The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-01 00:00:00

TAIT'S MAGAZINE.

In the review of the "Dispatches and Letters of Lord
Nelson," the writer treats the hero of the Nile and Tra-
falgar with very little ceremony, and lie seems fully as
desirous to point out his foibles and faults as his splen-
did deeds. It cannot be denied that Nelson by his con-
duct at Naples, by his unmitigated and unreasonable
hatred of the French, and by some defects in his moral
character, as well as his small claims to merit as a states-
man or negotiator, laid himself open to serious charges;
but his services to his country were so great,
and the simplicity and candour of his nature
so conspicuous, that most writers have been
rather blind to his faults, and Southey, among the
rest, (whose Life of Nelson will long continue a standard
work) has dwelt on his faults or his crimes as briefly as
possible, and thrown all his other defects into the shade.
He has not, however, perverted facts, and expresses as
much indignation, even as the more lukewarm admirers
of Nelson, at the breach of the Ruffo capitulation and
the execution of the unfortunate Caraccioli. Indeed no
writer can excuse or palliate Nelson's conduct on this
occasion, though it seemed to take its rise from fa-
tality, and was so contrary to his usual dispo-
sition. The writer attributes it to Nelson's weakness,
to his hatred of Republicans, and to the insidious and
cruel schemes of two worthless women. " The greatest
of captains," says he, " was but a sorry statesman, and
as much the dupe of the Queen and her confidante,
Lady Hamilton, as ever was sailor just paid off, and with
full pockets, to the Molls and Sues of Portsmouth or
Wapping." There is great truth in the remarks, and
Nelson must, therefore, undergo the reproach of havino,
sacrificed his own humane feelings, and disregarded the
dictates of justice and policy during nearly the whole
time that he was on the Neapolitan coast, and
remained under the influence of a corrupt and un-
principled Court. Besides this,' there are two articles
in the number that will be read with interest. " The
Life of Mozart," and " Notes of Gilfillan's Gallery of
Literary Portraits," by Thomas de Quincey. The poli-
tical article, or at all events the one which occupies its
place, is entitled, " Are we:to have a Crash ?" and con-
tains s.tund remarks on the strong disposition evinced by
the country for the extension of the railway system. Of
that the writer highly approves, and:gives sound reasons
for his opinions. He thus concludes :
" If these views are correct, there is no ground whatever
to dread that the present state of things will be succeeded by
what is known as a crisis ; or that, except as effected by par-
tial fluctuations—high and low beats of the pulse—its course
will be unsteadfast. Its term, considering it as a time of
'unusual effort, is manifestly its assumption of the whole capital
which recently could find no vent in production along the
common channels, or was employed there at intdequate pro-
fits; and its progress towards that term will be surely indi-
cated by the gradual rise of the value of money, and the ac-
companying stringency of the banks ; unless, indeed, this
gradual progress is interfered with by unexpected abstrac-
tions of capital in obedience to other exigencies. The com-
mercial world, at the present moment, menaces no such ab-
straction, for at no period in recent times have its operations
been more healthful and less dependent on casualty; but we
fear it is not now to be concealed that a demand, by no
means inconsiderable, and which therefore must impede our
movements, is about to be made for the supply of a partially
ta
deficient harvest, and the serious destruction through disease
of that crop on which the food of so lap a portion of our
population is dependent. But even bySs the euperabutd-

ance or surplus fund will suffer lass than in other circum-.
stances; for that which, on the occurrence of such evils at
previous periods, was expended in charities, will at present
reach the operative in tho far more beneficial form of the
wages of productive labour.
" The cessation of the speculation, or, which is the same
thing, the unusual (tort, will not be the cessation of the con-
struction of railways; which, on the contrary, will then
simply take its part and share in the usual industry of the
country; subject always to renewed and sudden expansion,
the instant that profits in other employments again diminish
through superabundance. Doubtless, men will ask here,
where and when is it all to stop? for surely trim, like all
things else, must have an end. That end is yet far away :
so far, that we believe even the least likely of existing pro-
posals will soon become realities in our country, with their
lines of arms and feeders, and be thought of as no marvels:
nor will it belie our expectations, founded not on dreams or
hopes, but on the fullest knowledge of what art can do, it the
chief existing lines early undergo an entire remodelling; so
that they exchange their present second-rate character, for
the swiftness and competency then considered imperative
in the main trunks of the internal communication of this
country."