of
a dispute touching her dower, and murdered his on
with his own hands ; and thus concludes the history
of this precious specimen of " Old Nobility :"
This rosebud of the time of our Edward M. main-
tained great state at his feudal castle of Fois, enter-
tained lordly men and high-born dames, gentle knights
and courtly demoiselles., gay and gallant troubadours, in
his Gothic towers, little thinking that in due time the
stronghold of his power mad abode of regal pomp should
be converted into a foul prisor, which it at present.
Be that as it may, the rogues and rag .muffins who are
confined in its banquetting-halls now are protaly t
nearly so bad men as the Lliows and followers of the
atrocious Pbcebus; and, fortunately for 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 sera;
criminals are prevented from aspiring to 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.