The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 22 1845.

LITERATURE.
"" VELA. TIoNS OF SPAIN IN 1845. By an
knglish
Were Spain a country more worthy of public
notice or of any great importance in the balance of
P,\yerr in Europe, the revolutions which have taken
ace there within the last forty years would form
ir7 of the most interesting features in modern
t t°1-Y. Even in her fallen state, however, Spain
*annot fail to excite interest. She has played a great
dPLart on the stage of nations; she had the glory of
to._Foveritig the new world ; she in consequence
trued undivided dominion over the whole of South
America' and in her wars with the ancient inhabitants
attracted the eves of all civilized nations, while in the
old world, both for the extent of her territory, the
eovv of
t er her arms, and the ability of her kings and
Ta`earnen, she justly occupied tile very first rank
Tow she is the least among the nations. Her vast
lessessions have one after another been wrested from
ner by foreigners, or the revolt of her children, and of
li
irnmense colonies scarcely now a speck remains.
alexico, Peru, New Granada, Florida, Louisiana, and
Nan
y other districts large enough for independent
dates, have slipped away, and her colonial empire has
I,windled to the Canary Islands, two of the Antilles,
,°rto Rico, and Cuba, and a spot or two on the
480,..r!,11,ern coast of Africa. The Low Countries,,
e"'3, nay the one half of civilized Europe owned
r sway—her navy, even so late as 1782, corn-
fPn'ritsed seventy sail of the line and frigates, besides
'3' smaller war vessels, is now reduced to one ship
:51 the line, a few frigates, corvettes, and brigs, if
;!&11 these can be said to exist, for during the last
,„4"6 years no uniforms have been made for the
.sra*
,lee, and to every member of it, without exception,
months' pay is due. " In the crumbling
s te,,Y and prevalent ruin of Spain," says the writer,
"ere are no more melancholy fragments than those
th may be seen, or scarcely seen for their rarity,
th he glorious ancient ports, from whence went forth
e °nquistadores in one century, and the Armada
"Triedinvincible• thr in the next ; and into which for
fr zee hundred years flowed in lordly galleons the
haelghted wealth of both the Indies. The Armada
IshBisle, ft no remnant behind. The merchant service,
Cn once extended through the world, has sunk into
tiarrlful of generally inferior vessels, and a great
to tb°l the passenger and carsying trade is transferred
rsi,;;!, *hips of England and America. ' flow are the
ssr,'Y' fallen !' Is there here a requital for the
sli-I,:'ties of Mexico and Peru ?" Never was the
ell Pronounced against a wicked nation so visibly
warrled into effect. The mighty man and the man of
tiler' the judge and the prophet, and the prudent and
trip ancient; the captain of fifty, and the honourable
st,„'l, and the counsellor are gone, and the terrible
44,Vleiation "I will give children to be their princes,
44 babes shall rule over them," is literally ful-
Itined,,* Such is the melanCholy condition of the
atittgaln on whose dominions the sun never set. The
fat °'• of these "Revelations of Spain" begins his
Q tipciabout the time when a babe began to rule over it,
ts4tent i gves the following concise outline of its
Ito;l'he events of the year 1843, in Spain, have been of
l'epte27 extraordinary a character, and the principle of
Its4tentative government in the Peninsula has been
atici by such severe and unusual tests, that the social
ts) Political state of that remaikable country seems at
lettevious period to have claimed a more attentive in-
tliejBrt; The springs of society have been stirred from
lisk.4ePths ; the pillars of the Commonwealth rudely
Chiefs; orders subverted, and laws defied; the executive
hkaVis the State has been exiled and deposed; a child
Ikki""en raised to the exercise of sovereignty before the
it r recognised by the Constitution; a Minister, after
tiaaYs' tenure of power, has been expelled from office
4tl- Palace plot, and like the Regent, five months before,
%tt obliged to fly for his life ; Parliament has been
P„trilY closed, its scrutiny contemptuously evaded,
Pok.iletions audaciously usurped ; the heads of the
*tiri.„-`l. Party have been thrown into dungeons without
""ant; the lives of numerous citizens forfeited without
11.4; the Sovereign has been brought forward in an in-
-14,
1.4 attitude, an a military government, or the law-
-11 Ole of dishonest civilians, established."
sktke draws, apparently with great truth, the dm-
kito of the leading personages, including Espartero,
ti:ter, Lopez, Olozaga, the Marchioness of Santa
Christina, and her two daughters, and
tate Tea historical details of the intrigues, plots, and
fore.:,' the principal actors, as well as the schemes of
I°ttr,e,rs, among whom the' French Ministers and
bittOchateau" perform a conspicuous part. The
ip farY, Of the royal conspiracy is interesting. It was
conspiracy to ruin Olozaga, to bring back
}he ilia, and to destroy the Constitution, got up in
most barefaced manner by the Camarilla, at the
4o
s:4 which was the clever and notorious Marqueza
Pers,,,-4ta Cruz, who he says is a very fascinating
hll, of most elegant and distinguished manners,
saith intellectual attainments. Of Queen Chris-
Ftthlie he speaks on the whole favourably. "In her
thoeaPacity she has always been remarkable for
'lualities, two of them virtues, and two of them
atsti everse ;—courage, resolution, insincerity, and
',tra,?;e• Olozaga was cruelly betrayed, and his de-
l% -,„"°4 was resolved on and effected because he had
oughts patriotism and virtue to yield to the
Ni;,eB of the Camarilla. The poor child bad been
°to4l` her lesson well, she recited it before the as-
'46M councillors to perfection ; but of the falsehood
rottig statements not a doubt can remain, judging
!;t tb.tite original document signed by the Queen
ctrl "
same regular, unshaken, and school-
PIoY -Asadwriting, which she had invariably ern-
Ihieb- Since her majority was declared," and
tha-ti Olozaga refused at first to give up till
Ned shown it to a hundred senators—from the
Serni, with a signature shaky and scarcely
fedes-and what was known to the patriarch her
Qis or• These,
1, • and other manifest proofs, cleared
ttacetis,racter of Olozaga, and hushed up this dis-
kat:4 transaction. The "Revelations" altogether
much interest, and though given in a loose,
24,t• jacted style, abounding with many Spanish
• 1,,5, Produced often for display rather than use,
IT4-rni'ese,e.ssarily introducing the characters of some
Otte, this country—among others that of Lord
jejouridam's-not in the most favourable light, they will
6'44 of service in estimating the remarkable revo-
r.4 '.erought about by Louis Philippe, Christina,
h44a„ltivaez. We give the following extract as a
'all(iitraen of the work, premising that the Queen
ateasii`o be in bad health, and that the King of the
'bittr-a°n.ee contemplated, a
.marriage between her
'll,4",lthe Duke D Aumale
aPpearance of Queen Isabel Maria to the eye of
PoN•
maglie,r is that of a precocious but somewhat care-
t, sickly girl—exceedingly pale, and with
ilikez either expressive or interesting in her coun-
Oriod. But that her brow is circled with a crown, at
ttiN-, of unparalleled youth to emerge from. legal.o
~stit,!,tnere is little there to arrest your attention
',,rtitieber forbidden nor attracted ; you deem her attention; you
11 tend than her age, but this precocity, as compared
Ilp,tryngia,nd, is universal in the Peninsula.
lit' as more closely, you will see a shade pass
tb2, aws over her brow and features, indicative of
lit of disposition, and. of a character somewhat
ltdrs'Y destiny ; and you will not be far mistaken if
tpdhe
this concl
faceion. But your eye is soon arrested
1.41 mg us e
h besider, all radiant with vivacity
kgh IgPoce ; younger, yet less frivolous ; more
hejt r„Ezld joyous, yet with more of sentiment.
e ;"e Infanta' Luisa, her sister—a charming child
h'llty%)",tenance radiant with the highest beauty the
the mind. In the sitting of the Coretes, where
l'loe'rity of her royal sister was declared, this darling
tllh.qatielised all the admiration.
dueler Isabel is said to be of a rather wilful nature,
tisai°,l3et tish fits; at times not a little obstinate, and
Inintelligence as well as in temper. These
Vh.bes- are inherited in part from both father and
she has thrown her whole soul into her
ha,Sl it was likewise a maternal failing, for 11.{e.n-
-,N fie to his official interviews with Queen Christina
elalllently to lock out the listening Camarilla: the
qt:rge laid at 016zaga's door.
Qt% cen Isabel's Camarera Mayor, the Marquess de
fsstr.ll2, now so notorious throughout Europe,. is
da
t,v,aspainating person, of most elegant and distinguished
lb' es. tuld high intellectual attainments—one of the
1t toes of the Court of Spain—and to these
falsr the is indebted for her influence over the Q.ueen_.
to add that she wears one of the proudest and
trht`lriou3 amongst the historical names of Spain.
tt4 ara,,;
0 a moo's of Santa Cruz, in the time of Philip 11.,
taetetla-ott illustrious admiral, who defeated on nu-
As4allesct'eesasions the Moors of Africa, and completed the
Off Portugal by destroying Don Antonio's ex-
li: bat "„_'. 60 vessels fitted out by France. It was not
4re,."46 Duke of Medina Sidonia, who commanded
I Armada.tleen
tici,Y eclat, Isabel has been very imperfectly and irregt!-
Ith,,•surb,..;-ft,ted• That she should be little enlightened is
; that she should be deficient in ordinary
lose IvEta"e is a mere corollary of her inadequate tutoring.
,ign, n t altogether three months in the hands of
qleatianwhose instruction was confined to her political
sb.; and under the guidance of Arguelles, to
that% ari-dwas previously entrusted, she was rather in-
ort is ea„ refractory. About the court, they say that
%It 4'Peious, wilful, disimulada ; and fibbing, an
ged tnaracteristic of her age in young girls, is
wed by bbe• very much the contrary of being dis-
er
)t. the
11,,asporn last three years she has been in constant
at dente with her mother, and inevitably thus ne-
tt a. rty with a strong dislike for the Progresistas, as a
i
s,ra painndivi dually. It was they who drove Cristina
1:a:a 4,_,, and who have always thwarted that prin-
Anei ii;:rlutist tendencies. Never, therefore, could
kt.seglislies"'n with affectionate respect to the lessons of
tsistas or of 016zaga, both of them eminent Pro-
lsitant wilnand in Espartero she could only see the
t), herself. deprived her mother of the regency, and
learitileen an orphan. Still, being obliged to keep up
fedtfvli„ and the entire power of the State being
bb flEspartero, she was taught to be false and
itt)ts tg,?__ne. force of circumstances, and trained by
Qeeeritied h:feilt• An intimate friend of the master who
tratraaa ,_"ongest, wrote things concerning her in a
aserib_,orrespondence which I should be sorry to
aTliersoef" i.and which I prefer imputing rather to the
gYthi,,:,'Ormation of character at her age, than to
Ti 6 Inherently bad in her disposition."
I'ol "e extract
usge s are taken principally from the first
'jut they furnish an imperfect view of the

work. The second volume is chiefly dedicated to a
description of " men and manners" in Spain, and the
women are not forgotten. We have also graphic
accounts of the state of agriculture, smuggling, the
price of getting up a pronunciamento, and many
other peculiarities of that primitive and singular
people. Altogether it contains the best modern de-
scription of the country that we have seen, not even
" Inglis's Spain" excepted.
The author sums up his remarks with the following
conclusions, which we trust are well-founded

"In the midst of all these broils and dissensions, and
in defiance of the turbulence of her sons, Spain is de-
cidedly and visibly advancing. The progress, to be sure,
is slow and feeble, but may be traced in every direction.
Material improvement develops itself in despite of Poli-
tical obstacles, comfort begins to be comprehended, and
faction cannot cheek the tendencies of the age. New
communications ace opened, new roads constructed, old
ones repaired and made more available to the commu-
nity ; minerals are explored, and foundries established
for the melting el ores, with the aid of British skill and
capital ; the public vehicles are multiplied ; inns with
passable accommodations start up here ai d there for the
first time in the lapse of centuries ; opposition on the
bustling road gives its spur to speculative enterprise.
The shipwriJit's cheerful sounds begin once more to
be heard, and the Guadalquivir is about to be made
navigable to COrdova. Happily, these arematters in which
governments have 110 concern, and the local Ayunta-
rnie.atos and Provincial Deputations in not a few quar-
ters make an honest and successful application of the
local taxes. New companies spring up for the working
of profitable mines, and fostering of manufacturing in-
dustry. An association has been formed for the deve
lopment of the colonial wealth of the Filippines ; im-
proved agricultural processes are likewise at intervals
introduced ; a system of telegraphs is about to be esta-
blished ; even a railway is more than spoken of. No
roseate tints of fancy are added to this picture, but facts
are stated which prove what a mighty thing is national
vitality. The incumbent weight on the acanthus makes
it sprout into more Pantastic shapes, but still the growth
is incessant ; and if scoundrels were not at the top of the
tree, the plant would wax tall and beautiful."

HISTORY OF THE CONSULATE AND EM
PIRE OF FRANCE UADER NAPOLEON.
By M. A. niers, late Prime Minister of France, 6.c.,
translated by D. Forbes Campbell, Esq., with the sanc-
tion and approval of the Author.
This work, which is a continuation of the history
of the French Revolution, has been looked forward to
with much interest; and, as far as can be judged from
the two volumes which have just appeared, simulta-
neously in Paris and London, will not disappoint
public expectation. The work embraces the most
important period in the history of France, next to the
great convulsion of the preceding century, when the
French throne was overturned, the nobility and
clergy expelled from the country, war declared
against not only the ancient institutions of France,
but against monarchy in every shape ; and the
golden age of pure republicanism, upright govern-
ment, and stern patriotism, was proclaimed to ad-
miring nations. About the period when these delu-
sions had nearly passed away, when France was
saturated with blood, and anarchy was triumphant,
the " man of the age" became at once the most pro-
minent character among generals and orators and
statesmen ; some of them rendered illustrious by
great deeds and many of them detested, execrated
and held up to public indignation as the most ruth-
less of mankind. The scene is full of the stirring
event, and embraces a period of fifteen years from
1800 to 1815, when the fatal battle of Waterloo ter-
minated Bonaparte's career of glory, banished him
from France, and established a general peace which
has now lasted for thirty years. In compiling a
history abounding in so many great and
glorious events for his native country, M. Thiers has
advantages which no writer of the age possesses to
the same extent. He is a man of the first-rate abili-
ties, of great energy, tact, perseverance, and compre-
hensive views—he has for more than twenty years
taken an active part in the political affairs of the
country, either as a writer in the leading journals, a
Member of Parliament, or a Minister of State ; and,
at the great revolution of 1830, was one of the most
active agents,in rousing the whole of France against
the imbecile, tyrannical, a7..d ,vorn-out dynasty of the
Bourbons. Since that time he has 'filled almost
every important office in the State. He has been Mi-
nister of Finance, Minister of the Interior, Minister
for Foreign Affairs, and, finally, Prime Minister. He
has therefore enjoyed facilities of no ordinary kind
for procuring from original documents materials for
his work. In addition to these appointments, he was
also at ene time Keeper of the Archives of the State,
and had access to diplomatic papers and documents
not only relating to late events, hut to those embraced
in the work. It is said he also possesses many diaries,
letters, and memoirs hitherto unpublished, while the
principal men who had served under Napoleon have
supplied him with a great deal of information on
striking events; some of them still very doubtful
as to their origin. He has devoted, too,
many years to the undertaking. He has travelled
to witness the scenes of French glory, perhaps,
too, placed his future fame on his history, knowing
well that a Secretary of State, a Prime Minister, nay
a Sovereign in distant ages is generally a very ob-
scure and ignoble character when placed by the side
of a powerful writer, and, above all, of an impartial,
spirited, and eloquent historian. That fame he ap-
pears to keep in view, for, though partial to his own
country (and that is no blame), though enthusiasti-
cally worshipping the hero of his story, and proud of
deeds which surprised the world, he rarely diverges
from the truth; he blames Bonaparte for his despotism,
and praises Sieyes for his skill in manufacturing con-
stitutions. In reference to the Constitution of the
year VIII., he says :
" The plan of M. Sieyes contained two forcible and
admirable ideas, both of which have been retained in
our administrative organization ; the division of the
country into arrondissements and the Council of State.

" Thus M. Sieye, was the author of all the adminis-
trative circumscriptions of France. He had already
conceived the division into departments and induced its
adoption ; he wished on this occasion that the cantonal
administrations, which existed to the number of five
thousand, should he superseded by administrations of
arrondissement, which, much less numerous, were a
more convenient intermediate between the commune and
the department. The principle only was laid down in
the Constitution ; but it was agreed that a law should
ere long reform, upon this principle, the administrative
system in France, and put an end to the communal
anarchy, a melancholy picture of which has been given
above. There was to be a tribunal of first instance for
each arrondissement, and a tribunal of appeal for several
united departments.

" The second of the creations of M. Sieye;, which be-
longs exclusively to himself, is the Council of State, a
deliberative body attached to the executive porter, pre •
paring the laws, supporting them before the legislative
power, adding to them the regulations which ought to
accompany the laws, and rendering the laws adminis-
trative. This is the most practical of his conceptions,
and, with the preceding, it must outlive the present and
subsist in future times. To the honour of this legis-
lator, be it said, Time has swept away all the ephemeral
Constitutions of the Revolution, but the only parts of
these Constitutions which have survived have been
his work."

Nearly his whole Constitution was adopted and
without an absolute power like that of Solon, Lycur-
gus, or Mahomet, and " such as it was," adds M.
Thiers, blaming Bonaparte, "if the conqueror of
Marengo had not afterwards made two considerable
changes in it—the addition of the imperial succes-
sion and the retrenchment of the Tribunate—this Con-
stitution might have furnished a career which would
not have been the triumph of absolute power." We
give as specimens of the work two extracts, one de-
scribing the passage over the Alps, and the other the
close of the decisive battle of Marengo, and it is worthy
of observation that both these important events would
have been entirely frustrated had the Austrian officers
done their duty. The French army was allowed to
debouchi3 on the plains of Lombardy, entirely owing to
the negligence and stupidity of the officer who com-
manded the impregnable fortress of Bard, and Gene-
ral Melas, who had gained the battle of Marengo,
gave up the victory for a dinner. The following is
M. Thiers' description of the descent of the French
army from St. Bernard, and the manner in which it
escaped destruction : _

" the First Consul halted for a short time with the
monks, thanked them for their attentions to his army,
and made them a magnificent present, for the relief of
the poor and of travellers.
" He descended rapidly, suffering himself, according
to the. custom of the country, to glide down upon the
snow, and arrived the same evening at Etroubles. Next
day, after paying some attention to the park of artillery
and to the provisions, he set out for Aosta and Bard.
Having ascertained that all he had been told was true,
he resolved to send the infantry, the cavalry, and the
four-pounders by the path of Albaredo, which would be
possible, if the path were repaired. All the troops were
to go and take possession of the debouch 6 of the moun-
tains in advance of Ivrea, and the First Consul designed,
meanwhile, to make some attempt on the fort, or at least
find means to turn this obstacle, by making his artillery
cross one of the neighbouring Cob:. He ordered Ge-
neral Lecchi, at the head of the Italians, to ascend on
the left, to penetrate by the Grassoney road into the valley
of the Sesia, which terminates near the Simplon and
Lake Maggiore.
The object of this movement was to keep the Simplon
road open, to give the hand to a detachment that was
descending by it, and to reconnoitre, in short, all the
roads passable for wheel carriages.
" The First Consul, at the same time, directed his
attention to the fort of Bard. The French were in pos-
session of the only street composing the town, but could
only pass through it under such a shower of balls that it
would be scarcely possible to get through with artillery,
though the distance was but two or three hundred
fathoms. The commandant was summoned, but he re-
plied with firmness, like a man fully sensible of the im-
portance of the post entrusted to his courage. Force
alone, then, could make us masters of the pass. The
artillery which had been planted on the mountain of
Albaredo produced no great effect; an escalade was
attempted on the outer inclosure of the fort; but some
brave grenadiers, and Dufour, an excellent officer, were
uselessly wounded or killed. All the while, the troops

were proceeding along the path of Albaredo. Fifteen
hundred labourers had done the most urgent repairs re-
quired by that path. In places where it was narrow, it
bad been widened by the removal of gravel from the
sides; too rapid slopes had been diminished by cutting
steps to prevent the felt from slipping; in other places,
trunks of trees were thrown over ravines, which it would
otherwise have been too difficult to cross, and used as
bridges. The army advanced successively, man by man,
the cavalry leading their horses by the bridle. The
Austrian officer commanding the fort of Bard, seeing
our troops filing in this manner, and mortified at not
having it in his power to stop their march, sent word to
M. de Melas, that he had witnessed the passage of a
whole army, infantry and cavalry, without possessing
the moans of obstructing it, but he pledged his life that
it would arrive without a single piece of cannon.
" Meanwhile, our artillery made a remarkably bold
attempt ; this was, to pass with a piece beneath the very
guns of the fort, under favour of the night. The enemy,
unluckily warned by the noise, threw pot-grenadoes,
which lighted the road as though it had been broad day,
and enabled them to pour upon it a shower of projectiles.
Out of thirteen artillerymen who had volunteered to
draw that piece of cannon, seven were killed or wounded.
This was sufficient to dishearten the bravest men ; when
an ingenious method, though, withal, a very dangerous
one, was thought of. The street was covered with straw
and dung ; tow was fastened about the pieces, so as to
prevent the slightest sound from the jar of thoseataionitnwbhmecyeeyt
tt army.
im-
mense masses of metal upon their carriages ; the horses
were unharnessed, bold artillerymen, dragging them by
main strength, ventured to pass under the batteries of
the fort, along the street of Bard. This contrivance suc-
ceeded completely. The enemy, who fired from time to
time, by way of precaution, hit some of our gunners ;
but very soon, in spite of this fire, all the heavy artillery
was removed beyond the defile, and this formidable ob-
stacle, which bad given the First Consul more concern
than the St. Barnard itself, was overcome. The artil-
lery horses had taken the path of Albaredo."
The following extract describes the change which
took place when Desaix came to the relief of the con-
queror of Marengo :
"Half the day was spent. M. de Aisles fancied him-
self sure of the victory, which he had so dearly purchased.
This old warrior, who, for courage at least, proved him-
self worthy of his adversary on that memorable day, re •
turned to Alexandria, worn out with fatigue. He left
the command to M. de Zach, the chief of his staff, and
sent off couriers to all Europe, to proclaim his victory and
the defeat of General Bonaparte at Marengo. This chief
of the staff, invested with the command, then formed the
d
French,
IKHrhbini
highetraraale,
al
ettvni l
asp;
in-
tervened, aifeorlcy,
df
efforts,
aidhdoddnusrter
Henfnhet
nGrrsAgi,
easoo:ei
that
isNtrnagni
vibsldsnaeraeittAedtrtertnhfitaki
htrlaatelasei
enhryodgeoeemnohi anefocrsri
grenadiers,
rmogaecishoeunilli
oe:
infantry,
ft
could,
yti
ori
ht
toootoeorhonanlw:tpnr
considered
followed
tnatdGfaaanhhnoerhsbeat.edcedihndyi
Piacenza,
ecel
maieztent:nnprahvAhfoodge,
toeer:tcdeincrti
sasrhoobyaaavettllweani
erhsouit
tu:e:nami
lgrnocpcsnweahsootudg objects
t,
Generalsel
to
oaom notghf
theta hsi
o train.gain
k.
e
e
troops shifted from the Tessina and the Adda to the Po,
rweittrhießveoutdheeems iswf,ohratluenedoi
sfistiohne, da2a•
would he arrive in time? On this circumstance depended
the issue of the battle. The aides-de-camp of the First
Consul had been galloping in quest of him ever since
morning. But, long before they reached him, Desaix,
on the first cannon-shot fired on the plain of Marengo,
had instantly wheeled about. Hearing this distant re-
port, he had concluded that the enemy, whom he had
been sent in search of to Novi, on the Genoa road, was
at Marengo itself. He had immediately dispatched
Savary, with a few hundred horse, to Novi, to see what
was going forward, and had waited with his division,
listening intently to the cannon of the Austrians
tied the French, which never ceased thundering in the
direction of the Bormida. From Savary having
discovered no trace of the enemy in the environs of
Novi, Desaix was confirmed in his happy conjecture,
and, without further delay, marched for Marengo, send-
ing before him several aides-de-camp to apprise the First
Consul that he was coming. He had marched the whole
day, and, at three o'clock, his heads of columns at length
appeared at the entrance into the plain, in the vicinity
of San Giuliano. He himself, preceding them at a
gallop, rode up to the First Consul. Happy inspiration
of a lieutenant equally intelligent and attached! happy
fortune of youth ! If, fifteen years later, the First
Consul, now so well seconded by his generals, had found
a Desaix on the field of Waterloo, he would have pre-
served the empire, and France her preponderant posis
tion among the powers of Europe.
" The presence of Desaix changed the aspect of things.
He was surrounded; he was made acquainted with the
occurrences of the day. The generals formed a circle:
about him and the First Consul, and discussed with
warmth the critical position of the army. Most of them
advised retreat. The First Consul was not of this
opinion, and he earnestly pressed Desaix for his.
Desaix, surveying the devastated field of battle, then
drawing out his watch and looking at the hour, replied
to General Bonaparte in these simple and noble terms:—
" Yes, the battle is lost; but it is only three o'clock;
there is time to gain another." General Bonaparte, de-
lighted
with the opinion of Desaix, prepared to avail
himself of the succour brought him by that general, and
of the advantages ensured to him by the position taken
ever since morning. He was, in fact, in the plain, on
the right, while the enemy was on the left, in marching
column, on the high road, advancing towards San
Giuliano. Desaix, arriving from San Giuliano, with
6,000 fresh troops, and facing the Austrians, might stop
them short, while the bulk of the rallied army should
fall upon their flank. Orders were forthwith issued in
accordance with this plan.
" The three demi-brigades of Desaix were formed in
advance of San Giuliano, a little to the right of the high
road; the 30th deployed in line; the 9th and 59th in
close columns on the wings of the former. A slight un-
dulation of the ground concealed them from the enemy.
On their left were the rallied and somewhat recovered
wrecks of Chambarlhac's and Gardanne's troops under
General Victor; on their right, in the plain, Lannes,
whose retreating movement was suspended, then the
consular guard, then Carra St. Cyr, who had kept as
near as possible to Castel Ceriolo. The army then
formed a long oblique line from San Giuliano to Castel
Ceriolo, and between Desaix and Lannes, and a little in
rear, was placed Kellermann's cavalry in the interval.
A battery of twelve pieces, the sole remnant of the whole
artillery of the army, was spread upon the front of the
corps of Desaix.
" These dispositions made, . the First Consul rode
through the ranks of his soldiers, and addressed the dif-
ferent corps. My friends,' said he, we have fallen
back far enough: recollect that I am accustomed to lie
on the field of battle.' Having reanimated the troops,
who, inspirited by the arrival of the reserves, burned
with impatience to resume the fight, he gave the signal
for attack. A charge was beaten along the whole line.
" The Austrians, in order of march rather than in
order of battle, were proceeding along the high road.
The column urder the command of M. de Zach came
first. A little in rear, came the centre, half deployed in
the plain, and making front to Lannes.
piecesG eoeferaclanAnloanrm. o
An t t ahlile k a
st
ec
re
oufn mg
grape-shot
peed
-s o
ttwelvefell
upon the head of the surprised Austrian column, which
expectedthe
Fen
no further
were decidedlyartherresistance; for the
enemyi
Scarcely
that
had it recovered from this sudden shock, when Desaix
set the 9th light in motion. Go and inform the First
Consul,' said he to Savary, his aides de-camp, that I
am charging, and that I am in want of cavalry to support
me.' Desaix, on horseback, led on this demi-brigade.
He ascended with it the slight rise of the ground which
hid it from the view of the Austrians, and abruptly re-
vealed himself to them by a fire of musketry discharged
within a few paces of them. The Austrians re-
turned it, and Desaix fell, pierced by a ball in the
chest. 'Conceal my death; said he, to General Boudet,
his chief of division ; it might dishearten the troops.'
Useless precaution of that hero ! His fall had been ob-
served, and his soldiers, like those of Turenne, insisted,
with loud shouts, on avenging their leader. The 9th light,
which on that day earned the title of incomparable, which
it bore till the termination of our wars—the 9th light,
having poured forth its fire, formed in column, and fell
upon the dense mass of the Austrians. At sight of it,
the first two regiments which opened the marcb, taken
by surprise, fell back in disorder en the second line, and
disappeared in its ranks. The column of Letterman's
grenadiers was then alone at the head, and received this
shock like crack troops. It stood firm. The conflict
extended on both sides of the high road. The 9th light
was supported on the right by Victor's rallied troops, on
the left by the 30th and 59th demi-brigades of Boudet's
division, which had followed the movement. Latter-
raan's grenadiers were defending themselves with diffi-
culty, when an unforeseen storm suddenly burst over
their heads. General Kellermann, who, on the applica-
tion of Desaix, had received orders to harge, set off at
a gallop, and, passingbetween Lannes and Desaix, placed
part of his squadron en potence, to make head against
the Austrian cavalry, which he saw before him ; then,
with the rest, he fell upon the flank of the column of the
grenadiers, already attacked in front by Boudet's in-
fantry. This charge, executed with extraordinary
vigour, cut the column in two. Kellermann's dragoons
slaughtered to the right and to the left, till pressed on all
sides, the unfortunate grenadiers laid down their arms.
Two thousand of them surrendered. At their head,
Gen. Zach himself was obliged to deliver up his sword.
The Austrians were thus deprived of their commander
during the conclusion of the battle ; for M. de Melas,
as we have seen, thinking himself sure of the victory,
had retired to Alexandria. Kellermann did not stop
there ; dashing upon the Lichtenstein dragoons, he put
them to flight. The latter fell back upon the centre of
d
tot
ds‘gGb3wlhhaf,
ee6raoecieee,
csinonainioeneaot.m,arenodAustriansadvanced,
aa cae
nd whichantthrew
r
bT
wounded,ht
ea n t Austriansarsbane
Generals
cruelly
number
or
va:Gbrnr nofeeodtoodragodirt
kmtaoeemoeelbellfssnoihol
hamreeouei
etieosntffiargi lost about
a:OF, 1
officers.
aa
cs
hdeedp deploying in the plain, in face
eaw it into some disorder. Lannes
"tt,'
Austrians with vigour ; while the grenadiers ggs
rheankaedni
ecresn
ot centre et
hoef c
a then
-
sular guard and Carra St. Cyr again moved towards
Castel Ceriolo, from which they were not far distant.
Along the whole line from San Giuliano to Castel
Ceriolo, the French had resumed the offensive.; they
marched forward, intoxicated with joy and enthusiasm,
on perceiving victory returning to them. Surprise and
discouragement had passed to the side of the Austrians."
The loss on both sides is thus given :
" The losses, considering the number of the com-
batants,
ao.
gwLetr.
baa:nseahnooicaitad,
rGthesod4ti
foTeiwr,
:tut
antBhfotoitei
luuaostoreonehsnaigfypendlot
generally
he
their
Hdhesmße, eaeyirarreent idadmelai
nelsiednl:rutysy6igasaact:
ailonicswrefoipadnwnToiiir
ettkdoaphh,
mkwipsrel
Lotiil
aietlsoekrrhlsnaodeti
fnemilhdshlorameteaaononardovrrmssffdaesri;
which again exhibits a loss of one-fourth, out of 28,000
soldiers present at the battle. Their staff suffered as
severely as the Austrian staff. Generals Mainony,
Rivaud, Mather, Champeaux, were wounded, the last

mortally. The greatest loss was that of Desaix. France
had not sustained one more to be regretted during a
ten years' warfare. In the estimation of the First Consul,
this loss was great enough to diminish the joy that he
felt for the victory. His secretary, M. de Bourrienne,
hastening to congratulate him on this miraculous
triumph, said to him, What a glorious day ! " Yes,' re-
plied the First Consul, It would have been glorious
indeed, could I but have embraced Desaix this evening
on the field of battle. I was going,' added he, to make
him Minister of War ; I would have made him a prince
if I could.' The conqueror of Marengo had as yet no
notion that he should, at no distant day, have it in his
power to bestow crowns on those who served him. The
body of the unfortunate Desaix was lying near San Gin
liano, amidst that vast field of carnage. His aide-de-
camp, Savary, who had been long attached to him, sought
out his body from among the dead, and, recognising it
by his profusion of hair, had it removed, and wrapped in
an hussar cloak ; then placing it on his horse, he con-
veyed it to the head quarters at Torre di Garofalo."

NAVAL AND MILITARY SKETCH BOOK.

Par.4lL

This interesting periodical goes on with increased
spirit. The translation of Eugene Sue's interesting
rautical romance of " Atar Gull" is continued in the
present number, and is beautifully illustrated. It is
to be regretted that the names of the artists are not
given. The sketch of Atar Gull and the Pirate is one
of the most spirited things we have ever seen. The
whole of the illustrations of this part are worthy of
the highest praise. Many of the nautical sketches
are not inferior to the happiest effects of old Pocock,
that prince of marine painters, who painted not mere
fancy pictures of ships, hut Actual portraits of actual
crafts which had " braved the battle and the breeze,"
and carried "the meteor flag of England" in triumph
over every sea. The other service will in this Part
find also many of their gallant deeds illustrated by
the pencil of the artist. The sketch of the siege of
Cuidad Rodrigo would, if elaborated, become a fine
his,orical picture. The time chosen is the march of
the forlorn hope to the attack of the breach ; the
subject is handled in a thoroughly artist-like manner,
and the varied expression of the countenances of the
soldiers in the foreground is beautifully given. The
effect of the whole is admirable. The literary contents
of this part are of a very varied character. I'Ve have
biographical sketches of officers of both services, tales
of " moving accidents by flood and field," humorous
anecdotes, &c. ; in short, there is something to suit
every taste; and if the Naval and Military Sketch
Book goes on as it has begun, we augur for it a
long and prosperous career.

IRELAND.
DISMISSAL OF A MAGISTRATE.

DUBLIN, 111Aacn 19.—The Tipperary Vindicator
states that Captain IVeatherall has been dismissed
from the commission of the peace for the King's
County, in consequence of a memorial to the Lord-
Lieutenant from a poor man named Dunn. The
same journal states that " Dunn also complained of
another magistrate, Sir Edward Synge, Bart., about
whose case there has been as yet no decision." No
particulars are given as to the nature of the charges
or the memorial. The Tipperary Vindicator adds—
" The Lord-Lieutenant has exercised a wise and an
admirable discretion, and has given unbounded satis-
faction to the inhabitants of Birr, who delight in
recognising this wholesome exercise of his power."
PROVINCIAL COLLEGES IN IRELAND.

A meeting took place in the Corporation-hall,
Londonderry, on Saturday last, to adopt a memorial
to the Government, praying that one of the new
colleges may be established in that city. The
principal inhabitants of the district, without distinc-
tion of party, were present, including the Lord Bishop
of Derry, Sir Robert Ferguson, M.P., Mr. T.
Bateson, M.P., Dr. Boyd, M.P., Mr. Acheson Lyle,
Chief Remembrancer, &c. The Mayor presided. All
the gentlemen named offered their most earnest co-
operation in carrying out the object of "the meeting.
Mr. A. LYLE, Chief Remembrancer, whilst advo-
cating the claim of Londonderry for one of the new
colleges, stated his views fo.r. enlarging the usefulness
of the University of Dublin, by founding a large
number, say one hundred scholarships for Roman
Catholics, and the like number for Presbyterians.
The Rev. W. M'CLURE, wbo formed one of the re-
cent deputation to London from the General Assem-
bly of the Presbyterian Church, stated, from his re-
collection of conversations with some members of the
Government, that the new Colleges are to be endowed
by Government ; the Professors to be appointed with-
out reference to religion, and subject to removal by
Government. The Colleges not to have the power of
conferring degrees, but to be associated with some
other College, or affiliated to a University, for the
purpose of granting degrees in law and medicine, but
having no power to grant degrees in theology.
A memorial and resolutions were adopted, and the
meeting separated.

before the high God of the high heavens." He was
then removed.

TIC Derry Journal says there is a strong desire in
its locality that the life of Dogherty may be spared, as
he showed no premeditation.

DEPLORABLE STATE OF MAYO.
(From the Castlebar Constitution.)
In passing sentence, on Monday morning, on the
persons convicted at the assizes, Baron Richards made
some very feeling and suitable observations. He
regretted to find that there was so much crime in
the county of Mayo. It was true the lives of none
of the magistrates had been attempted; nor were
there such crimes as were perpetrated in some other
counties ; but the cause of regret was not the
less. Though the people did not take the lives of
magistrates, or persons in the upper walks, they at-
tacked, dreadfully beat, and murdered one another.
This was not less heinous than if they attacked and
killed those above them; for the life of a poor man
' and his person should be held as sacred as that of the
rich man, and should be protected. He regretted,
also, to find that the people were not improved by the
lessons they got in the house of God. But that was
not the case. In many instances, at this and other as-
sizes here, he found that the course of proceeding was
for the people to come hot from the house of worship
to the house of whiskey near it, and from that begin
to fight on the public highway, and with sticks and
stones attack their fellow-creatures who knelt with
them in the same chapel a few minutes before, and
to pursue that system until they deprived each other
of life. On a former occasion he hal alluded to
this unfortunate custom, and was sorry to find
that it still continued. He did not know what to
attribute it to, unless to the unfortunate propensity
which distinguished this county from all others—a
propensity to indulge in the use of ardent spirits.
Every other county had, to a great extent, given up
that abominable practice. It seemed that in Mayo
this reformation had made little way, if any. There
were here the same drunken habits that existed in
Ireland half a century before, and the high and
glorious examples given in other parts of the country
had no weight here. He was extremely sorry for it,
when he saw what it brought so many men to. There
' was scarcely one of those murderous cases that did
not originate in it. But he hoped in God that the
day would soon come when the people would be as
free from those abominable habits as they were now
unfortunately addicted to them. He could not but
also regret the great difficulty he felt in arriving at
the facts of the cases, or at the truth, owing to the
unfortunate want of education among the peasantry
of the country. There was scarcely a case in which
he was not obliged to examine the witnesses through
the medium of an interpreter. He did not find this
to anything like the same extent in other counties in
Ireland. The interpreter here was quite competent
to discharge his duty, was a good Irish scholar, and
well able to interpret the language ; yet from the ig-
norance of the people, he (the Learned Judge) felt it
almost impossible to understand the cases, or get at
the truth. That was a misfortune which he hoped
would some day or other cease, and that the people in
this county would be as well able to communicate
their ideas in English as the people of other counties.
It would be for their own benefit to learn the English
language and receive education, for when they left
the country, and went to England and elsewhere,
they would find themselves in great difficulty from
their not knowing that language, and from not being
able to transact their business in it.

His LORDSHIP then proceeded to pass sentence
on the prisoners. It will be seen that thirteen
have been sentenced to transportation for various
periods.
This is a sad picture of a county which is to all
intents and purposes under the entire spiritual con-
trol of the lion of the fold of Judah. And let it be
borne in mind that Barcn Richards is a Whig, and
something more.

FOUR CHILDREN BURNT TO DEATH.

SKIBBEREEN7 MARCH 16.--A melancholy occur-
rence, and one attended with awful loss of lives,
took place in this neighbourhood last night. A
family living on the lands of Lahenagh, after re-
tiring to bed, were awoke with the fumes
of burning straw ; the father made his way to the
place where the smoke proceeded from, and found the
kitchen, which he left a few moments previous, en-
veloped in flames, so much so, that he was not able to
effect an entrance into the sleeping apartment of his
wife and children, and, horrible to relate, four of his
children were consumed in the flames. One and his
wife succeeded in escaping the conflagration by
jumping through the window in the sleeping apart-
ment, and by this means saved their lives. The house
has been burned to the foundation, and the remains
of the children, when witnessed by the medical gen-
tlemen who attended there (Mr. Crowly, of Skib-
bereen), cannot be described.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL EN-
GINEERS, MARCH 18.

The President, Sir JOIN RENNIE, in the Chair.

A paper on the drainage of the Ancholme Level,
Lincolnshire, by Sir John Rernie, President, was
read. It commenced by describing the position of
the Ancholme Level, which consists of a low tract of
land, of about 200,000 acres in extent, situated on
the south side of the river Humber, about ten miles
below its junction with the river Trent. The river
Ancholme runs through the centre of this level, and,
with its tributary streams, empties itself into the
Humber at the village of Ferraby. The alluvial
matter brought down by these streams: formed a bar
at the junction of the Ancholme with the Humber,
which, by preventing the discharge of the drainage
waters, caused the level to be inundated with water,
rendering this tract of land totally unfit for tillage.
The paper then, after entering into great historical
detail as to the works which were executed at various
periods, from the time of the Romans, to render this
tract of land available for agricultural purposes,
stated that in the year 1801, the late Mr. Rennie
being applied to for his opinion as to the best plan
for improving and completing the drainage and navi-
gation of the level, reported that he attributed its
defective drainage to the deficient capacity of the
Ancholme and the subsidiary drains to carry off the
floods; to the cill of the old Ferraby sluice having
been laid too high, and to there not being any catch-
water drains to prevent the floods from the adjacent
high lands from descending into the level. As a
remedy for these evils, he recommended that the
river Ancholme should be still further improved, by
straightening, deepening, and enlarging its channel,
and that two new locks should be placed upon ;
also, with a view to preventing the floods from the
high lands inundating the level, two catchwater
drains should be made—one on the east side and the
other on the west side of the river Ancholme, with
separate and independent sluices at their junction
with the Humber, by which means all the highland
and lowland waters would be separated, and each
body of water would thus be effectually discharged
into the Humber without interfering with the other.
The catchwater drains involved an important and
novel principle, for in his opinion by the old
Dutch method of simply cutting a series of
straight drains to some convenient point, for discharg-
ing their water, the highland and lowland waters
were mixed together, and the highland waters
coming from a higher level with a greater velocity
down upon the lowlands, forced their way first to the
outfall. The less rapid waters of the lowlands were
thus kept back, and were left to stagnate, the sluices
being unable to discharge the whole body of water
during the time when the tide with the Humber per-
mitted the sluice doors to be opened, and it was thus
impossible that the level could be drained; but by
separating the highland from the lowland waters,
each body of water could be effectually discharged
by an independent sluice. These catchwater drains
would answer also the important purposes of irriga-
tion during dry seasons, and for navigation.
The plans which were also at the same period
being beneficially carried into effect by Mr. Rennie,
and on a more extensive scale in the east and
west and Wildmore fens, near Boston, and also on
the Witham, near Lincoln, were partially executed ;
but the works not being completed, and for want of
funds not being subsequently kept in repair, the
drainage was found very insufficient, and at length
Sir John Rennie was called in to complete the system.
He proposed that the plans of his father should be
carried out; that the Ancholme should be further im-
proved, and a new sluice made at Ferraby, with a
cill placed at a lower level, and new bridges made
throughout the lines ; also that an overfall and weir
should be constructed, with a large reservoir to catch
the sand which was brought by floods from the sur-
rounding hills, and had previously blocked up the
main and lateral drains. Minor weirs and reservoirs
were also recommended for the smaller drains and
brooks where they united with the level. These
works having been executed, the effect was that the
drainage was rendered complete and effective, and the
district was converted into a tract of fine arable
land. Subsequently another sluice was constructed
below Ferraby, with its cill two feet below the
low water mark of extra spring tides in the Humber.
This sluice, which had three openings of eighteen feet
each in width, with draw-doors and self-acting gates,
was perfect in its effect, discharging about four times
the quantity of water in the same time that had
been previously accomplished. The whole of these
works were completed by Sir John Rennie, forty-
three years after Mr. Rennie's report, and 55G
years after a regular system of drainage had
commenced, and the district was freed from water
without the aid of mechanical power, thus establishing
what was contended to be the surest principle of
drainage, the separating of the highland from the
lowland waters by catch-water drains, and discharg-
ing them independently of each other by their several
outfalls.
In an interesting discussion which ensued, the cor-
rectness of the principle was fully admitted, and it was
shown that by selecting proper localities for the out-
falls, and by placing the tills of the sluices below low

water mark of spring tides, there were not any fen
districts in the kingdom that could not be drained
without mechanical aid.

It was announced that there would not be any
meeting on Easter _Tuesday, and the meeting was ad-
journed until Tuesday, April the Ist, when the
monthly ballot for members would take place, and the
following papErs would be read:—

No. 7b6. ‘An Account of the new Cast-Iron Pier
at Gravesend." By J. B. Redman, Grad. Inst. C.E.
No. 711. "On Gas Meters." By A. A. Crule,
Assoc. Inst. C. E.

NECESSITY OF ASCERTAINING
THE AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES OF
THE COUNTRY.
(From the Journal of Commerce.)

It is very discreditable that in such a country as
Great Britain, so little should be known of its agri-
cultural statistics; and that, in fact, nothing should
be officitilly known on a subject of so much interest
and importance to the national welfare. Every ses-
sion of Parliament we hear the most contradictory
assertions advanced as to the agricultural capa-
bilities of the country—the one party stoutly
maintaining, as an argument for the repeal of
the corn-laws, • that England, in the most
favourable seasons, does not grow a sufficiency
of food for its inhabitants; the protectionists
as firmly maintaining that in ordinary years it
does grow sufficient, and in good years more than
sufficient, for its entire population. Where a subject
of this kind is left to vague conjecture, where there
are no official means for accurate information, it
might naturally be expected that each party would
adopt the views that best accorded with the political
object it wished to achieve. Our own observations
would incline us to think, that when there is what
may be called a good average crop, Great Britain
does produce, within herself, an ample supply
of bread corn for all her wants ; but that
when there is a bare average, this supply is stinted,
particularly if other branches of trade are flourish-
ing, and the demand consequently brisk. We fur-
ther think that by an improved management of the
land, emanating prom the proprietors themselves, the
present supply might be considerably increased, so as
to keep pace, for a time at least, with the wants of our
growing population. In 1843, the preceding harvest
having been a good one, though we believe not more
than a fair average, the total quantity of foreign and
' colonial wheat and flour entered for home consumption
was 990,523 quarters, about one-fifteenth of the entire
consumption of the country, and the average price for
the year was 50s. ld.; and during this year the de-
mand for bread stuffs from the manufacturing dis-
tricts was tolerably good, from the improvement in
trade which was then beginning to be Mt. We must
also observe, that however productive the harvest at
home may turn out, some Baltic corn is always re-
quired during the early part of the winter, and in
damp weather, to enable the millers to work up the
newer wheats. Last year the harvestproduce was by no
means so good as the year preceding, and there were
entered for home consumption, of foreign and colonial
wheat and flour, 1,026,976 quarters; while we ima-
gine the trade and manufactures of the country were
never in a more flourishing condition, producing a
considerable demand. Mr. M'Culloch: says that in
1812 and 1813 Great Britain raised sufficient wheat
for its own consumption ; and though the population
has considerably increased since those years, great
improvements Lave taken place in the cultivation of
the soil, by which its productiveness has been aug-
mented. All this, however, is vague conjecture, and
must continue so until there be some certain and
official guide in agricultural statistics; until this be
obtained, legislating on the corn-laws is really legis-
lating in the dark.
We consider it would be of the utmost importance
to ascertain, annually, the capabilities of the country
to supply the people with food, not merely farinaceeus,
but animal. The population of Great Britain is rapidly
increasing, and agricultural improvements are, at
least, in a state of progression ; the desideratum to be
known is the relative proportion between the one and
the other. It appears extraordinary to us that the
Government of the country should have been so
long carried on, indeed could have been so long
carried on, without some attempt to acquire
accurate information on so important a subject
as the means the country possessed to feed
its inhabitants. In no country in Europe is such in-
formation so absolutely required—where the popula-
lion is continually pressing on the means of support
and supply. Through the medium of our custom-
houses we have accurate returns of our foreign trade ;
through the medium of the excise offices it may be
known what quantity of hops has been grown, what
quantity of barley has been malted, how much spirits
has been distilled, how much soap made ; but upon
the all-important question of bread and beef we are
left in utter ignorance.
We have given much attention to this subject, and
we consider the information we deem so necessary to
be perfectly attainable. We need not enter into
minute particulars, but we shall give a general out-
line of what we think would be required. We would
have every person possessing ground for farming pur-
poses, whether as proprietor or tenant, to give in to the
clerk of the peace for the county, or to some other
official appointed for the purpose, in counties, dis-
tricts of counties, or market towns, as might seem
best, an annual return, some time in January of
each year, which would embrace the following de-
tails :—Size of farm, number of acres during the pre-
ceding year under tillage, pasture, hay crop, fallow
unavailable from plantations or other causes ; number
of acres sowed under the several crops of wheat, oats,
barley, potatoes, turnips, &c. ; amount of harvest pro-
duce, including hay and straw ; quantity of each kind
sent to market and sold from the preceding January ;
quantity retained for domestic food and other purposes ;
quantity remaining over for market at the end of the
year ; dairy produce ; number of cows ' • weight of
butter and cheese produced ; meal produce ; num-
ber of cattle, sheep, and pigs on the farm ; in-
crease of each during the season; number sold,
and whether fattened or otherwise. With such re-
turns the Government and the Legislature would
have a complete and distinct knowledge of the condi-
tion of the couutry in its most essential ingredient ;
—the means it possessed for feeding its people—and
it could then deal with the corn-laws and cattle-trade
accordingly. It would be further seen, whether the
country was advancing or retrograding in agricul-
tural prosperity, and in what ratio ; and above all, it
would show what probability there was of keeping
the supply of food of home production answerable to
the demand for it.

We imagine it would be no great trouble to agri-
culturists to furnish the returns we have described ;
they can generally come to a tolerably correct esti-
mate of the produce of the farm before their grain
is thrashed out, or their turnips or potatoes, &c.
weighed ; any inaccuracy arising in this way
would be of little comparative importance.
Again, every farmer keeps books ; he knows
what he sells and what he buys ; those who
do not, very imperfectly understand their business.
Nor are we requiring anything that can be deemed
inquisitorial. We require not to know what are the
outlays, or the receipts, or the profits of the farm;
we merely wish to ascertain what is the actual
annual production of the kingdom arising from the
land, and we believe England is almost the only
European country where this could not be obtained
from official documents. This, cf course, would be
a subject for Government legislation, and it is one to
which we would earnestly solicit the attention of
Ministers, not only for their own information and
instruction, but because it is a matter in which the
country must have a deep and lasting interest.

ROYAL POLY TECHNIC INSTITU-
TION.
THE ARTIFICIAL HAND.

Several accounts have recently appeared in the
French journals, and from them they have been co-
pied into those of our English contemporaries, de-
scribing the invention of a contrivance by which per-
sons deprived of their hands, or of the lower portions
of their arms by amputation, and persons born with-
out hands, are furnished with an artificial hand or
hands which, by means of straps and steel springs
bound to the joints above that amputated, and ope-
rated upon, by the muscles of the other joints,
and in some instances by the pectoral muscles, is
made to act as a natural hand. Without for a mo-
ment depreciating this most useful invention, and
awarding to our French neighbours the highest
praise for their ingenuity, we cannot de-
prive one of our own countrymen of the
claim to applause which he has as good, or, in fact,
a better right to claim. During the lecture which
Professor Ryan delivered in the theatre of the I cly-
technic Institution on mechanical power, and on its
adaptation to the relief of human beings, he availed
himself of the opportunity of introducing, as an illus-
tration of the subject, a man whose hand and the
large portion of whose fore-arm had been amputated.
To the stump of the limb, just below the elbow, was
fastened an apparatus, composed of bands or straps
and small steel springs, which were lengthened so as
to lay hold upon the muscles, whilst at the other end
of the apparatus was a hand, made of wood, with
joints, fingers, &c., worked by the motion of the
muscles upon the connecting springs, and by
means of which the man could hold a stick, a
wine glass, write his name, tie and untie shoes, &c.,
and use as a natural hand. This invention is prior to
that of the French mechanics, and was made by Sir
George Cayley, Bart., Chairman of the Royal Poly-
technic Institution. The person mentioned above,
whose name is George Downland, has been honoured
by Prince Albert shaking him by his artificial hand,
and also received the notice of the Duke of Welling-
ton. This invention will be of great service to those
of our countrymen serving in our navy and army, as
their profession renders them so much more exposed
to a loss of this kind.

JERSEY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE RUN.
Ste,—As our island has lately made some stir
in the world, and, notwithstanding the high
and varied talent employed in the public press, but
little is known in England respecting it,
,you will
perhaps be glad if I now begin to fulfil my long-
neglected promise of giving you some account of its
anomalous laws. You must, however, perfectly
word, that in all
un-
derstand I distinctly pledge you my
I write 1 state nothing but naked facts 5 for so start-
ling,
are many of them, that without such a niedge I
should almost fear your implicit reliance in my vera-
city, and scarcely prevent a flashing thought th,.:t
I was hoaxing you. I know not whether von(
are aware that our jurats are chosen -for
life by the people, without any reference to their
rank, property, or education, fitting them for the
office. Thus, a potato-merchant, who can scarcely
write his name, becomes, by the votes of men as ig-
norant as himself, instantly capable of sitting in judg-
ment on, and deciding in all civil and criminal cases
(high treason excepted). This is the Jersey " royal"
road to learning. How think you these so learned
personages are bound by their oath of office to ad-
minister justice ? Think you it is according to law
and the evidence before them ? No such thing—
but only " according to the uprightness of their
conscience." A person who does not own any
land, houses, or mortgages thereon, can be arrested
here, even for a few shillings; no oath being made as
to the validity of the claim affords full scope for false
arrests. But, whether the claim be valid or other-
wise, if not immediately satisfied, the person is com-
mitted to prison, unless he can obtain the bail of a
known proprietor of land in the island, and this a
stranger can seldom do. We have a just and humane
law here, whereby debtors are released from imprison-
meat, and freed from liability, upon obtaining per-
mission of the Court to make a general cession of all
their real and personal estates, for the benefit of their
creditors. 'This law is often subservient to the
perpetration of the grossest fraud and in-
justice ; but, for the present, I will confine
myself to showing you how, by the practice
of our Court, it is rendered almost of none effect to
the debtor. Let us assume that I have arrested a
person, and he is, after weeks of confinement, before
the Court upon his petition to avail himself of this
law, after having gone through all the requisite for-
malities—that, moreover, he is really entitled to the
benefit of it, and I have a vindictive feeling towards-
him—the practice of our Court of Justice is such, that
were I the devil upon earth it would afford me ample
means of gratifying my malignity. I instruct my ad-
vocate to plead fraud, but am not obliged to specify
the nature of that fraud, nor the time when, or place
where it occurred—as this plea is denied by my victim's
advocate, the case is sent to proof, and he is re-
manded to prison, where he may lie for weeks before
the case is again before the Court. When it is, my
advocate can obtain, as a matter of course, some
months delay, for the production of a witness whom.
he states is in Australia or Newfoundland (any-
where will do,) and as no affidavit is made that his
evidence is material, nor whether there is any likeli-
hood of his return, he may be a fictitious witness
for what is known to the contrary. The prisoner is
consequently once more remanded. I am not obliged
to prove my allegation of fraud at the expiration of
the time, and if proved, the Court has no power to
punish it by any definite sentence. When next he ap-
pears, after lying all these months in prison, my victim
may be again sent back to it, because myadvocate is not
present to oppose him, having occasion to leave the
Island, perhaps the very morning of hearing; at
another time he may be remanded because his own
advocate has also found occasion to take a trip for a
few days. 'Were Ito detail all the various methods
of causing the delay of justice, I could fill a quire,
but these, however, will suffice ; let us, then, now as-
sume the time is at last arrived (it may be after
years delay), when, through my advocate, I have ex-
hausted all the means which legal ingenuity
or inventive malice can furnish, and therefore cannot
longer prevent my poor victim's freedom. Think you the
law will furnish me with further means of torturing
him ? Yes, indeed, for the very morning of final
hearing I can release him, and thus, when his advo-
cate once more asks permission for his client to avail
himself of the privileges of this law, he is told by the
Court that he cannot make cession, as there is no de-
taining creditor ; now, mark well, I have by means
of the law not only left him in prison for years upon.
the miserable pittance of 2-.0. per diem, without any
sentence of the Court, but have by legal trickery pre-
vented him from obtaining the benefit of it, and, as my
victim has not satisfied my claim, I can arrest him
again for it, and add thereto the expenses of his former
caption and prison-keep can go through
the same farms as before, again and again ! !—Think
you not that such practice is more fitted for a court
of demons than of men ?—Between debtor and credi-
tor, no fraud is too gross to receive the sanction of
our royal court according to law; by it, a creditor
can fleece all other creditors, himself obtaining 40s.
or 60s. in the pound (I know not that there is any
limit to the amount he may obtain)—by it, both
creditor and debtor may be victimised—by it, a
landlord can arrest for rent not due, nay
more, he can not only arrest for the rent of the
whole term of years a tenant may have
taken a house for, but, if not paid, can seize the
tenant's furniture, lock it up in a room, and leave him
with nothing but bare walls, and the tenant can be
imprisoned for theft, if he abstracts anything from the
room wherein it is locked This is not the worst evil
a tenant is subject to : he may take a house for a term
of years, pay the rent in advance for the whole term,
and receive a receipt fa the same, but nevertheless he
can be turned out of possession for a year and a day
by another party, and although he compounds with
him by paying the rent for that year again, he can
still be bona
,fide turned out of possession by other
rarties for ever. Remember I am not telling you
what can be, but is not done, but what cm be and is
done. The laws whereby such'startling in;ustice is in-
flicted, I must leave for another letter.
March 3, 1845. B. L.