The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-28 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

IMPRESSIONS OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN EUROPE. By TV. E. Baxter.
There is something novel and striking about this
work, which despite its eccentric: character, or,
perhaps, for that very cause, entitles it to the
serious consideration of the public, and will, we vt n
ture to assert, secure for it a considerable amount of
popularity, not only from the variety of topics it
touches upon, but from the nature of the events
which characterise the time of its appearance, and for
which it might almost be said it was intended ; in-
deed there were periods in history in which such a
publication might have been deemed prophetic, but,
as regards that point, let the reader judge for himself.
Numerous as are books of travels, records of peregri-
nation, pennings by the way-side, inklings of adven-
ture, &c., it remained for Mr. W. E. Baxter to prove
that another path remained to be opened, that a new
view was to be taken of travelling, that a fresh mode of
treating such matters was to be .hit upon. The
author leaves to others descriptions, and gives us
" Impressions," his own and other people's, and run-
ning Europe through with that rapidity which steam
has imparted to modern journeying, he tells us what
he thinks of the places he visits, of the men he en-
counters, of their manners, habits, and, above
all, of their religious principles and observances;
nor does he omit recording what foreigners
think of him and his countrymen. Scarcely a
subject, is left untouched by him; and, while visiting
with him Central and Southern Europe, we not only
learn many interesting particulars concerning places
as yet little known to the general reader, but we
enter with him upon various dissertations, in which
he approves himself the philosopher, the scholar, and
the patriot. As for siding at all times with him, that
is another question, and he himself cannot but allow
the reader that freedom in forming his own conclu-
sions which he (the author) claims for himself ;
for our own part, we have followed
him through with attention, and are glad to
say, with profit and pleasure to ourselves, and if in
the multitude of subjects of which he treats there are
occasionally some in which we are somewhat at variance
with:him, still we admire the independent spirit which
pervades his work, and the moral courage with which
he supports his opinion, at times rather exclusive, but
evidently always founded on honest conviction.
Starting with him, and with a warning (in the
shape of a short preface) that he intends treating his
subject differently from the generality of professed
travellers, we cross rapidly the well-known contigu-
ous parts of Europe, and launching out into the less-
explored regions, but never losing sight of his own
country, and rejoicing in the comparison of its api-
situal and moral superiority (we will not cavil at
trifles, and do more than notice the favour with which
he regards North Britain in this particular), we follow
him through Germany, the Tyrol, Italy, Switzer.,
land, dwell with him upon all important topics
of which he discursively treats as he reaches
important localities, and the descriptions he
occasionally indulges in, despite of his avowed pur -
pose not to describe cities, &c., particularly when the
transcendent beauties of nature in her sublimest
moods impel his pen ; then all at once we are in
England again, or rather we are off to the Elbe,
Haunburgh, Berlin, Vienna, Trieste, Greece, the
Dardanelles, Constantinople, Malta, Naples, Rome
(at a distance, owing to the war), Genoa, Sardinia,
Savoy, Geneva, and last, though not least in the re-
marks it inspires our author with—France. Thus
do we accomplish a tolerably extensive tour, and in
our progress gain a valuable insight into men and
manners, canvass many controversial points of real in-
terest, obtain much useful information on commerce,
agriculture, political economy, religion, history, and
a host more subjects which the writer contrives to
summon up as if by magic, and of which he treats
with elegance of style, and a felicitous mode of com-
bining the quaintness of logic with the eloquence of
conviction, without ever losing sight of the main
point he aimed at, at starting, viz., the attempt at
proving the eminent superiority of his creed and
country over all others, and the hope, a fruitless one
we fear, of carrying his convictions home to the hearts
and minds of all his fellow-men. Either as a book of
travels, or a series of views on many debateable
points, or as a model for rambling, discursive, digres-
sive, and always instructive and entertaining impres-
sions, we recommend Mr. W. E. Baxter's to the at-
tention of our readers.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, FRIDAY.
The Queen walked this morning in the Slopes.
The Royal Family took walking and pony exercise in
the grounds around the Castle.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out hunting
this morning, attended by Lieut.-General Sir Edward
Bowater and Colonel Bouverie.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess de
Nemours and his Royal Highness the Prince de Join-
ville.were expected to arrive at the Castle to-day, on a
visit to the Queen and the Mince.
Her Majesty's private band attended after dinner on
Thursday evening in the Castle, and performed the fol-
lowing selection:— -
Overture, " Le Philtre" Auber.
Selection, " Alobymist" Spuhr.
March, " Colporteur"
Canzonetta
Choeur et Dense D'Armide ....... Gluck.

A deputation from the Metropolitan Sanitary Associ-
ation had an interview with Lord Seymour yesterday at
the office of her Maje3ty's Commissioners of Woods and
Forests, in Whitehall-place, on an amendment of the
Nuisance Removal and Contagious Diseases Prevention
Act. The deputation consisted of the Rev. Charles
Hume, M.A., rector of St. Michael, Wood street ; Mr.
W. Rogers, barrister-at-law ; Mr. H. P. Roche, bar-
rister-at- law ;W. H. Brown, M.D. ; and the honorary
secretaries—viz., Rev. M. W. Lusignan. M.A. ; Hector
Gavin, M.D. ; and Adolphus Barnett, M.B.
Mr. Derby attended at the Home-office yesterday to
present, through Sir George Grey, an address to her
Majesty from the inhabitants of the parish of Horton
and Wyrardesbury, in the county of Bucks ; also from
the town of Culnbrook and its vicinity, on Papal ag-
gression.
Mr. Thomson Hankey, jun., and Mr. Cottam had an
interview with Mr. Hawes yesterday respecting the cho,
lera in Jamaica.
Mr. James Teague Blakeney and Mr. J. M. Clabon
had an interview yesterday with Sir George Grey.
The Earl and Countess of Lichfield are receiving a
circle of friends at Shugborough Park during the pre-
sent holidays.

REPRESENTATION OF GLABIORGANSHIRE. The
anticipated resignation of his seat for this county by the Earl
Dunraven has led to many surmises as to the future repre-
senta Lion of the county, and rumour has put forth the names
of several gentlemen as likely to solicit the succession. The
only one of these, however, in favour of whom a tangible
move has yet been made, is Sir G. Tyler, K.C.8., in favour
of whom the Bridgend Protectionist Club has just passed a
resolution, pledging themselves to support his return in the
event of a vacancy. The actual opinions of Sir G. Tyler
have as yet not been made known in form, but they may be
guessed at from the fact of his receiving the countenance of
a Protectionist club. We believe commun,eations have
passed between Sir George and the club in question, and that
his expectant candidate's replies to questions submitted to
him have been satisfactory. Among other gentlemen men-
tioned as probable candidates is Mr. Vivian, M.P. for Swan-
sea; but it has been intimated on behalf of that Hon. Mem-
ber that he does not wish to determine the existing connexion
between himself and the borough of Swansea.
SWIFT SAILING AND RAPID DISPATCH OF BUSI-
NESS.— The City of Calcutta, Captain Brown, left the Clyde
on the 28th April last, was off Ailsa Craig on the evening of
the 29th, and arrived at the Sand Heads, in the Hooghly,
on the ISt of August, being ninety-four days from the Clyde.
She left Calcutta on the 13th of September, passed Sangor
Island on the 15th, left the Sand Heads on the 16th, was off
Cape Clear the 16th December (exactly three months from
the Hooghly), and anchored off Greenock on the 20th, being
ninety-five days. We believe the passage has never been
made in the south-west monsoon in so short a time, certainly
not with a deeply-laden ship. She made the voyage to Cal-
cutta and back to the Clyde in seven months and twenty-
one days, forty-six days of that period having been spent in
the Hooghly. She had full cargo both out and home, coo-
sequently her aptitude for swift sailing was greatly im-
peded. Captain Brown, formerly of the City of Glasgow, now
of the City of Calcutta, has made two full voyages to the
Hooghly and back, with these two ships, in a period short
by one slay of seventeen months ; having thus traversed
60,000 miles, and carried upwards of 3,€00 tons of cargo,
Both ships were built by Messrs. R. Barclay and Curle, and
register about 500 tons o. m. They are owned by Messrs.
Smith and Sons, of this city, who have established a re-
gular monthly line of packets between this port and Cal-
cutta. The Oriental, American ship, lately the subject of a
leader in a London paper, is upwards of 1,003 tons register,
and had on board, the voyage referred to, little more than
the same amount of cargo • while these ships had from 60
. to 80 per cent. more than their respective registers.— Glasgow
Daily Mail.
CARRIAGE ACCIDENT.—Last night an inquest was
held by Mr. W. Payne, in St. Thomas's Hospital, on the
body of Henry Banks, aged 39. The deceased was coachman
to Mr. Sheppard, the fly owner, of Carshalton ; and a few
evenings since, as he was driving a clarence, in which a
gentleman named Davis, of Beddington, his wife, and five
children were, a flash of lightning struck the deceased as he
was sitting on the box, and for a second or so deprived bina
of sight. At the same time the wind blew the reins a little
on one side, and before the driver could recover himself the
carriage was overturned into a ditch. Had it fallen on the
opposite side of the road the family must have been drowned,
as there were five or six feet of water in that ditch. The
driver was pitched under the carriage, and could not be
rescued until the parties were taken out of the vehicle. It
was then found that the unfortunate man's right leg had re-
ceived a compound fracture. Surgical aid was obtained, and
the injuries attended to, and the next day the deceased was
removed to the above hospital, where he died on Christmas-
day. The whole of the witnesses described the spot where
the accident occurred, which was a cross road, as being ex-
ceedingly dangerous, and one that ought to be protected by
some sort of fence or railing. The jury returned a verdict of
accidental death, and requested the coroner to write to Mr.
Bourne, the surveyor of the parish, and draw his attention to
1 the great danger of the place, and the necessity of having
the road properly protected. The coroner said he would
undertake to do so.
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rieliblii• (SiPed) '' Atanosouon." These wonderful pills will
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1)7'0 Mediate vendors throughout the ctvilisod world.
.