The Sun.
London, England, 1833-01-01 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN MAGAZINE.

" Evidence before the Committee on the Silk
Trade " is one of those dry, technical papers,
which the experienced in such matters only will
read with attention. It has all the appearance—
but we speak with all the humility becoming
profoundest ignorance—of having been drawn
up with care and labour by a literary workman
well versed in the nature of the tools he handles.

" Letter from Paris "is more to our taste. It
is very sagacious and spirited, and among other
equally ingenious observations, containing sonic
on the nature of aristocratic and democratic
parties.

" The fact is, that none but aristocratic parties endure.
They are like rivers, that sweep in a continued course,
more rapid and violent at first, and more large and calm
at last, but increasing ever, until they reach the great
ocean, where they are destined to disappear. Democratic
party, on the contrary, resembles now a huge lake, inun-
dating and overwhelming the whole land ; whilst the next
season it dries up, disappear., and leaves not even the trace
of its channel behind. Look through history. You will
tee York and Lancaster, Orleans and Burgundy, spill blood,
and alternately monopolize influence for centuries; whilst
the popular party breaks forth but in momentary insurrec-
tion, quenched soon by the sword and the scaffold. More
lately the Puritans were a popular party. They rose in
1640, and were irresistibly triumphant; they placed their
chief upon the Stuart's throne. Yet in a short twenty
years they were no more. It is said, that the wits and
poets of the Restoration put Puritanism to flight by the
arrows of their ridicule ; but these were spent upon a body
already extinct. In 1660, the English people had sent in
their resignation, to use a phrase of their neighbours, and
Charles the Second trod down the upper classes, merely
because the lower ones were indifferent. As to Whigs and
Tories, those were merely aristocratic parties. A popular
one—where is it to be found throughout the last century of
our history, except in applauding Sacheverel, and hissing
Lord Bute? In 1790, indeed, our people began to awaken
to political feeling. Yet bow soon were they frightened
or lulled. In 1830 they awoke again ; and are atill awake.
But how long will they remain so? Not till 1835, that
I venture to prophesy. Radicals, look to it; and although
now afloat, look for the time as possibly near, when the
tide will ebb, and leave you on the dry sand."
The above cursory reflections are full of in-
genuity, and are equally remarkable for their
strict accuracy. But the whole of the article is
penned in the same keen, searching spirit of in-
vestigation. " The Fifth Estate " is a very
so-so affair, referring, of course, to the press,
though with no great point or vivacity. " The
Newspapers " is an elaborate pains-taking ar-
ticle, telling many truths, and indulging in some
few exaggerations. The writer is evidently a
man perfectly familiar with his subject, but who
has been at more pains to show his knowledge
than his powers of entertainment. " A Day
with Sir Walter Scott " is lively and anec-
dotical. The remaining articles are of the usual
average.