The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-02 00:00:00

FRASER'S MAGAZINE.

The political editor of Fraser is a most amusing per-
sonage. He varies his shape and character every month.
At one time he is .a good old-fashioned Tory, as stern
and unalterable as Eldon and Wetherell—both defunct
as regards political affairs. He even surpasses New-
castle and Winchilsea, and can see nothing but ruin and
loss of character in every step taken by the Peel
Ministry. The poor old Tories then worship him us
one of the last of their idols ; but, unfortunately, on his
next appearance on the stage, he has assumed a totally
different character. He thinks there is some truth in
what is advanced by Russell, and Palmerston, and Ma-
caulay, and speaks in loud strains on the beauties of
free trade, conciliation to Ireland, and the proper ma-
nagement of the affairs of the Church. Suddenly he
assumes a new shape, and seems to station himself on the
side of some highway in days when stage-coaches
existed, describes Peel as the driver, rages with boned-
less fury at his reckless driving, and tells every man he
meets that at the next turn the mad coachman will over-
set the vehicle, kill every man inside and outside, and
entirely ruin the concern. The coach, however, goes on
very steadily. No one is thrown out—the driver keeps
his seat comfortably, and drives away without any acci-
dent. A pause takes place—perhaps for a month; then
a new trick is played off, and the luckless, confiding
race, whose watchword is " Church and State," find
that they are the only parties who have been thrown
out. Peel and Fraser have alike done them. In the pre-
sent number the fact is placed beyond doubt. We have
heard of many apologies, but we never read one which
could be so very offensive to any class as the very last in
favour of Sir Robert Peel's measures must be to the
" remnants of the broken faction." In fact, it admits
that Peel has done everything that mortal man can do
for the safety of the country, and the old Tories are
earnestly entreated, therefore, to cling to him as their
only protector. Fraser, we believe, is right at last, for
they cannot help themselves. The result of his political
disquisitions is thus related:— . _ _

" Meanwhile our advice to all with whom an opinion ex-
pressed by us promises to have weight is this, not to suffer
passion or impulse to gain the mastery over them, but to be-
lieve that these is greater difficulty in managing the affairs
of this empire than fireside politicians are apt to imagine.
The Government which goes here and there, contrary to our
preconceived notions of tbat which is best, does not, there-
fore, deserve to be denounced as either treacherous or im-
becile. We may regret the errors which we fancy that we
detect, but we shall act both unwisely and uncharitably if
we attribute them to base intentions. What possible motive,
for example, except the desire to act for the best, can have
influence with such men as Sir Robert Peel, the Duke of
Wellington, Lord Aberdeen, and Mr. Goulburn ? They may
be deceived, for they are only human. They may mistake
the right line, and persist, as we think that they are now
doing in Ireland, to keep it too long after its results have be-
come manifest. But let us not forget, that to pass from one
line to another in politics is as difficult as it is to alter the
whole arrangement of a line of battle after the action has be-
gun. And seeing that the very first step aside from that on
which they are now moving must inevitably lead Ministers
into a course of stern coercion, no right-minded man will
blame them for exercising great caution and forbearance ere
they take it.
" And now hoping that we have set ourselves right with
such of our friends as may have been inclined to charge us
with wavering in our opinions, we cannot conclude without
once more congratulating them on the flourishing state of
the country, both as regards the public treasury and the
general condition of individuals. Not for many years past
has the revenue been so productive, trade so brisk, and com-
forts so generally diffused throughout society. Surely we
may all rejoice in this ; and surely such portion of the praise
as is due to man at all we may, without sycophancy, award
to the statesmen who found us, in 1841, verging on national
bankrupcy, and by their excellent management have made
us what we are. And if, here and there, points be forced
upon us which we could wish to be different, let us bear with
them as well as we can, so long as forbearance shall be pos-
sible. No living man may hope in 1845 or 1847 to conduct
the Government as he might have done in 1815 or 1817.
What 1857 may bring to pass remains to be seen: but, for
the present, as Sir Robert Peel and his colleagues have with
some evil, effected much good for the country, we do not feel
disposed, in subserviency to any pressure from without, to
withdraw our confidence from them."

In the literary parts of the journal there is, as usual,
much to interest the reader. "Private Life of the
Romans," in continuation of a similar article iii reference
to the Greeks, displays much research, and is enriched
with useful observations. Amidst all the high enco-
miums on Roman magnificence and patrician display,
however, it cannot fail to be observed that they knew
little of what we call comfort ; they were, as compared
with the men of the present day, only a superior race of
savages, and probably not surpassing the ancient Mexi-
cans or Peruvians either in their taste or in the manner
in which they gratified themselves with festive luxuries.
They had no carpets, no tablecloths—we doubt much if
they knew the use of linen shirts. The following de-
scription, which is given OR the authority of Becker,
will justify these remarks:—
" The fitting up of the table scarcely corresponded with
the luxuries piled upon it. The Romans had no word for
table-cloth in the language. Even Augustus could not please
the eye of Virgil with a beautiful pattern in damask. The
interposition of a purple duster between the various pauses
of the repast, afforded a very poor substitute. In fact, the
linen department seem to have been supplied on the same
principle that regulates an establishment at Stockwell or
Chelsea—every guest brought his own napkin ; and why not
his fork and silver spoon ? The absence of knives was simply
owing to taste—they had them ; but only the carver thought
it worth while to employ them. In the mode of serving a
dinner we notice one peculiarity that might be imitated with
advantage; the dishes were not brought in singly, but a
complete course was placed on the table in trays, which were
frequently remarkable for the splendour and costliness of the
workmanship and materials.
The sweet-smelling saw-dust, swept by a palm-twig
besom, is nevertheless very pleasantly replaced among our-
selves by the soft and yielding Turkey carpet. The rush-
floor of our magnificent nobles in the sixteenth century will
be recollected. The same mixture of squalor and luxury may
be traced in the Roman manner of lighting. The use of the
oil lamp was universal, and every grace of invention was ex-
hausted to shape and decorate the lamp, at the same moment
that the ascending vapour was defacing the beauty of the
ceiling. The simple and obvious precaution of "glass
cylinders to consume the smoke," seems never to have oc-•
curred to a Roman upholder. They were made of bronze,
marble, gold, silver, and terracotta. "As the orifice for
pouring in the oil was small, special, boat-like vessels infundi-
tub, having in front a small hole only, were used. Instru-
ments were also used for snuffing the wicks, and were
fastened by a chain to the lamp; small pincers for raising
the wick have also been found at Pompeii in great numbers.
When a figure stood upon the lamp, it sometimes held this
nstrument by a chain in its hand."