The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-01 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 Winchi!sea, 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 as
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 bOund-
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 theta 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 that 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 unwisey 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 pr,..ductive, trade so brisk, and com-
forts so generally diffused throughout society. Surely we
may all rfjoice 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
cap lagunglit. pave uone in ittio or 1811.
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 continuationof a similar article in 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, es 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 oa 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
bis fork and silver spoon ? The absence of knives was simply
owing to taste—they bad 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
he recollected. The same mixture of squalor and luxury may
be traced in the Roman manner of lighting. . The use of the
0.l 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
cei!!ng. The simple and obvious precaution of "glass
cylinders to consume the smoke," seems never to have oc-
curred to a Boman 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 infiindi-
buto, having in front a small bole 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
Wthrehemnicakfihguavree stoodal upon
been found
laatmp, it sometimes Pompeiisominegreaets
heldnumbers.this
instrument by a chain in its hand."
N

'OURSE OF EXCHA
Anuterdam CF. 12 91
Ditto, at sight l2 71
Rotterdam 2U. 12 10
Antwerp 26 15
Hamburgh M.B. 13 141
Altona
Paris,3 days' sight 25 75
Ditto, 3 months 26 0
Marseilles
Bourdeana 26 10
Frankfort on Maine l2O

GE.—(YESTERDAY.'
.....
Leghorn ............SO 69
Genoa ..... .
Milan ......
Venice.... .......
Naples ..... ....... 3nl
Palermo, 1,,67 0z.... 120}
Lisbon... ........ 53*
Oporto...
Rio Janeiro
Bahia

Petersburgh, 3 Ue..
Berlin

Buenos Ay,'.
NewYol k .::7dyssight
PhiladelpMe ...... ,
mem WON, TER OZ
Foreigr bars. £3 17 9
Portuga: Gold Coin 3 17 5
New Ponbloon&.... 0 0 0
New DaIILTEI 0 4 91
Silver In Bass 0 4 111

Vienna, effec. fl. 3 M lO 4
Trieste, ditto
Madrid 368
Cadiz
Bilbao
Barcelona
Seville

THE ADERDEEN RAILWAY.—Our readers will be
glad to learn that several large contracts for the earth and
riliFOR work of the Aberdeen Railway were entered into yes:
terdiy.—Aberdeen Herald of Saturday.
A BOY CONVICTED FOR STEALING WALNTJTB.—At
Rochebter petty sessions, on Thursday, a little boy, named
James Thelburn, was convicted of having knocked down some
walnuts from a tree, the property of Sir John Marshall, and
was lined Is. 6d., being three times the value of the walnuts,
and 13s. 6d. costs. In default of payment he was ordered to
be committed to prison for 14 days, though his mother, a
a poor widow, with a large family, was allowed a month to
make up the money if she could.

SIVALLOWING PINS IN A FRIGHT. - Yesterday
morning, about twelve o'clock, a-young woman, named Sarah
Young, residing in Castle-street, Oxford-market, being sud-
denly startled by the report of a pistol, swallowed a quantity
of pins that she had in her mouth at the time. Several of
them fixed in her throat and threatened to suffocate her, but
Mr. Monies, a surgeon, was promptly in attendance and suc-
ceeded in removing three of the pins. It is supposed, how-
ever, that some were swallowed.

The Earl of Ellenborough was to leave Southam
House, Gloucestershire, on Monday, to attend the funeral of
his uncle, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, yesterday, at Wells
Cathedral.

The Duke of Devonshire is surrounded by a select
party at Chatsworth. Viscount and Viscountess Jocelyn,
after a tour of visits in Scotland, arrived there last week on a
visit to the Noble Duke. Viscount Morpeth came from Castle
Howard, accompanied by Lady Mary Howard. The H.
George and Lady Louisa Cavendish have been visitingon at
Chatsworth. sir Augustus and Lady Clifford are en route
from Scotland to pass some days with his Grace at the ducal
seat.

Sr. ANNE'S CuuRCIT, SOIIO.—On Monday this church
was re-opened for Divine service, baying been thorougl4
repaired and decomted both externally and internally,