The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-02 00:00:00

allow the law to have its course ; bit, when it declares
its wil ingnesa to apply the full rigetir of the law, should i
_______.—
the Goverarnent of the Emperor require it, such an ac- ' e,
cusation appears totally devoid of feundation. 1 Blackwooe.-0 ut of the contributions making up
"In listening to the bitter complaints of Count Buol the March number of Blackwood, t'iree are "con-
against the Sardinian press, it might be supposed that tinnations." The charming story of " The Athe-
the Austrian press is very reserved as regards foreign
li"gs" being of course the chief among them. The
Sovereigns and governments, that it never exceeds the ;influences in it of the, "Three Gifts" become more
limits traced by moderation and politeness. This is not I
'
however, the case ; far from it.. Toe Austrian journal., I bewitching and more clearly developed. Agnes with her genius
more especially those published in Lombardy, are full of I
insults and attacks upon the Sardinian Government, and cinating even asttchous Miss Anastasia. Marian
thef . .
the Unbelieving Rector,. Lionel,. and__ f.as-
they do not spare the person of the King and the mem- with her beauty winning the sympathies of the lat-
hers of his August family,. I can easily support this tes no less effectually. The persaverat,ce, or pluck,
assertion by numerous proofs ; ] shall confine myself to or resolution, or whatever we maycall it, of Charlie
calling your attention t) the language of the journals of placing already in the hands of the big boy the
Milan and Verona respecting an august Princes., a near clue to the mystery requiring solution in Italy,
instalmentTlte avalanche
to overwhelm threatening
relation 'of the Emperor of Austria—language which, where the said big boy is still left cross-examining
if lam rightly informed, led to energetic remonstrances the Natives and thumbing his dogs-eared Grammar.
at Vienna from the Court of Saxony.,
fallen. It beim:, nothin
fact,
"If Count Buol is justified in complaining of the vio-g
Lltoasrstdtahwne,
ifawful
closetlerib.
noo u
rf r theon.,en, :12481
than the sudden and premature death of his
lence of a perfectly free press, which is not admitted
onl son—the heir to his title and es,a,:s. Title
into the Austrian States, wbat,rnnst be said respecting
. eas the readers of "The Athelings" now
a press submitted to a severe censorship, which spares
neither the institutions nor the political men of our
know, apt his by right—lris only wrong. By
send estates,
country, and which circulates free among us ? In
it has become the aim and object of the narrative
Piedmont, if the attack is free, so is also the defence.a'wrong
to avenge and expiate. The second serial here coati-
A Austria, attacked by a portion of the press, is defended
not only by the journals which come to us from the other
side of the Tessin, but also by a certain number of jour- nued gives us a second portion of "Scenes of Oleri-
nals published in the States of the King. cal Life"—this said second portion illustrafng in
"In Lombardy, on the contrary, only the attack is an eccentric way "Mr. Gilfil's Love-Story"—not
allowed ; the journals there reproduce with impunity Mr. Gilfillan's ! The third serial amusing ns with
the most odious articles of the
journals opposed to the
the second of Phosphorus's garrulous and gossip-
Government of the King, and contain frequently per- ping " Letters from a Lighthouse." For a wonder
Focal insults and insinuations against the statesmen of we have in this March number of Maga a poetical
Piedmont, and creats as much disgust as certain Sar- contribution —an unacknowledged classic "Lay
dinian journals cause to Count 8001. of au Old Greek Vase," commemorative of "The
"But this is not all. Count Buol accuses the Govern-
Conquest of Bacchus." 'So that, to our amaze-
ment of the King of remaining indifferent to the warm
controversy of the newspapers. Truly this cannot be said ment, Mythology has still its charms som-Jhow for
of Austria. The articles of the official
journals, inspired Blackwood thing we should never for one instant
by the Imperial Government, prove that the Vienna Ca. have anticipated 1 " 2Esthetics among the Alps—
bicet saneions and directs the attacks against us. After Element of Power" is the rather vague and pre-
reading a leader in the official Milan Gazette, the source tentious title of the introductory essay this month
of which cannot be doubted, and in which the Ministers of the Magazine. A theme congenial to the taste,
of the King are compared to Robespierre and Cromwell, if not coincident in every respect wi,h the judg-
we nosy well be astonished at the bitterness of feeling nrent.,• of Mr. Rusliin. "A Crow Plucke I with Mr.
which the toleration of the statesmen of Piedmont causes J. Bull" fails, to our thinking, in drollery, because
~..
to Count Buol. the writer of it (as the very title of the paper inti-
" But it is not only in the name of Austria that the
mates) sits down with a predetermined resoution
Imperial Minister of Foreign Affairs complains of our .
to be funny. If we laugh as we read, the laugh is
toleration. He accuses it .of encouraging the most bane- forced—for the sole reason, perhaps, that in 1-aigh-
fuldoctrines,ofunderminingthefoundationscfthetbrone,
and of attempting to destroy the sentiment of monarchy. ing we feel all the while, as it were, as though we
"The results obtained by the policy followed by the were simply laughing to order ! "Picture Books"
Government of the King belie those accusations. have suggested a pleasant sort of ontnium gatherum
Every honest man who t xaminee the actual state of the review, in which certain popular illustrators—
country ever so superficially must admit that the mo- such, for example, as Birket Foster and John
narchicel principle, shaken, perhaps, by the events of Gilbert—are duly and deservedly eulogised. Ono
1848-1849, bas become gradually strengthened, and that of the principal of these recently embellished pub-
it has re-acquired an immovable solidity.' lications, being reserved as the subject for a sopa-
" The spontaneous and unanimous demonstrations
rate . and more elaborate criticism—a criticism con-
which hail the King in every portion of his dominions
stituting Maga's tribute to the genius of " Barry
even in those parts where there ie not a traditional link
of affection and respect, are a manifest proof thereof. Cornwall." Conspicuous.. among the attractions of
But what proves beyond a doubt the truth of our asser- the number under notice is au interesting magazine
tion is the prostration of the Republican party. That tale, in four chapters, entitled "Hester Bonfield."
party, which was not without some influence when King The tenth contribution to Maga for March, n,,t yet
Victor Emmanuel ascended the throne' has, under the mentioned, being a very re.Klable sort of a gene-
rule of liberty, seen its means and strength gradually raised resume of " Arctic Adventure."
diminish, so that it has been obliged to lot its sole organ
in the periodical press L'ltalia é Popolo, die a natural
death, without prosecution, and simply from the falling
off of its subscribers. This fact appears to me to be the
most eloquent refutation of the anti-monarchical tesaden-
cies of which Count Buel.accuses us. -
"After having examined the- question of the prase,"
which forms the most important portion of Count-Buol'i
despatch, I will briefly touch upon the other points it
contains.

MAGAZINES.

Dublin.—" The Fortunes cf Glencore" are con-
tinued, and are evidently approaching a conclusion.
The scene is laid entirely in Italy, and the Princess
and Sir Horace are deeply engaged in forming
schemes for the vindication of Lady Glencore, and
the establishment of the unfortunate Massy. This
story possesses an interest from its vari, d p'c'ures
of existence at home and abroad, and the spirited
way in which the events are described. " Clerical
Life in Ireland" is an article well woreiy of perusal.
It relates to the memoir of the Rev. Godfrey Massy.
The circumstances of his life were painful. His
position as a Protestant clergyman in the midst of
Catholics was of course an utina' vital one, and be
lived during some of the wont Teats of Ireland.
Godfrey Massy exhibited a courage that was of
essential service to bim in many criticd instances,
and by his decision and promptitude lie overcame
obstacles on several occasions. His health subse-
quen•ly sunk underhisgreat exertions. Ic is observed
that the intellectual produce of Ireland has always
been spontaneois, but that no encouragEment is
held out for its display in the Church. Orat ny 38
comparatively unknown in the pulpit It is argued
that if this was more sought after and encouraged
a marked improvement would take place. " The
Swifts, Burkes, and Sheridans of Leland are her
protest against being forgo ten, and her pledge of ,
the faculties essential to fame. To have produced
the most powerful writer of the Augustan age of
England, the greatest political philosopher of the
age of Pitt and Fox, and the most brilliant wit in
the annals of the drama, are the trophies of the
Irish mind." "Tutors of the Young Idea" is a
clever sketch of " Somebody" and " Nob _Ay,"
showing the vast difference created by poeitiou in
the lives of those living at a stone throw's dittance
of each other. The former is surrounde I I,)y all the
appliances of wealth, the latter doomed to the most
sordid poverty. "The Castle of Dublin" contains
a description of that fortress. It is remirk 3d that
the object is not only to redeem the build,irg kern
obscurity, but the personages c mnected with it
also. It will be interesting to many to peruse this
early ren)rd of the Castle, and the ir,foranat'on is
varied by striking occurrences. " A Winter Night's
Wake," by Jonathan Freke Slingsby, is tin enter-
taining subject. It contains some clever passages,
and the story of it is; interesting. There is a num-
ber of .songs introduced, which imparts a vat iety,
and the heroine, Marian, .is a sinirle maiden,
gentle and pleasing. Several other papers era met
with in this number, among them the strange
story of "John Twiller."

"As vgards the demonstrations asserted to have been
provoked in other parts of Italy, we challenge whom-
soever it may be to quote a single fact emanating from
the Government of the King with that object in view.
The Piedmontese Government having caled the atten-
tion of the Congress of Paris to the condition of Italy,
and having shown the necessity of ameliorating that
condition by pacific and legal measures, its conduct ex-
cited, without any other provocation, marks of gratitude
and sympathy from a great number of persons dwelling
in different parts of the peninsula. There is nothing i❑
this to entiils Austria to comp'aia. She herse f, though
not agreed upon the means, feels the necessity of modi-
fying the present state of things in Italy. But she does
more than recognise this in words. By the acts she has
just done, by those which are announced as likely 'soon
to take place, she has proved by facts that the statements
of the Sardinian Plenipotentiaries were not devoid of
foundation, and that the approval which crowned their
efforts cannot be imputed to them as an act directly
hostile to Austria.

"As regards the monument spoken of as to be erected
at Turin in honour of the Sardinian army, I may first
observe that the Government of the King has nothing
whatever to do with it. Some pet sons having inquired
of it whether it would accept a gift from the Milanese,
it replied by a distinct and positive refusal. The offer
made to the Municipal Council was accepted. The
Government could not, and ought not, to have prevented
it, as it was made unconditionally and anonymously.
Butr if the Roynl Government could not prevent the gift
of a sum of money to erect a statue in honour of the
Sardinian army, meant especially to record the expedi-
tion to the Crimea, it will not allow any feature in this
monument to hurt the susceptibility of Austria or her
army, nor an inscription to imply that it was erected by
Austrian subjects. This assurance appears to rue of a
nature fu ly to satisfy any complaints of Count Buol on
the subject.

"having replied to the reproaches of the Imperial
Minister of Foreign Affairs, I might in my turn enume-
rate the annoyances caused to us by the Austrian Go-
vernment, from the sequestration of the property of the
Lombards and Venetians who had legally become Sardi-
nian suljects, to the violent and unwarranted expulsion
from Milan of one of the most distinguished membere of
the Senate of the king loan. But I prefer not following
in the track of c3mplaints of the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Austria, so as not to envenom a dispute which
we do not think woull prove advantageous to either
country.
" I cherish the hope that the explanations contained
in this despatch, of which you will leave a copy with
Count Buol, and such further explanations as your
knowledge of the views of the Royal Government enable
you to give, will convince the Imperial Minister of Fo-
reign Affairs that, while resolved to maintain at all risk
the institutions which make the prosperity and the
glory of our country, it is no less our firm intention to
WM towards our neighbours, to their full extent, the
obligations imposed upon us by international law and
by treaties.—l am, &e,

Fraser.—The remarkable fecundity of the age in
the way, of authorship, and the cerious defe As in
style of some of our most influential writ rg, have
brought a leading contributor to the rescue of
British literature. Such, at least, is the reason
assigned for the appearance of the first part of a
lecture on " Literary Style," in which most of the
principal British authors of the age are made to
pass under review. A good deal of the criticism
advanced is unexceptionable, but more tl.,an one
general favourite is treated with a severity, to-which
we must take exception. A writer who teaches by
example, even if a critic, should, in consistency,
endeavour to "approve himself" just. " The In-
terpreter; a Tale of War," is continued, and in the
present instalment the reader will find a partial
fulfilment of the favourable prediction pronounced
in our last notice, together with unmistakeable in-
dications of the sort of fate awaiting the morbidly
sensitive hero. He is fairly launched as a lover,
the lady, we suppose, being intended for the hero-
ine, the Hungarian for "the torturing rival," and
the Ropsley, now a captain in the Guards, for the
villain. "Boswell's Letters" are the subject of an
entertaining review, which is followed by an inte-
resting paper on "Rooks," contributed by one
who has evidently made these remarkable
birds a study. Among other accounts there is one
of a colony formed of their own free will in the
garden of Gray's-inn, some years ago, but now
broken up, the bird however, cominc, in flocks to
feed there to the present day. "A Few Notes on
Canadian Matters" deserve more attention than
they are likely to meet with, it being part of our
superiority as a nation to have no care in such se-
rious matters for the morrow. "Is it not a mis-
take," the writer demands in sober earnest, "litho',
we English commit, to care moro, as we undoubtedly
do, for an ascent of Mont Blanc, or a quarrel about
some isolated scrap of the Rubric than for the fate
of the millions whom our high civilisation has sent
to find bread elsewhere 1" " The Gladiator of
Ravenna," a German play by Friedrich Halm,
from whose " Der Sohn der Wildniss," the play
of " Ingomar" is taken, is introduced to the Eng-
lish reader iu an appreciating notice, and to judge
by the extracts given is deserving of high praise.
It is quite clear Shakspere has not been studied in
Germany so intensely for nothing. " A Chapter
on Flowerless Plants" will be found interesting to
the naturalist—a review of " Kemble's State
Papers" to the reader of history, and an article on
" Public Affairs," which Concludes the number to
politicians. The key-note is, The Star of Lord
Palmerston is in the ascendant, as all things
considered it should be ! Gladstone is mercilessly
dissected. " Instead of a manly reliance on his
abilities, a fixed and straightforward course, he has
preferred," we are told, " a crooked and fantastic
policy, an evasion of responsibility, and a devious
course of action into which no man can venture to
follow him ;" and no man in the house, it is
added, is followed less.

c, CAVOUR."

FLOATING' BATTERIES•

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—WhatevfT the causes—whether such as justly
to condemn our Government officials, or the result of
accident beyond human foresight and control—it is mi•
deniable that the late Crimean war was marked by an
amount of expenditure which, when resolved into figures,
hoks monstrously large and astounding in the eyes of
many a suffering cit'zen of this heavily-taxed country.
It need not, therefore, be matter for surprise that
"economy" should now be made the catchword of party,
and the order of the day. Economy is, however, a
somewhat hackneyed phrase, and too often a mere hocus-
pocus trifling adopted by well-skilled practitioners in
and legerdemain. Is it the best
to begin and end a scheme of re-
and legislative
truest
economycuaekery
trenchment with the citizans and labourers of cur dock-
yards and others in the more humble grades of the pub-
lic service, whilst the salaries of thousands per annum
are untouched and held sacred ? Is it a genuine or
genial species of economy to repudiate the productions
of genius because originating with the lowly and unprc-
tanning, whilst thonf•ands again are lavished on patrician
theorists, for the sake of their high connections, or other
causes, securing official patronage andssepport ? I write
from personal experience. As a shipwright in the dock-
yard, at Devonport, and from which employ I have but
lately withdrawn myself, my osition was of course
humble and unpretending ; but, in 1854, my attention
was drawn to two subjects of admitted importance at
that exigent juncture, viz., "Permanent and Floating
Batteries." In whatever view considered, whether for
offence or defence, the principles of construction were
deemed defective and open to improvement, and be-
lieving those defects capable of effective remedy, I
prepared a model of a permanent battery, which, after
taking the unbiassed opinions of several thoroughly
cientifie individuals, an! obtaining their unqualified ap-
proval of the improved principles introduced into its con-
struction, I proposed to the authorities of the War De-
partment to submit this model, on payment of my ex-
penses, to the consideration and test of any military or
other scientific persons they might be pleased to depute.
From Lord Palmerston's secretary I received a reply,
stating that his lordship could give no guarantee for ex-
penses neither could he "encourage me in the pursuit
of a subject which properly belonged to the Royal Engi-
neers." One of two things is fairly to be inferred from
this reply, either that no production, however valu-
able to the country or the public service ought,
in the order of Providence or other circumstance of
mind or matter, to originate with any source not the
offspring of the Royal Eagineer, or if so originating,
it neither ought nor could be worthy of official re-
cognition and respect: Subsequently on application to
the Board of Admiralty permission was
iven me to
submit the model of my " Floating Battery" to the
investigation of Sir Baldwin Walker and his attendants.
But who can describe the official jealousies, the series of
Battery"
and I may add flagrant
displayed I In the end,
ignorance
of objections,scientific
h i
principles
s ,
however, I secured an acknowledgment of its practical
principles and general merit and an award of 201. ; still,
however, it was not to be adopted. Would this have
been the case had the blood of a patrician flowed in my
veins—could I have proved myself the relative, depen-
dant, or protege of some lofty aristocrat or official I I
trow not I
Desirous, however, to afford the public an opportunity
of judging of the merits of my inventions, apd deter-
' mining how far they deserved adoption, I am prepared
to visit our principal towns and naval port's, for the pur-
pose of exhibitieg the several models, that military and
nautical men especially, versed in such matters, may
pronounce, according to their unbiassed judgment, how
far they are or are not worthy of being rendered the
means of raving and advantage to the public purse.
Soliciting your insertion of this statement in your
valuable paper,
I beg to subscribe myself your obedient servant;
JOHN TRESCOWTHICK.
Tamar Wharf, Morice Town, Devonport,
Feb. 26, 1857,

Bentley's Miscellany. —The number for the pre- I
sent month does not offer any striking attractions.
Dudley Costello's tale of the times, " The Mil- '
lionnaire of Mincing-lane," is proceeded with, and is
chiefly occupied in informing the reader of the
antecedents of the characters of the story. " A
Summer in the Sahara" is an entertaining account
of the adventures of a French artist intent on
studying the peculiarities of the desert. " Mingle
Mangle," by. Monkshood, gives us a sketch of the
career of Ronsard, whose songs were so popular in
France in the sixteenth century, and whose efforts
to alter the French language were more ambitious
than successful. An interesting traveller's sketch
shows us a panorama of Amsterdam, Paris, and
Venice, founded on another French work recently
published. It has not much novelty, but is an in-
teresting outline. " Thanatos Atbanatos "is con-
tinued in the same style. "The Coroner's Inquest"
is the continuation of the story that appeared last
month, and still remains to be concluded. " By-
-1 ways_of History" has some remarks on the tragedy
of Sir Edinundbury Godfrey, in which it is observed
that his real name was Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey,
but like the names of Maaaniello, Hougoamont,
stc., having once_ been circulated wrongly, it has