The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-19 00:00:00

RUNGA.R Y.

" A Hungarian," in a letter to the Times, says :
--There are mang great events in the history of the
world which would excite our astonishment if we
knew from what slight causes they arose, and if
we could realise their improbability. A moment,
an opportunity taken advantage of, often suffices to
save nations from their fall, and to lead them to-
wards regeneration and a powerful future existence.
Such moments have recently been given to Hun-
gary ; for the Kazinczy festival, the petition of the
Pesth students, the Grauer demonstrations, the
laying of the foundation stone of the museum in
Transylvania, the public attitude assumed by the
Protestants of Hungary, have clearly proved that
all classes of the country hold together, that they
have enough energy in them to form a strong
nation, and that, holding firm to their customs,
language, nationality, rights, and to the integrity
of the country and to the independence of their
administration, they know very well how to dis-
cern the difference between laws and patent.
It is impossible to describe the impression made
upon the public mind in Hungary by the leading
article in the Times of the 27th of December. The
passage—" Were Austria to be relied upon, were
she strong enough to hold her own, were there any
hope that her provinces would support her, or that
her multitudinous army could combat at once in-
ternal revolt and foreign invasion, she would
still be the natural ally of this country ; for
England above everything wishes to strengthen
the unambitious Powers of Europe. But it seems
now to be generally acknowledged that there
is no hope for the Empire. Should Austria rise
again to the rank of a powerful and prosperous
State, it will be one of the most remarkable re-
coveries recorded in history. The worst of the
disease is that it is chronic, and that, though the
disease may be no worse than at present for many
years, it is, almost certain she will be no better,"
was received with rejoicing, and earnestly studied
by many, as a manifestation of the well-con-
sidered practical view taken and knowledge of the
question expressed by England ; but the men who
even.now, as if struck by blindness, hold the reins
of Government with feeble hand, smile at these well-
meant warnings, for they deem themselves by far
too wise to lend ear to anything like sound advice.
Man is.prone to go along with success, and hails
it with enthusiasm. The victorious arms of France
—despite the envy they may have caused in some
breasts—turned the heads of the whole world. The
alliance between England and France is becoming
daily more pronounced, closer and closer ; for in the
opinion of a practical Briton, whose feelings go
more with his interests than with his inclinations,
Austria is of little weight and must appear light—
yes, too light.
The Austrian monarchy, by many considered
necessary for the maintenance of the balance of
power in Europe, possessed sympathies abroad as
long-as she was strong ; but now that she has be-
come too weak to be a bulwark against an attack
from the East, .too poor in the talents of her de-
spotically appointed protectionist statesmen to win
the confidence and affection of her people, of
too volcanic a nature to give a durable peace
to Europe, divided by obstinacy and stupidity,
sunk too deep to find sympathies abroad where
such still exist even for the worst systems of Go-
verment, she must either fall under the fate of
complete dissolution or be reconstructed altogether ;
and this every man knows who will not deceive
himself.
The only means of Austria saving herself would
be for her to return to that point where she aban-
doned the path of legitimacy, of the laws, of
acknowledged rights, and to act towards all her
provinces up to the spirit of the present ago.
But the Hungarian question is the most difficult
—the most complicated—the most urgent ; it ought
to be settled the very first, because by the passive
resistance shown by Hungary everything is kept
at a standstill, and Austria cannot form a Power
with a dissatisfied Hungary ; sh( is, as it were,
paralyzed, and yet she will not admit that the
Hungarian question is the vital question of Austria,
. _

The Wood-Rangers. From the French of Luis de
Bellomare. By Captain Mayne Reid, author of
the " Scalp Hunters," " Oceola," eto. 3 vols.
Hurst and Blackett.
This is a most delightful work, full of freshness,
life, and vigour. All the details of Indian life and
adventures that have been brought before us by this
author are remarkable for their striking nature, and
this tale is equal to its predecessors. Although not
original, the translation is so ably executed that
few can detect a difference, and all lovers of
spirit-stirring adventures, and admirable delinea-
tions of forest life, will be indebted to the author
who has enabled them to peruse this book. The
story is very complicated, and some may possibly
deem it exaggerated in the last passages ; but those
who have studied the course of events will ac-
knowledge the mysterious and marvellous manner
in which the finger of justice has pointed out
the criminal after years have rolled by, and the
accumulation of occurrences have almost effaced
the record of his crimes from the memory. A
more solemn and striking scene could hardly be
penned by the novelist than that which here de-
picts the last hour of Don Estevan. This proud
and defiant man, who had outraged laws both
human and Divine, had prospered as the guilty
often do, and was on the eve of completing an
undertaking which, in magnitude and magnifi-
cence, was to be the crown of his high endea-
vours, and the glory of his ambitious life. This
was the hour of Heaven's retribution, when the
splendours of earth's highest honours and the trea-
sures of her richest mines seemed to become the
appanage and adorn the existence of the daring
aspirant. He had wandered far and wide—in
the court, the city, and the camp—had
crossed and re-crossed the ocean, and had
braved the horrors of many a stormy conflict ; yet
he escaped the dangers of the storm, the whirl-
wind, and the fire, to hear the still small voice
which came unawares upon him while he went, as
he thought, where no eye could see him, while--
"He bent his steps where twilight reigns sublime,
O'er forests silent since the birth of time."
As the trumpet of the last• judgment the summons
sounded in the ear of the exulting sinner, and told
him that that day " his soul was required of him."
A more spirited hero than Tiburcio could hardly be
imagined. He was all that enters into the mind
when conjuring up visions of dauntless chiefs and
heroic warriors. In the description of the adven-
tures of " Tancred" in the East, it is said that he
was regarded by the foe with the highest considera-
tion, " not because he was a great prince whose
ransom would bring many camels to their tribe, but
because he had shown those feats of valour which
the wild desert honours ;" so, in the chronicle of
this hero's adventures, we lose sight of his being
the descendant of the most chivalric and stately
nobility in Christendom, in the feeling of
admiration which is called forth by his
personal prowess and individual greatness. He
required not -to look into the past for renown while
his present was so glorious and his future so rich
in promise. It is a satire on the futility that often
attends the efforts of men, prompted by greed, gain,
and gold, to survey the scenes that took place in
the Golden:Valley. To the/daring Don Estevan, and
the despicable Cuchillo, it was as if they were
gaming, like the Israelite of old, on the promised
land which he might not enter. To the brave trio,
consisting of Fabian de Mediana, as Tiburcio was
then styled, and the brave " Woodrangers," the
hindrance offered to their search for gold was a
disappointment, but not a vital hindrance. They
looked on gold as a means, not an end, and the ob-
stacle that drove them back was not to their minds
like the crystal bar which forbade entrance into
Eden. When all was over, and the double murders
of Fabian's mother and his adopted father had been
avenged, all wish for wealth had departed from the
honest minds of this brave band, and they left un-
touched the glittering piles, to gain which their
enemies had been selling their souls to the powers
of darkness, Cuchillo had murdered, in the most
revolting manner, the man Who trusted him, and
Don Estevan had several times planned the destruc-
tion. of Fabian, after having deceived, in the most
treacherous manner, the confiding Don Augustin.
The crime of Cuchillo had been perpetrated, like
that of his patron, where no eye but that of his
Creator saiv him murder his fellow-creature, but,
unseen by man, it was marked of God. The dis-
clorure was as sudden to the guilty pair as if the
sea had given up its dead from the depths of its
fathomless waves, and as if the silent desert had
found a voice to declare the outraged traveller
"by a dark stream was laid," as if what seemed
eternally concealed beneath the shade of its giant
trees, was revealed by the murmurs of its mighty
waters. In the course of the narrative the reader
will find much noticeable description of the strange
and peculiar life of the woodrangers, of which
gallant band two finer specimens could not be ad-
duced than Bois-Rose and Pepe. The grand old
Canadian sailor, and the brave Spanish carabineer
found pursuits that were kindred to their daring
souls, and a home congenial to their brave natures,
in the primeval prairies, the forest depths, and the
lonely deserts. No Indian hero whose only hope,
when his life is over, is to resume his beloved
sport in the eternal hunting grounds that
await him in the land of spirits, could have
exceeded in his fiery ardour the cool courage
of these hardy adventurers. The preroga-
tive given to the sons of men to have dominion over
the creatures that walk the earth is never more
grandly exercised than when they track the beasts
of prey to their hidden lairs, and confront the forest
kings with a hardihood and dexterity that proves
them to be the lords of creation. Those who desire
to dwell on stirring scenes and startling adventures
will find a treasure in this record of the " Wood
Rangers," which may be fairly commended to the
reading community as a work of mark, presenting
as it does a glowing description of gallant deeds,
and a striking passage of the annals of crime. It
is, therefore, undoubtedly a successful addition to
the stores of forest delineations.

A Visit to the .Phillippine Islands. By Sir J.
Bowring, F.R.S., late Governor of Hong-
Kong. Smith and Elder.
A work from the pen of the British plenipotentiary
in China must necessarily attract some attention,
since his official position would naturally give him
many opportunities of observation which are denied
to others. In the present instance, however, in ad-
dition to his diplomatic dignities, the author of the
work before us bears a name not unknown in lite-
rature, and the narrative of his visit to the eastern
Spanish Archipelago has consequently a double
claim on the public. At the close of 1858 Sir John
Bowring was recommended to relinquish for a time
the cares of his office and to undertake a sea voyage.
Having decided on visiting the Phillippines, he
embarked on board her Majesty's ship Magicienne,
which was placed at his disposal. His visit was a
most successful one. Every one vied to do him
honour and to show hospitality, with the excep-
tion, strange to say, of the British consul at Manila.
Though Sir John 130 wring's excursion was a short
one, the information which he gathered respecting
the locality is comprehensive and complete. He re-
marks, with truth, that of these interesting islands
but little is generally known. The manufacture of
cheroots at Manila has rendered the name of that
province familiar to us ; but with that exception
they are scarcely ever mentioned. M. de la Giron-
niere's romantic work, of which a translation was
published in this country, attracted some attention
a few years ago; but Sir J. Bowring plainly tells
us that there is little dependence to be placed on
the truth of his narrative. Manila, so called from
the fortification of that name, is the most prospe-
rous and populous province of the Phillippia-es.
Its harbour is one of the most frequented in the
Eastern world. The city of Manilawas
founded in 1581, and Philip the Third
bestowed on it sundry honours. An
teresting account of the discovery of
islands is prefixed to the volume. It apats that
Portugueses o na
Fernando de Magellanes, the famous
z (Ise2poa. (separating
navigator, started with a fleet of si vessels
voyage of discovery in the Eastern seas in
passing the straits which bear hiename
Terre del Fuego from the mainland of South Ame-
rica), he arrived at these islands, where he succeeded
in conciliating the king and people, who recognised
the sovereignty of Spain, and took the oaths of
subjection. However, this favourable state of things
did
an:
nitaestr
nlaoln
Nagv , forr Magellanes having been slain
in
inwhich he was taking part
with his new ally, all the rest of the leaders of the
expedition were invited to a feast by the treacherous
montdheerierdv.oy
king
fleet
had
ddb
een basely
lost
murdered.
Vitoria, returned to Three vessels of the
Spain,ag e out,be being
gd oneth e only,
first
vessel that had circumnavigated
other expeditions
the commander of themet the globe. Various
fowuirtthh osifmthileamr gdaisvaesttehresn, aamn de
of the Philippines to the group of islands in honour
of the Prince of Asturias, afterwards the gloomy
and merciless Philip the Second. The fifth
expedition succeeded in establishing themselves
on the; island. of Zebu which was for some
the seatof Spanish authority. time
The sketch which
is iven of g the successive governors is somewhat
melancholy. Their tenure of office is usually
extremely brief, and they are displaced by the
Spanish Government without any 1, • Asitation
for the most trifling reasons. Bt-
e ween 1806
and 1844, there were no less than fourteen go-
vernors, but it is worthy of note that durinc,
the period in which there have been 78 governors
there have been only 22 ar-lops ; and b. h the
many ocea,si.ons on which the clerical dig• • nitary
19,5, temporarily held the reins • of
government

have tier-re,.(l to con..:,.elicl.th, i 1.1( ,-.-2,.:ciciastiwal (:tithe

Misuuderbeandiu-gs between the Church
and State could hardly be avoided where each
has asserted a predominant power, and such mis-
understandings have often led to the effusion of
blood and the dislocation of government. Mutual
jealousies exist to the present hour, and as the
friars, in what they deem the interests of the
people, are sometimes hostile to the NieWS
of the civil authority, that authority has
frequently a right to complain of being thwarted,
or feebly aided, by the local clergy." The popu-
lation consists of Spaniards, Indians, Chinese, and.
mixed races. They have received 'very different
characters from different visitors, but the author's
opinion of them is favourable. In an interesting
chapter on population, he gives some account of the
peculiar qualities of the different races. The
earthquakes have been very destructive, and have
considerably. altered the geography of tho islands.
On one occasion a mountain disappeared; on another
a passage was opened to the sea. "In 1645, for
two months, there was a succession of fearful.
earthquakes. In Cagayan a mountain was over-
turned, and a whole town engulphed at its foot.
All the public buildings in the capital were de-
stroyed, except the convent and the church of the
Augustines and that of the Jesuits. Six hundred
persons were buried in Manila under the ruins of
their houses, and 3,000 altogether are said to have
lost their lives." On the subject of these convul-
sions of nature, Sir J. Bowring writes as follows :
" Like ether tropical climates, the Philippines are visited
by the usual calamities gathered by the wild elements round
that line which is deemed the girdle of the world. Violent
hurricanes produce fearful devastations, typhoons cover the
coasts with wrecks, inundations of rivers and excessive rains
destroy the earth's produce, while long-continued droughts
are equally fatal to the labours and the hopes of husbandry.
Earthquakes shake the land, overturn the strongest edifices,
and sport destructively with the power of man; volcanic
mountains inundate the earth with their torrents of burning
lava; clouds of locusts sometimes devour all that is green
upon the surface of the ground ; and epidemic diseases carry
away multitudes of the human race. The ravages caused
by accidental fires are often most calamitous, as the greater
part of the houses are constructed of inflammable materials.
When such a disaster occurs it spreads with wonderful
rapidity, and there being no adequate means of extinction,
a whole population is often rendered houseless. During
the change of the monsoons especially, the storms are often
terrific, accompanied by very violent rains, fierce lightning,
and loud thunder. If in the night the darkness thickens.
Many lose their lives by lightning strokes, and houses are
frequently carried away by the vehemence of the torrents."
In one of the islands the author met Dr. Lefevre,
whom he had known in Egypt 20 years before, and
was interested to find that his opinions respecting
the treatment of the plague were entirely un-
changed. Long years of experience and study of
this fearful disease had only convinced. him of the
soundness of his theories. The system of quaran-
tine, this physician regards as not only useless, but
directly mischievous, and asserts that plague has
never been knoWn to originate or spread where the
air is in a state of great purity ; also that endemic:
plague is unknown in countries where proper re- -
gard is paid to hygienic precautions. Long and in-
teresting accounts are given of the history,
geography, government, and produce of these
islands ; of the races, religions, manners, and ens-
oms of the people, and several chapters aro entirely
devoted to the commerce, manufactures, and finance.
A selection of the native proverbs is curious, and
a chap ter on the languages of the Archipelago will
attract the philologist. The chapter which the
author had originally written on this subject was
unfortunately submerged in the Red Sea by the
wreck of the Alma, and much of its contents is conse-
quently illegible,but the apology is scarcely necessary'
since his sketch of the various tongues is. full of
research and ingenuity. There is perhaps a
little redundancy and repetition perceptible in the
work, but its general value will be readily acknow-
ledged by the reader. Of the islands themselves
the visitor speaks with enthusiasm, dwelling on the
magnificent beauty of their primeval forests, and
the undisturbed luxuriance of their fertile vegeta-
tion. The numerous coloured illustrations, which
add greatly to the attractions of this handsome
volume corroborate his descriptions, and confirm
the remark of M. Mallat, that of all colonies
founded by Europeans, these regions are per-
haps the least known, and the most worthy of
being known. The work before us will go far to
enlighten the ignorance or indifference of the Eng-
lish public, and if its readers are not tempted to
explore for themselves, they will at least gain e
,arge amount of entertainment and information frog
'he author's account of these interesting localities*

Learn and Teach: a Poem. By C. H. Abrahslir
author of " Arctic Enterprise." Mallett, War'
dour-street.
The author of this little work is earnest in bll
aspirations, and fervent in the expression of h.t.
sentiments. The object of his poem is to set forte
the great duties of mankind—to learn from Of
constant study of virtue and knowledge how to sP°
-ranee in the path of human progress, and to Or
lighten and encourage those who are without s
guide on tho road. This idea he embodies in • °°r
of allegory, in which a youth, wandering
amid the
mountains, hears in their mighty solitudes a voice
of warning and instruction. The following passage
affords a fair sample of the author's description
:
From Nature's hand free-fashion'd, and intended
For freedom's clime,
By her great self from tyrant-step defended;
And tyrant-crime,
There is a Land that looks upon the world,
As with a Heaven-assured defiance, hurl'd
Mutely below.;
All-coldly there around the tiller's toil
She piles her snows, yet from the sacred soil
They shut the foe.
For wild exploit that land yields not to any,
By many virtues, as by mountains many,
On high uplifted ;
Her womanhood is fair, her manhood free,
Robust, and, as the mountaineer should be,
Valiant and gifted ;
Still prompt with various viand to regale
The pilgrim-stranger,
Fer he is of the desert and the dale,
Alike, the ranger :
There oft,—to bring the chamois to the bay,—
With rifle girded,
Well-breath'd, and with a body for the fray
Belted and sworded ;
Bloodhound to trail, and telescope to say
Where ho is herded;
Accoutred well,ttrodupgehrilmthanghytlaywil; dering day,
A
He wends, and wilr his heart sits
yvith songlightly the hours. away,
Fo
The subjoined verses are melodious and pleasing"
Home again, home again, reft one,
That o'er blighted hopes art mourning I
Home again I—yet there is left one
His prayergTphlhane the
esne
voice
etori
iltel
eiwisodftheiiathteoe,
Who waits thy returning I
thy warnerh e
thousrap eoaa le a ns
What avails,
nweh,
cart
laevaadisl stothryepleaumteinngti,ng
t,os
tthnyo
tecooular 01.
ThrCoomu
To amend is the way to atone.
If the throes of remembrance =blest
Bring dspa,
Or the sting of remor se,e like ira
thorn in thy breast,
Rankle there ;
In thy years yet to come be thy refuge at last,
In the future, a balm for the pangs of the past I
The author is evidently well acquainted with the
best of our modern poets, and his mottoes are gool
and well chosen. The moral of the work is bell
expressed in two of its own lines—
" Learn ancVimpart to all within thy reach,
But praKice still the precepts thou dost teach."
The concl-asion of the first part of the poem the
expresses the same thought amplified.—
LE1.8.11 THEN, AND TEACH I nor pass that precept by,
Ever the sternest,—
How best to live so as the best to die iTeach, and be earnestl
This is the sum of wisdom ; a rich treasure
!lath he who metes his conduct by this measure,
And so guides his going,
That still some sweet spring up his path to bless,
In every step throughout life's wilderness
For ever growing.
But above all, a few brief truths instill,
In life's young day,
Ere, if thou canst, the thought of action ill
Hath sway ;
Point to the time, and give this truth to know,
As its moments fly,—
",Virtue alone is happiness below,"
Vice, misery ;
Contentment, the true wealth in every station;
Unbounded hope, a mere infatuation.

THE WIZARD OF THE NORTH.—Proieooor
Anderson has boon astonishing the natives at Howittlai
Along series of entertainments was attended with the 101
signal success, and tho Wizardwas pronounced, by the
denizens of that distant portion of the globe, to be the OW'
wonderful man alive. With his usual generosity, .
Professor closed his visit with two performances for th
benefit of the funds of the Queen Emma's Hospital. lb°
se
result of the entertainment was that a very large sum IL,.
handed over to the trustees, who acknowledged, in
handsomest manner possible, their obligations to Mr. Jel
dorson, and at the same time expressed their most ferveno
wishes for his future success. A grand demonstratie •
took place on the occasion of the talented artiste leaving
island.
CORT TESTIMONIAL FUND.—Wo understand tbre
this fund is now progressing at Manchester, under. ire°lo
influential auspices than has ever yet been attomPte" -
Great Britain, for the relief of Henry Cort's aged family
in consideration of his marvellous inventions for the men
facture of bar iron, the total make of which during the istf,
seventy years exceeds thirty millions of tons, and are es
mated to have saved the consumers at home, at £lO %,
ton, instead of £ 30, the price of foreign iron previell.s_ii:
Six Hundred Millions Sterling, out of native materl7;,',
useless before, and native labour. The committee at g'7,.;
Chester is represented by the Mayor, Ivie Mackie, Es s r
Thomas Baz'ey, .Esq., M.P. ; James Aspinall
Esq., M.P. ; Richard Cobden, Esq., M.P. ; William r 114.;
bairn, Esq., F.R.s. ; Joseph Whitworth, Esq., F.ll"teo
Benjamin HickT, Esq. ; John Penn, Esq. ; Thos. Webs,.
Esq., ; and John Boyd, Esq. More than 560011701'
been already sulbscribed, and the fund is expected to reed
£2,000 when all the principal towns in Lancashire 1.1.
Yorkshire hay@ been appealed to.

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