The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-02 00:00:00

" PERPETUAL LOG FOR SHIPS.

"Another valuable contribution to a ship's furniture
has been made by the Rev. E. Berthoun of Fareham, in
the shape of a perpetual log, which is likely to become
not only a favourite. but will hereafter be considered
almost au essential to her safety. We propose in an
early number to describe it, at present it being before
the Royal Society. Unlike Massey's or Walker's it has
no machinery to get out of order, or require repair, and
being (with the exception of about three inches) all
inside of the ship, is tree from any external accident.
It consists of a small tube in which the pressure of the
water occasioned by the way of the ship, acting on a
column of mercury, indicates the velocity of sailing.
The index, which very much resemble 3 in size and ap-
pearance a common thermometer, may be fitted to hang
in the captain's cabin, or in any other part of the ship,
being at once ornamental and useful. We understand it
is being at present fitted in H. M. S. Dauntless, and we
fully anticipate every ship afloat being hereafter sup-
plied with it. It not ouly indicates the velocity, but
also the lee-way should the vessel be sailing by the
wind; and is highly creditable both to the judgment and
good taste of the inventor."
Other papers will be found in the number for
January of the Nautical Magazine eminently de-
serving perusal.

ALISON'S HISTORY OF EUROPE. Illus.
trated Edition. Vol. X.
Another volume of this library edition brings the
narrative down to a period fraught with a solemn and
affecting interest—almost every incident recounted by
the annalist containing in truth a dismal presage of the
imperial disasters. Appropriately enough the volume
which reveals the Emperor in his loftiest pomp and
most gigantic dominion is embellished with a portrait
of the great captain, copied from a bust in the posses-
sion of the historian. Unfortunately, however, the
likeness is the least felicitous of any yet published in
this illustrated edition, conveying in no respect an
adequate notion of the beauty and majesty
combined in ,the classic features of Napoleon.
It is the least fortunate engraving amongst
those forming a gallery of portraits to Alison, and is
the more to be regretted seeing that there are so
many glorious paintings from which a more grateful
and more agreeable representation of the Emperor
Napoleon might have been given without difficulty.
The noble Atlas, by Alexander Keith Johnstone, brings
the series of maps and charts down to the ever
memorable victories gained by the " Little Corporal"
at Lutzen and Bautzen. The circumstance calls at

once to our recollection the account givenEby: Alison
of the death of Duroc on the latter occasion,
one of the most touching and beautifully descriptive
passages in the language. It was at that particular
epoch that the inexhaustible resources of the genius of
the Emperor Napoleon began to be revealed in a more
remarkable manner than at any anterior portion of his
extraordinary career, and hence it is that the narra•
tive now in course of republication—a narrative at all
times clothed, as it were, with an atmosphere of
fascination—assumes again, as on the first perusal, a
supreme and enthralling interest.