The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-16 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE ALVGLO-SAXON. No. V.
The Anglo-Saxon having completed the first year
of his existence ra a quarterly, commences the year
1850 as a monthly. The present number, albeit
occasionally disfigured by affectations (as are all the
publications of the Young England school), is on the
whole admirable, and eminently calculated to esta-
blish amity and good-will among all Anglo-Saxons,
an object which the writers in this periodical have
deeply at heart. We particularly admire the friendly
feeling displayed towards our transatlantic Anglo-
Sexcn brethren, with whom we would fain see an
enduring entente cordiale established. An alliance
between England and the United States is the meet
natural, as well as the nv)st profitable, alliance that
either country could enter into. We are delighted to
find that the Anglo-Saxon takes up the defence of
that honour to the Anglo-Saxon race, Sir James
Brooke, against thosepsuedo-hmmanitarian calumiators
who seem to imagine that " ev:l speaking, lying, and
slandering," are all fair, provided the person slandered
has the miilertune Ito be a white, and that "picking
and stealing" are positively virtuous, provided the
pickers and stealers be blessed with a black skin, from
which emanates a scent more strong than agreeable.
We extract the following from thi3 admirab'c
paper :

Among the calumnies which have been spread, we
must mention one, which is the most tcanduleus as it is
the most false. It has been said that Sir James Brooke
has attacked these pirates fir the Government reward,
whereas it must be well known that the reward is only
given ti the officers and men employed in her Majesty's
service. The great expense if the expedition is at the
itjtes private cost, and so far from his deriving any
benefit from the slain or the captured, we know, on the
best authority, that to save bloodshed, the Raja paid the
full Slave market price of the captives who were rescued
alive in the conflict.
Moreover, his first act was to restore
all the prisoners, without retaining hostages, to their
homes and to their families, with the assurance that, in
all peaceful and law ful -pursuits, they would ever find in
him a friend and a protector. One little child was found
among the cal fives, deserted in the boat; this, with some
others, was car( fully provided fir, and placed under the
care of Mr,. Wllougall, the wife of the excellent mis-
sionary. at Sarawak. Having p-Iforrned these gratifying
deeds of mercy, Sir James, with all the officers of the
fleet, the resident,, and many of the natives, proceeded to
lay the foundation beam of the first Christian church in
Borneo, the erection of which the Raja has promoted
and encouraged with all his heart. The Rev. F. T.
M'llougall, who bad been educated as a physician, was
most diligent in his attendance upon the sick and the
wounded, who had returned from the expedition, and
we subjoin Mr. M'Dougall's account of the ceremony of
laying the foundation of the church:—

- - " Sarawak, Aug. 28, 1849.
" This has been a happy day to me, as it has pleased
God to allow us, altar many delays and difficulties, pub-
holy to lay the foundation of our church. At one o'clock
the Raja and suite, and all the naval officers, in fall dress,
together with all the English residents, assembled at the
MissiJn; and we then went in precession to Church-hill,
whore the workmen's shed was dressed with evergreens
and the flags cf the Albatross ; and the foundation
sleeper, an uncommonly heavy block of ironwood, slung
over the trench into which it was to be lowered by the
Pak,. It was a deliglaul service to me: may God
prosper our work! We put all the Victoria coins we
could collect into the heart of the sleeper, and over that
was nailed the inscription, to be replaced, if need be, by
any
mmro.rems,upio ;alltaribleonacistoheexcpormemsultstec may suggest.'
his) trust that the
day is not far distint when our wild people, like the New
Zealanders, whom I fancy they much resemble, will be-
come a most interesting and powerfal Christian nation;'
and he farther observes, this last expedition up the
Rejang and Sarebas has, as I anticipated, gone far to
open a most. extensive and interesting field to the Mis-
sion among the tribes of the interior, whose numbers
and wealth seem to be, from what has now been heard
and seen of them, far greater than was bcf 're imagined.' "
We cannut close this notice without calling the
attention of the pubic to the exquisite beauty of the
type with which the Anglo-Saxon is printed. As a
specimen of typography the present number is perfect.
It is illustrated by a lithograph of the monument
proposed to be erected to Alfred, at \Vantage, and by
an engraving from Mr. Blaikley's large historical
picture of Alfred the Great dividing his loaf with the
beggar.

BRADSTIAW'S GENERAL RAILWAY DI-
RECTORY, SHAREHOLDERS' GUIDE,
MANUAL, and AL]IIANACK for 1850.
This useful work, which may be considered as par
excellence the Railway Annual, contains complete
lists of the directors, engineers, secretaries, and prin-
cipal officers of all the railways in the kingdom, of the
amalgamations and leases of lines, with the rent and
tolls of the same, together with the guaranteed stocks,
and dividend or interest payable by each line of rail-
way Under the head of " Shareholders' Manual"
we find an elaborate account, carefully compiled by
Mr. John Edwards, of the Manchester Stock
Exchange, showing the rise, progress, and pre:ent
position of railways of the United Kingdom, in-
cluding those established in British possessions
and dependencies abroad, and also of such foreign
railways as have been most known in this coun-
try. Every railway shareholder, and every one
intending to invest money in railways, should study
attentively Bradshaw's Railway Directory. It
illustrated by a map of Great Britain, with all the
lines of railway laid down.

WEBSTER'S ROYAL RED BOOK for
January, 1850.
This is the most perfect Court and Fashionable
Guide that has ever appeared. The " Street Guide"
is very comprehensive, and the alphabetical list of
names full and complete. The improvements in-
troduced into the lied Book of 1849 are continued in
the edition for 1850. The work is printed in a clear
type and is got up in an elegant manner.

DIAMOND DUST.
(From Eliza Cook's Journal.)
Material objects become so eltwined with the affec-
tions and the memory; the scenes that have witnessed
our joys, and whose tranquil beautes have soothed our
sorrows, assua e an aspect so like Oa' of old and valued
of separation from them amounts
to agony.
friends, that the pang
Remorse is the echo of a lost virtue.
Those who cry the loudest have generally least to sell.
Guests are ottan invitad to witness the ostentation of
the host.

The poet yearning after sympathy may at least enjoy
one consolation—the thought that many kindred spirits,
though unknown to him, know and love him, and parti-
cipate in his sentiments.
There is no malady raoro severe than habitual dis-
conttnt.

ARG YLE ROOMS.
Festivities and dancing go hand in hand at this
period of the year, and there is no room for wonder,
therefore, that this attractive and elegant resort is
now considered in the zenith of its popularity. Not
a right passes but its promenade and galleries are
thronged with gaily
who rattle through attired votaries of Terpischore,
quadrilles, waltzes, and polkas
with a gusto and energy
that warms and enlivens the
coldest and dullest of mankind. La dance hitherto
has been considered an amusement peculiar to our
volatile Gallic neighbours, but nothing is so catching
as dancing, and with the rapid intercommunication
that now exists between the two nations, it is by no
means surprising if that is one of the many habits we
have recently
imported from the continent. It is,
however, only right that rational and healthy tastes
should be readily encouraged, and since " tripping it
on the light fantastic toe," which certainly partakes
of that character, has become so general amongst the
middle and lower classes of society, it is the duty of
all who have it in their power to support those esta-
blishments where this pastime can be indulged in
which are the best regulated and the most appro-
priately managed. Now any one who has ever
paid a visit to the rooms must have been struck
with the strict decorum that is always enforced,
while the urbanity and polite feeling and attention of
those whose task it is to conduct the ceremonies
must have been no less worthy of his remark; nor is
mere dancing the sole attraction, inasmuch as music
of the highest order is plentifully provided for the
entertainment of those who, like the Chinese, think
dancing a labour to be performed by servants, and
prefer looking on to the labour it demands. M.
Laurent, junior's, skill and ability as a.musical con-
ductor is well known and appreciated in the metro-
polis. He is second only to Jullien in his style, and
to the lover of orchestrial music, or the devotee of
la dance, we say, go to the Argyle Rooms.

The annual soiree of the Whittington Club and
Metropolitan Athenaeum took place last evening, and
was most numerously attended. The proceedings were
opened by a brief and appropriate address from the
President, Mr. C. Lushirgton,M.P. After an excellent
selection of music, in which Miss Rainfortb, Miss Anne
Romer, and other favourite 'performers displayed their
skill, and an interval devoted to the inspection of tho
pictures and various works of art with which the upper
rooms were crowded, dancing commenced, at eleven
o'clock ; and, although, from their number, somewhat
straitened for room even in that capacious salon, the
votaries of Terpsichore were, at the period of our de-
parture, doing ample justice to the strains of Putnam's
band. This exc 211ent and inereasing institution already
numbers sixteen hundered members, and will, doubtless,
from the admirable arrangements of the establishment,
and its happy and unique combination of literary and
scientific instruction with social enjoyment, obtain that
permanent and merited success which its friends
received with extreme and supporters anticipate. The announcement of
the re-election of Mr. Lushington to the presidency
tztslon none mefore whom
for the ensuing y, ar was ceived
approba-
tion. His devotion t.) the intereesetsnospfiteheeeiunesttibtauntiothnewtaesf
theon thevie
vice-president,
dt e
noe
attended to support
him, in consequence (we suppose) of the inclement state
of tie weather. The Whittingtonians deserve success
in their career of social amelioration, and they hal%) our
the arrangement,
ee feed it may be mentioned
resulting from the
best wishes for its
attainment. As a proof of their good
thatand thriving
atdomestics t 0
dining and refreshment department amounted on the
lass quarter to 2006

ADDRESS PRESENTED TO MR.
BC CKINGIIAINI AT ALLOA.
At the close of Mr. Buckingham's course of lec-
tures at Alloa, on the evening of Thursday, the 20th
December, 1849, and in the presence of a large
number of his friends and admirers, the following
Address was proposed, in the name of the cotninittee
of management, by the Rev. P. M'Dowall, and una-
nimously and cordially adopted by the meeting, in the
United Presbyterian Church at Alloa.
"TO JAMES SILK BUCKINGHAM, ESQ.
" Honoured Sir,—At the eonclusiou of thiP, your
third course of lectures, delivered in Alloa duriug
three successive seasons, to large and deeply inte-
rested audiences, we beg leave to express to you our
gratitude for the valuable information which we have
received, and for the high intellectual enjoyment
which we have experienced during each of these
three courses, from the commencement to the close.
" It is interesting to sit at the feet of a traveller
who has visited many foreign lands, it is peculiarly
interesting to sit at the feet of of one who has perhaps
seen more of the surface of the globe which we in-
habit than any man now living.
" Some travellers, who have seen much, want
powers of observation. But Providence has blessed
you with the rare talent of collecting and treasuring
up rich stores of information, regarding almost every
object, and every event coming in your way, that
could interest and instruct your fellow-men.
" Some travellers can collect information, though
they cannot communicate what they have collected.
But all of us here present, and thousands elsewhere,
can testify to the admirable talent for description,
and that natural easy eloquence, which gives all your
hearers almost as vivid an impression as if they had
been fellow-travellers elong with yourself.
" Some travellers, who can both observe and com-
municate, are tempted to confine their information
to themselves. But you have felt it to be the en-

joyment of your heart, as you have made it the-work
of many laborious years, to spend your strength for
the instruction and moral elevation of your fellow-
creatures.

" In these courses of lectures, embracing, as they
have done, so many momentous topics connected with
political economy and the science of government, it
was to be expected that your opinions would not, in
every point, coincide with the opinions of some of
your hearers. But even the few, who sometimes
were conscious of diversity of sentiment, could not
but admire the manly frankness with which your
views were stated, and the gentlemanly good feeling
which rendered it impossible for even the most
sensitive to take offence,

" We do not profess, Honoured Sir, to be ignorant
of your eventful and useful history. As the friend of
Eastern India and its countless population, we have
observed your self-sacrificing exertions to promote
good government in that vast and important depen-
dency of the, British empire—exertions which were
praised by statesmen when they were in opposition,
but which have been forgotten by the same statesmen
now that they are in power.
"As a liNhinber of the British Senate, in two seve-
ral Parliaments, we have admired your successful
efforts in originating and promoting many impor-
tant measures of moral and economical reform.
And as a philanthropist, in the important depart-
ments of education, and temperance, and peace, and
enlightened human freedom, we have been de-
lighted with your laborious exertions—through the
press in your ,voluminous writings, and by the
platform in your admirable lectures—to enlighten the
human mind, to improve the human heart, and to
increase the aggregate amount of human happiness.
"We are aware that, like many other philanthro-
pisti before you, who were in advance of the age, it
her been your lot to labour long for the benefit of
mankind, with very little patronage from the power-
ful, and with much pecuniary loss to yourself. But
you enjoy the divine satisfaction of doing good; and
as you have already witnessed many of the blessed
fruits of your labours, so you may cherish the joyful
assurance, that the precious seeds of wisdom and
morality which you have sown so extensively over the
surface of society, shall, in due time, through the
blessing of a bounteous Heaven, produce an abundant
and happy harvest.

"Asy—ou have intimated that this is likely to be
your last public ♦isit to Alloa, it is with much sin-

aere regret that we have now to pronounce to you,
Honoured Sir, the painful word—FAREWELL! To
:he respect and veneration which we cannot but che-

rish for you as an instructor, we feel that your fre-
quent visits, and your familiar intercourse, have war-
ranted us in adding the confidence and affection of
friendship. Although we should not be honoured
with another visit, we shall continue to take a deep
and an increasing interest in your benevolent and

self-denying labours ; and we can assure you, dear
Sir, that if our warmest wishes are gratified, your
life will be long, and useful, and happy.
"It is our earnest and united prayer, that God
may spare you, and strengthen you to labour for
many years to come, for the illumination of this
world's ignorance, and for the mitigation of this
world's misery ; and after your earthly labours shall
have come to a close, may you, with your dear part-
ner in life, and your beloved family, be admitted at
last, through the grace of our Divine Redeemer, to
that better country,' from which ignorance and mi-
sery—and sin, the cause of both—shall be for ever
excluded.

Signed, in the name and by the appointment of
the meeting,
"WILLIAM FRASER, Minister, Chairman."

NEW REFORM BILL.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,--I send you annexed a copy of a letter I have
addressed to the editor of the Inquirer, occasioned by
his remarks on a new Reform Bill in his paper of the
12th instant, and if you think it worth a place in
your more extended publication I shall feel obliged
by your inserting it when convenient.
I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
Thorne, Jan. 15, 1850. W. WRIGHTSON.

" TO THE EDITOR OF THE INQUIRER.
" Sir,-I have read the excellent remarks in your
leading article of the 12th instant, on a New Reform
Bill, but I do not think that a five-pounds occupation
franchise would materially improve the constituency.
If you refer to my letter which you were kind
enough to insert in your paper of the 25th of
August last, you will there see an intellectual quali-
fication pointed out, which would bring within the
pale of the Constitution all the parties referred to by
you, as soon as they had attained their majority, and
could show, by going through a simple and welt-de-
fined educational test, the probability that they were
capable of exercising a sound discretion in the elec-
tion of a Member of Parliament. A five-pounds
occupation qualification would, I think, do nothing of
the kind. We don't want the property qualification
lowering, but the intellectual qualification raising,
for the greatest dunce in the kingdom, if he be not
quite insane, may now vote if he happens to possess
40s. a year in freehold property. But let every man
(not being a pauper nor convicted of crime) who can
work out correctly rule-of-three questions in arithme-
tic have a vote, and you may then safely do away
with all other qualifications ; and by this simple
means the constituency would be greatly improved
not only in intellectual strength but moral worth, a
vast impetus would be given to self-culture (the best
of all culture), and no one could reasonably complain
for want of universal suffrage, as ignorance and crime
would be the only disqualifying causes.
"Then, indeed, the absence of a vote would be
regarded as a shame and a disgrace, not to the Legis-
lature, but to the individual who, by his own default,
was excluded from the privileges belonging to his
fellow-men. There would be but little difficulty in
applying the test and bringing the system into opera-
tion. It would also possess this recommendation,
that it would contain within itself the elements for
the future extension of the suffrage as occasion
should arise. It would be perfectly safe, for a higher
qualification could scarcely be suggested, and it
would be satisfactory to the great body of the work-
ing classes, whose discontent and dissatisfaction at
their present condition is fraught with the utmost
danger to the community in general:*
" And to prevent the new franchise from being un-
satisfactory or troublesome to the voters at present on
the register, I would suggest that they should all
continue on the register during the remainder of
their lives, whether they part from their present
qualification or not ; but that all new candidates for
the elective franchise should be examined by the
rule-of-three test, and then that they also, when once
on the register should remain there for life.
" This plan has been submitted to one of the most
eminent and influential reformers of the present day,
who in reply said—' I know no better test for the
franchise than that which you point out, but do not
doubt, if proposed, we should find as many objections
as there are to the plan proposed by Mr. Hume.
For my own part, imperfect as our proposition is, I
do not think it would be wise to abandon it, unless
we could see our way to carry a better.'
" I have long considered the test I propose the
best adapted to improve the electoral body ; I have
never heard a sound objection advanced against it,
and as I think the adoption of it would benefit the
nation, I shall be much obliged if you can find room
for this letter in your paper.
" I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
" W. WRIGHTSON.
" Thorne, Yorkshire, Jan. 14,1850."
* The Sun Newspaper, July 11, 1849.

THE METROPOLITAN COMMISSION OF SEWERS.—
Yesterday a court was appointed to be held for tho pur-
pose of making a district sewers rate on the Banehigh
district. After wieting f,r an hour, however, the num-
ber cf commissioners requii ed by the
inAct f Parliament
to attend could not be mustered, and consequence the
court was adjourned till Friday next.