The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-01 00:00:00

1,989

for the loss of life and property, but that the reckless.
ness and ignorance of captains, and owners, and the
cupidity of merchants, have their share in the matter.
"Let us hope that, in our commercial marine and its
management, the thing that has been shall no longer be.
Indeed, it will be observed in the above table of returns
of wrecks that, during the last two years, although the
loss of vessels is upon an average as great or greater than
previous years, yet that the loss of life is much less. As
compared with 1854, the sacrifice of human life in 1856
by shipwreck is reduced to nearly one-fourth. The
Board of Trade Returns also show that '1855 the num-
ber of lives saved upon the shores of the United King-
dom amounted to 1,883 men, women, and children, and
in 1856 to 2,243."

The author subsequently gives the number of the
life-boats in Great Britain, an,' the places where
they are stationed. He also analyses the wreck
returns for 1855, and informs us that more than
half the wreckage of that year happened on the
east coast, where the life-boats are most plentiful,
but where the harbours of refuge are neglected.
The account of the American life-cars will be inte-
resting to those concerned in this important ques-
tion. Their plan of saving lives is different from
ours. Instead of launching a boat and setting off
to the ship, by means of a peculiar apparatus they
draw the sufferers to the shore by lines. "The
Notes on Military Science," addressed to candidates
for commissions, which 'last month closed their
review of the campaigns of Caesar, take in this
number the interesting topic of Napoleon's Notes
on Caesar's Commentaries. —An article on Sarawak
of course gives us some account of the career of
the Rajah Brooke. A more complete history is
promised. The narrative of the " Egyptian• Rev-
olution of 1798-1841." is continued. "The legends
of the Black Watch" chronicle the exciting adven-
tures of C tptain Grant. He is left under the most
unfavourable circumstances a prisoner in the hands
of the French. There are numerous other articles
on subjects of importance, and the usual compen-
dium of military and naval information for the
month.

The Commercial Traveller's Magazine.—The
most remarkable feature in this month's number is
the fact of the completion of the first volume of
The Commercial Traveller's .Magazine. We con-
gratulate the enterprising conductors, and we trust
that their success may be permanent. If it is com-
mensurate with the merits of the little serial it.
aasuredly wili be, for, without •any pretentious in-
struction or elaborate science, there is a variety of
pleasing and useful information to be obtained
from its pages. Those who wish for light reading
will find stories and sketches for their entertain-
ment, and thoso engrossed in business will find
plenty of useful notes on commercial matters.
Other b. dies and institutions would do well to
follow the example so worthily set by the Commer-
cial Travellers, and in the mean time we commend
it to public encouragement and support.

The Train—The Train is a lively and entertain-
ing miscellany, not displaying any unusual origi-
nality or talent, but well calculated to amuse a
leisure hour. It has among its contributors several
well known writers, and contains a pleasant variety
of amusing tales and sketches. It has several
rations, among them a portrait of Mr. W. Wilkie
Collins.