The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-01 00:00:00

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR THE RIVER ELBE.
In the copy of these directions, which appeared on the
18th of April, one or two errors occurred. First section, in-
stead of "You will then shoal the water gradually, from 5
to 10 or 9 fathoms," read "from 20. to 10 or 9 fathoms."
Lower down, sentence commencing " *The pilot galliot, when
vrepther permits, lays E. by S.E. two miles," rod " gag.
tr 9

MAGAZINE DAY.

BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE.

The opening article in the present N amber is on
the subject of the " Increase of Crime"—an increase
which the writer with cool impudence attributes to
the Liberals, observing They shut their eyes to
this, because it affords a sad illustration of the effect
of their favourite theories, which for a quarter of a
century have been, under the direction of her Ma-
jesty's Ministry or her Majesty's Opposition, in al-
most ceaseless operation." Now, it happens that the
party whose principles are thus boldly stated to have
increased the amount of crime in the country, have
invariably made every effort in their power to dimi-
nish it, I;3T the prudence—the liberality—and the en-
lightened character of their views. Who first pro-
posed to relax the demoralising severity of the cri-
minal code ? Who first softened -the atrocities of the
game-laws ? 'Who first advocated a system of general
education, and strove to enlighten the masses on the
subject of their political privileges ? Who, but these
maligned Liberals, who are yet taunted by Black-
wood with having swelled the amount of crime in the
country ! The great,:unquestionable parent of crimi-
nality among nations, as among individuals, is igno-
rance; and if a vast mass of this still exists among
us, the Tories—and the Tories only—are to thank
for it. The writer goes on to observe :—" Govern-
ment, meanwhile, albeit fully aware of the danger,
is not sufficiently strong to do anything to arrest it."
There is some truth in this, for Sir Robert Peel,
notwithstanding he has a majority of ninety at his
back, and a Cabinet crammed full of aristocrats, is
powerless, apparently, for any purposes of good. He
has just strength enough to keep himself at the helm,
and that seems to be about the extent of his influ-
ence. " Rhine and Rhinelanders" opens with an in-
flated panegyric of the picturesque beauties of the
Rhine. The theme is an intolerably hacknied one,
and has employed the pens of one half the scribblers
in the three kingdoms. Every one now-a-days
rushes across the Channel, to take a peep at the over-
rated Rhine, but few ever dream of exploring the
more inland beauties of our own Thames ; and yet
from Henley to nearly Oxford, passing through the
King's Meadows at Reading—under the wooded
groves of Sunning—at the foot of the cliffs at Cavers-
ham, and the lawny slopes and springs of Cliefden,
there is scarcely another river in Europe so rich and
luxuriant in its scenery as this calm and majestic
stream. " The Monster-Misery of Literature " is a
clever quiz on the prevalent taste for novel-reading,
which the writer says, and with truth, has infected
all classes of the community. In " Indian Affairs"
there is a spirited defence of Lord Ellenborough
from the opposition which he has encountered in
almost all quarters. " Much of the hostility directed
against him," we are told, " is owing to his resolute
emancipation of himself from the bureaucracy of
secretaries and members of council, who had been
accustomed to exercise control over his predecessor."
Are believe there is much truth in the remark. From
Marston, or the Memoirs of a Statesman," we sub-
oin a sketch of the hero's interview with Robes-

pierre :
On reaching the barrier, we turned off to the quarter
of the Luxembourg, and stopped at the gate of a mo-
derate-sized house, where my conductor and I entered.
I was shown into a small and simple room ; where I
found a man advanced in years, and of a striking aspect.
He said not a word. I had no inclination to speak.
The one or two hesitating syllables which I addressed to
him were answered only by a bow and a look, as if he
did not understand the language ; and I awaited the ap-
proach of the terror of France, and horror of Europe,
during half an hour which seemed to me interminable.
The door at last opened, a valet came in, and the name
of " Robespierre" thrilled through every fibre ; but, in-
stead of the frowning giant to which my fancy had in-
voluntarily attached the name, I saw a slight figure,
highly dressed, and even with the air of a fop on the stage.
Holding a perfumed handkerchief in one hand, which
he waved towards his face like one indulging in the fra-
grance, and a diamond snuff-box in the other, he ad-
vanced with a slidinf, step ; and after a sallow smile to
me, and a solemn bow to the old man, congratulated
himself on the " honour of the acquaintance, which he
had been indebted to his friend Elnathan for making, in
my person." I was all astonishment—l had come in ex-
pectation of receiving my death-warrant--I had a recep-
tion like an ambassador. I naw perplexed myself with

the idea that I had been mistaken fin. some stranger in
the foreign diplomacy ; but I was instantly set rigt by
his pronouncing my name, and making some allusions to
" the influence of my family in the British Parliament."
Yet, I was still in the tiger's den, and I expected to
feel the talons. I was happily disappointed ; the claw
was sheathed in velvet. A slight refection was brought
in by an embroidered domestic, and it was evidently the
wish of this tremendous demagogue to appear the man
of refinement, at least in my instance.
"My friend Elnathan," said he, " has informed me
that you wish to return to England ?"
This was pronounced in the meekest tone of interro-
gatory ; and, with eyes scarcely raised to either of us,
he awaited my confirmation of his idea.
It was given unhesitatingly ; and my glance at the
eountenance of the old man was answered by another
which told me that I saw the correspondent of my friend
Mordecai.
" The circumstances are simply these," said the Dic-
tator, in the same delicate tone ; the Government has
occasion to arrange some matters of importance with
the British Cabinet. The successes of the Republic
have raised jealousies, which it is for the advantage of
human nature that we should reconcile if possible.
France and England are the only free countries ; their
hostility can only be injurious to freedom."
He paused, and his cold grey eye, after crossing the
floor, was slowly raised to me.
I admitted my perfect agreement in the opinion, that
" wherever national conflict could be avoided, it was the
business of all rational men to maintain peace." I saw
a grim smile pass over his sallow features, probably at
s trßiothgb
into
hador e
embarrassmentar the
marked
ke,e rd Jew's g
fi hra
having found another dupe. Elnathan sat in profound
silence, without a muscle moved.
tookdiat.
address,
wlr•Hoehmsei portfolionahaonhwdihis
hadshp
oa habitual
gt
u iaoatlargely,l
overletter,
thatandan
put
strange
, swnt
with a considerable expression of authority.
"The English Government," said he, "have expressed
some unnecessary uneasiness at the progress of opinion
nervous-
nessc
in Europe. The late victory, which has decided the fate
of the Austrian Netherlands, will probably increase that
uneasiness. Communications through the usual channels
are slow, imperfect, and open to espionage on all sides.
I have, therefore, applied to my friend Elnathan to point
out some individual in whom he has perfect confidence,
and through whom the communication can be made. lie
has named you."

Of the
itlio 1 "kSe Ce
pE
uLpL Ah
his
story
" Scattergood Family" with spirit, though we must
Albert BSmEiNthTmLaEnYag'eSs
object to the present portion of it, that some of the
incidents are too much spun out, as if for the mere pur-
pose of filling up space. The most vigorous scene in
the chapters before us is the account of the street row
between the boys of Merchant Tailors' School and
those of Chrisallospital, and the running away of
Young Frederick Vincent from the latter establish-
ment, from a natural disinclination to be flogged.
The description of his night wandering through Ep-
ping Forest, and of the visionary horrors with which
he was beset, while bivouacking in the hollow of a
large beech tree, reminds us of the free and easy man-
ner of Captain Maryatt. The " Omen" is a pass-
able poem, in which an attempt—not remarkably suc-
cessful—is made at the facetious. " Visit to Sand-
wich" is a minute and circumstantial account of one
of Queen Elizabeth's numerous visits to this decayed
and old-fashioned town, then a place of some copse;
quence. In a short paper, entitled " Indian Luxuries,
the author furnishes us with a plesant description of
some of the daily annoyances, arising from the exces-
sive heat of the climate, to which English residents
in the East are at all times liable. His details of the
incessant activity and perseverance of the insect tribe,
who in India are in season all the year round, by no
means prepossess us in favour of that much belauded
country. The " Vetturino" is a continuation of an
amusing prose tale, whose scene is laid for the most
part in Switzerland, that was commenced in last
month's Miscellany. A little judicious abridgement
would not have misbecome the present chapters. The
" Sportsman's Fireside" is a lively, good-humoured,
domestic sketch, by an author who signs himself
Paul Prendergast. The " Fatal Mark" is a story of
deep tragic interest, whose leading incident—namely,
that a young French officer marrying a beautiful girl,
whom, immediately after his nuptials, he discovers to
have murdered her first lover, and to have been
branded on the shoulders by the common executioner
—might be turned to some account at one of our
minor theatres. Mr. Murray's " Physiology of
London Life" is rather languid and heavy this month,
compared with some of the former chapters. The
best passage in it is the brief but forcible sketch of a
London lithunder-storm. " Mike Leary" is a whim-
sical extravaganza, told in a delicious Irish brogue.
Mike, it seems, was a " broth of a boy," who dwelt
in one of the wildest parts of Ireland ; and one fine
evening it came to pass that a strange black gentle-
man paid him a visit at his solitary cottage among
the mountains. This stranger was no other than the
Devil, and his host no sooner discovered his quality,
than he slily made him fast by the tail to a nail in
the wall, and then ran off at a break-neck pace for
the priest. On the latter's arrival a diverting scene
ensued, which we give in the narrator's own word s:—
" Whin they reached the house, a very spate sane of
confusion they saw. The chairs looked as if they 'd
been havin' a deadly battle wid one another, for legs
and arms were strewed in all directions ; the table had
gone clane mad, and had cut its capers till it fell down
all of a heap ; a whole side of bacon was br'ilin' on the
fire, and the devil had basted it wid the frying-pan. The
tief had taken one swate pig by his purty little tail, and
broken its nose against the wall, and had clawed the
ear of anode,., and swallowed the whole ; but, worso
than all, he had danced upon the whiskey-Cask, and
smashed it to smithereens ; but the rearin' lion didn't
forgit first of all to dhrink the whiskey, and a blind man
olnVlhyinsaAildikteo s
ha wi m
saelll f th,
lis,,mhethdiinakni'nt
~sApfaikshe
tear wijoirvdi 4
might have seen that the baste was roarin' dhrunk.
thhea"t ye 'll be afther payin,' for yer sport.'
I " The moment Mike and the praste intered, he was
quiet as any helpless lamb ; he shluuk into the corner,
I