The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-19 00:00:00

AUGUST
_l9, i#14,59

Etixembourgli
Namur and Liege
Orleans and Bordeaux... 4
Over Yssel 413 s 4d OIAN3 ..... •••
Paris Sr Lyons, Lailitte's 2
Paris and Lyons, Gan-
neron's,
Paris & Lyons, (Calon's) 2 ...... 2Vs 4
Paris and Orleans 2O
Paris and Rouen ... 20
Paris and Strasbourg
(Ganneron's) 2 ...... 24
Rouen and Havre ...... 16
Royal North of Spain ... 2
Sambre and Meuse ~... 6
Tours and Nantes, Mac-
kenzie's
Verona and Ancona...—. 3

LITERATURE.

3%

" Olive plantations were long among the most pro-
ductive of invtstments, but they are now less so than
the cultivation of the white mulberry (gelso), which
would spread widely were capital abundant. Vineyards
have been too largely spread, and give no returns equi-
valent to the outlay. The culture of wheat is diminished.
but from no other cause than the ab.ence of external
demand, and the consequent decline of prices. Great
losses have been the result of the application of new
hinds to corn production. Of late, an advance has taken
place in the prices of grain, but by no means sufficient to
repair the losses Of years ; and it is scarcely to be ex-
pected that the corn lands, which had been so long a
source of ruin to the owners, should be again applied to
that species of culture. The more fertile lands of the
Marensma, will, DO doubt, continue to be applied to the
growth of wheat, but only once in several years."
" Roman Marshes.—These extend from the confines
of Tuscany to the frontiers of the kingdom of the Two
Sicilies, and from the coast of the Mediterranean to the
Appenines. This territory is divided into about 600
farms of 500, 1,000, and 1,500 hectares each. The most
considerable of these is that of Camp mono, situated in
the Pontine marshes, and belonging to the chapter of St.
Peter.
"There are only from 16,000 to 18,000 inhabitants of
the Maremma. The half savage peasantry of Sabino
and the A bruszo, to the amount of 25,000 or 30,000, come
down annually in the months of July and August to
gather in the harvest. The habitual unhealthiness of
the Maremma, and perhaps, still more the carelessness
and waut of means of preserving their health, of this
wandering population soon destroys large numbers of
them.
" The Maremma include the pontine marshes, which,
in the time of the ancient Romans, contained several
cities. These marshes, covering a surface of nearly
19,000 hectares, extend to the south of Rome, from
Velletri to Terracine. Leo X. and Sixtus V. have both
unsuccessfully endeavoured to drain them. Still later,
Pius VI. undertook, for the same end, considerable
works, but with no better success, though at an expense
iif 360,0001. Some parts, however, of the marshes were
drained. The present Pope has given them to his
nephew, the Duke of Braschi.
" M. de Prony, a French engineer, who was sent in
1812 to examine these marshes, estimated the total ex-
pense of their drainage at 400,0001."
We cannot too strongly recommend this noble
compilation of modern statistics, in every branch, to
the favour and attention of the public. It is wholly
without a rival.

MR. Hnoo's LAST WORK.—In Mr. Hood's " Whim-
sicalities" will perhaps be found a greater share of his genuine
humanity, and true poetic and humorous spirit than in any
ether of his works. The list of contents of these inte-
resting volumes comprises, among numerous other Jena,
desprit, the following capital papers :—The Schoolmistress
Abroad—The Tower of Lanech—A Sea-Totaller—The Forge,
a romance of the Iron Age—The Defaulter—An Extraordi-
nary Operation—The Earth Quakers—The Grimsby Ghost—
A Black Job—Mrs. Gardiner, an Horticultural Romance—
The Repeal of the Union—A Tale of Terror—Laying down
the Law—Hydropathy, or the Cold Water Cure—Mr. Chub,
a Piscatory Romance—A Custom-house Breeze—Letters from
China—New Harmony—Etching Aloralised.7 Ihe Happiest
i
Man in England—The Longest Hour n my Life—An Under-
taker—A First Attempt in Rhyme—Horse and Foot—Alr.
Withering's Consumption and its Cure—The University Feud
—D.abolical Suggestions—English Retrogression—The Cam-
berwell Beauty—The Little Browns—The Twitles—The Con-
fessions of a Phcenix—The Omnibus—Mr. Wakley and the
Poets, &c. The volumes are profusely illustrated by Leech in
his best style.
The following extraordinary circumstance has for
the last two days been much talked of in Paris. On Wednes-
day an English person, about fifty years of age, and who has
passed at different periods under the names of Montague, Sir
Charles, and Sir Edward Douglas, died in the Rue de Pon-
thieu, No. 19, of an intestinal complaint. The deceased was
said to be the natural son of a Noble Earl, who held a high
offile in the household of George 111., and was married to a
very fine woman, but who lived with a military officer, after
having lived for some years as the wife of Sir Charles or
Edward Douglas. It is added that, atter this elopement, the
soi disunt Charles or Edward paid addresses to a widow lady,
Madame 8., and at one time a marriage between them was
regarded as certain, but the affair was broken off. Atter the
death of the soi disant Sir Charles, it was found, to the asto-
nishment of the persons who were present, that it was a woman
and not a man, and we are assured from positive authority, that
a medical inspector proved the deceased to be a virgin. The
funeral took place yesterday afternoon, at three o'clock. The
deceased had in France an allowance of 3,0001. a year, made by
some member of her family ; but it appears that she was con-
siderably in debt to her landlord and various tradesmen.—
Galignani's Messenger.

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS; a Digsst of the
Pi odueteve Resources, Commercial Legis!ation, 6.c.
of all Notions. By John Macgregor. 2 Vols.
[THIRD NOTICE.]
This is one of those works the closer examination
and more diligent perusal of which cannot fail to
confirm the favourable impression that a first and cur-
sory glance at its contents is sure to produce. The
second volume is divided into sections, entitled re-
spectively, Ottoman Empire; Greece; African States;
Russian Empire; Sweden and Norway; Spain; and
Portugal.
The first volume, comprehending these great ter-
ritorial divisions—namely, the Austrian Empire,
Belgium, Denmark, France, Holland, the Italian
States, Gibraltar, Malta, and the lonian Islands—we
have already noticed as abounding with an almost
incredible variety of statistical information, admirably
arranged and so digested as to be available for all
purposes of reference at a moment's notice. Perhaps
we know less in England of the commerce, resources,
and capabilities of the various Italian States and the
kingdom of the Two Sicilies than of any other
portion of Europe, with, perhaps, the solitary excep-
tion of the noble island of Sardinia. But for Capt.
Smyth's small but interesting volume, we can
scarcely boast an English authority on the topography
or modern condition of an island, which it is now
generally agreed, in conformity with the antique
authority of Scylax, is entitled to rank before Sicily
in point of territorial extent, and is consequently to
be regarded as the l'rgest island in the Mediter-
ranean. They who do not happen to possess either
Capt. Smyth's book, or the Chevalier la Marmora's,
may be pleased with a few of the collections made
towards a statistical account of Sardinia by Mr. Craig,
an English resident there for many years, and by him
communicated to Mr. Macgregor. The population
of this island (140 nautical miles in length by an
average breadth of about 60) is probably 450,000.
"The present King and his Government seem now to
be seriously engaged in improving the condition of this
magnificent and fertile territory." " The King has
assumed the place of the feudal barons, and bought
their manorial rents at a value equal to twenty years'
purchase. Vassalage has been also made redeemable."
"It seems that corn is the principal article of export,
and in good years the t.:tal exportation from the
island may amount to about 500,000 bushels of
wheat, 250,003 bushels of barley, 7,500 bushels of
maize, 125,000 bushels of beans, 250,000 bushels of
peas"—certainly an enormous surplus growth of
cereal products, and one which must supply the bt.sis
of a most profitable and improvable foreign trade
The fisheries, too, must be most productive, if we
may judge from a detailed statement of the expenses
and receipts incurred and realised on 3,680 tunnies,
taken at Saline in 1823. The total of expenses, hire
of vessels and boats, wear and tear of nets, oil to pre-
serve part of fish (an item amounting to 9001.), cost
of barrels, victuals and wages of fishers, &c., was
5,1741. The total receipts, 14,690/., showing an
aggregate profit of 9,5161., or 186 per cent. Tobacco
and other commodities are subjects of royal monopoly,
but salt must yield to the Mejesty of Sardinia a more
enormous revenue than the " Stade" Duties have
been wont to yield to the Crown of Hanover.
" Around Cagliari there are three natural salterns,
Molentargius, Spiaggia, di Mezzo, and Rollone ;
there is also an artificial one at the Lazzlretto, and
another at St. Peter's Church, all of which belong to
Government, and, if well regulated, would annually pro-
duce 90,000 salms (2 salms equal to 1 ton). Besides
these, there are four artificial salterns in the Gulf of
Cagliari, respectively called La Vittoria, Media-plvja,
Cortelonga, and La Maddalena, in favourable seasons,
yielding together about 12,000 salrns ; these the king
has let out. The salterns at Teuladu, have been
abandoned for some years ; but, if attended to, would
probably yield upwards of 6,000 salms ; and those of
Oristano, which produce only 4,000, might be increased
to 20,000 salms. The salterns at Terranuova, though
much neglected, 3 ield about 1,000 sahns.
" His Majesty's expenses for producing the saq are
not more than nine reals, or four-fifths of a dollar, per
salm, whilst continental subjects are obliged to pay
for many thousand salms, at fifty dollars each ; the
cards in general pay but five dollars the saltn, and the
capital is furnished gratis, in consequence of the salterns
ceded by the city to the king."
In the Papal States olive trees seem to be retiring
before the white mulberry (gelso) trees; and the
Pontine Marshes continue, as of old, to be the scourge
and the disgrace, the granary and the grave of many
Romans.