The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-02 00:00:00

in its effects than all the severities of despotismand I and finish. The last chapterends with a catastrophe,
the extravagancies of democracy. Quarrels, in inasmuch as the old miser uncle has deluded the
short, whether of nations or of individuals, are for young nephew, who devoted himself assiduously to
the most part really what they are termed euphoni- his comforts into the belief that his hoarded trea-
ously, misunderstandings,' and if this could be surcs would be his possession, and at last the will re-
recognised and acted upon, there would be a fair vealed that the shining stores were to enrich a hos-
prospect of getting rid of a large and pestilent class pital. Those who have been interested in the fate
of them altogether." " Wheat and Tares," is con- of Hugh, will be inclined to exclaim that Mark
tinned, but the story does not make much progress. Cudworth should have remembered the old adage,
There is also another instalment of the pleasant " that charity begins at home." The second title of
sketch of Twickenham, as 'The literary suburb of the this tale is " Unfairly played and falsely won," and
eighteenth century." Pope's villa there is spoken therefore in the next instalment it is to be sup-
of as " the first home of genius erected by the in- posed that some exciting incidents will be re-
dependent support of the English nation." " Why corded. There is another paper very well adapted
not the Lords too ?" is the title of an article which for the present period, on " Robert Stephenson
recommends that the proposed reforms in the Legis- and Isambard Brunel." It is a very interesting
'attire should be extended to the Upper House. The paper, and passes well-merited eulogiums to the
writer's tendencies are Conservative, and he evi- memory of the departed. After alluding, in a de-
dently looks with some anxiety and suspicion on tailed manner, to the various works and achieve-
the increase of political power in the hands of the ments of our great engineers, the follwing just re-
masses, and as a safe counterbalance he desires to marks are made :—Groat Britain may well be proud
see the House of Lords more vigorously constituted. of both her departed sons ; and though the verdict
Whether the reader agrees with his suggestions or of posterity may be, and we believe will be, that
not, he will probably be interested in the perusal of the two Stephenson was the greatest benefactor
of his paper. He recommends the adoption of to his country, because his genius was the
life peerages, at least for Lord Chancellors, more under the control of his judgment,
and men who are raised for their own achievements, yet future generations will acknowledge that great
without any great estate to bequeath to their sue- truths are taught alike by great failures and by
cessors ; which would, he says, " put an end to the great successes, and will cherish the memory o f
influx of obscure and landless men. The presence Robert Stephenson and Isambard Brunel, as of met
in the great council of the nation, of men without whose lives have beeu fraught with valuable lessons
property, talent, or importance of any sort, sitting to the whole human race." There are other papers
merely because they had an ancestor who was a in this number that will be found of interest in their
successful lawyer or a distinguished soldier is a several ways, and, on the whole, we must consider
great and increasing evil." It is also suggested that the present is of more than ordinary merit, from
that it would be an advantageous arrangement if the importance of the subjects, and the excellent
men who had held Cabinet offices for a long period manlier in which they are treated.
were permitted to take their seats for the remainder
of their lives in the House of Lords ; and he would

extend the same privilege to ex-Governors of the
principal colonies, and those who had received by
name the thanks of Parliament for their public ser-
vices. Various other suggestions are made of the
same character, and many of them deserve conside-
ration, but we think the writer is mistaken in sup-
posig the House of Lerds would ever take the initia-
tive in legislation. It is by no means desirable
that it should do so, as it would entirely disarrange
the system of our constitutional government.
Nevertheless the article is an able one, and deserves
perusal. There aro also papers on the Hague, and
an English view of the United States.