The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-30 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

EDRIC THE FORRESTER.
A Ili.vtoricat Play, in Five Acts. By T. CROSS.
Bell and Wood. London.
This is a singular production, considering the
daily occupafoa of the author, and the educa-
tion which one in his rank of life may be sup-
posed to have received. We understand he has
been the driver of a stage coach between Lond,
and Cambridge for many years, and during his
leisure. inoments.,' influenced no doubt by the
classic inspirations of one end of his journey, has
contrived to write a very respectable historical
drama. The language is correct and ex-
pressive, and reminds us of some of the
descriptions of country scenes .in " Thom-
son's Seasons." If the work itself were
equal to the dedication, it might with safety be
pronounced the finest production of the present
day. Dedications in general are formal, flatter-
ing, and pompous effusions, put forth to obtain
some favour or some distinction, from the higher
classes; but this forms a noble exception. It is
addressed not to a sovereign or a lord, or a pa- ,
tron, but to one of his own family and rank, and
expresses in beautiful and affectionate language
the purest and the best feelings of the human
heart. It is addressed to a sister, and runs thus :

" To one who
Along the cool sequestered vale of life
Has kept the noiseless tenour of her way.
To one who, in affluence and adversity, has felt, and
cherished, and practised those virtues that exalt the
mind and betoken the true Christian : to her, whose
pilgrimage has been marked with sympathising sorrows,
soothing the cares, and smoothing the path through this
vale of tears ; watching with meek and humble piety
the departure of congenial spirits ; to her, the earliest
object of his affection and esteem ; to Maria, this small
but sincere tribute is offered by HER BROTHER.
Cambridge, Aug. 18, 1842.
The scene is laid principally in Shrewsbury and
partly in Wales, and exhibits events which oc-
curred eight hundred years ago, comprising the
history of one of the most powerful of the Anglo-
Saxon nobleswho survived thebattle of Hastings.
The hero of the piece inherited vast possessions
on the banks of the Severn, and being of a bold
and patriotic spirit, and ardently attached to the
memory of the unfortunate Harold, he rose in
open rebellion against the new dynasty,
carried on the contest for years, but in
the latter end of the reign of the Conqueror
was subdued by Ralph de Mortimer, and
dispossessed of all his estates. The play, we
understand, is to be performed at the Cambridge
Theatre next week, and, from the subscription
list, we see it is patronised by some of the lead-
ing men of the University—among others, by
Dr. Lee, the Regius Professor of Hebrew, and
by Dr. Peacock, Dean of Norwich, late Fellow
of Trinity College. The following extract will
Five a favourable specimen of the production.
The scene is pictured from life, and probably the
description was suggested by the delightful
change which every traveller on the top of a
coach feels at the rising of the sun, and which
our four-in-hand poet had witnessed times out of
number

How lovely 'tis to hail the morning's prime,
To witness Nature casting off the robe
Of darkness that involved the world around ;
To scent sweet smelling odours from her lap ;
To feel the fresh'ning gale ; to mark the steps
With which she gradually unfolds the day.
The chirping tenants of the thorny brake,
Uncertain yet of light, unnestling slow,
At still short intervals their notes prepare.
The cock, at one shrill sound, proclaims that he
Has felt the influence of returning day.
The listless herd, now rising from the mead
With outstretch'd limbs shake off the pearly dew,
And bellow forth glad welcome to the morn.
The distant tinkling of the leading ram,
Purveyor to the flock, bleat following bleat
In infinite succession, cheer the light.
And now the world which, some few minutes back,
Seem'd lost in solitude, once more revives
From deathlike silence, starting into life.
OVER-POPULATION.

The attention of the whole country is at this mo-
ment fixed upon the question of " What remedies can
be proposed for the existing distress and difficulties in
our manufacturing and mining districts ?" We
know that some would extend the inquiry to all
classes of the community, and would also include
those which are agricultural, trading, and commer-
cial. To this we have, no objection, since all are
suffering more or less, from a great variety of
causes. Amongst other reasons assigned for the
present state of depression, is the vast increase
of our population; but instead of meeting that
fact by recommendations of emigration and co-
lonization, both home and foreign, there are
multitudes of persons who are for adopting
legal and penal checks against what are termed " im-
prudent marriages" among the working classes.
Now, whilst we hold that he who marries without
the fair prospect of being able to maintain his wife
and children by his honest, or by their conjoint
honest industry, in that situation or class of life in
which they are placed by the providence of God, is a
bad and worthless member of society; yet we do
insist that "the increase of mankind is a blessing,"
and that the whole question of marriage must and
ought to be left to the consciences and convictions of
the contracting parties. We desire no premiums to
be offered to the poor man to induce him to marry ;
and we protest against any other than moral
persuasion and influence to induce him not to
marry ; and then only provided his health, age, de-
pressed career and business, or other causes clearly
point out that it would be immoral for him to con-
tract an alliance, which must, if consummated, entail
great and permanent misery upon others. We confess
we are not amongst those who believe that checks to
population on an extensive and national scale are ne-
cessary. 'We do not believe that mankind are likely to
increase beyond the limits of the food which the earth
is capable of yielding. And in this opinion we are
confirmed, when we look around us on the many tracts
still uncultivated in our own very thickly-peopled
count;•y ; but, above all, when we reflect on the ex-
tensive and fertile countries at present little peopled,
or wholly unpeopled. If also we reflect on how much
better the ground might be cultivated, in almost every
spot that can be named, and what progress is daily
being made in the science of agriculture, we cannot
but arrive at the conclusion that whatever may be
apprehended for the remote future, the earth does not
at present contain on its surface one-fourth of the
number of individuals it is capable of maintaining in
plenty and comfort.--Church and State Gazette.

TUE QUEEN'S VISIT.--A paragraph has been going
the round of the papers (originating, we believe, with
a northern contemporary), estimating the expenses of
her Majesty's reception by the Marquis of Breadalbane
at 60,0001., or some such sum. We have the best
authority for giving this absurd statement the most
unqualified contradiction. The writer of the paragraph
appears to be equally acquainted with the subject as ,
with the Noble Marquis's rent-roll and other family
matters, all of which are stated with total incorrect-
ness. Another unfounded statement has been made in a
Glasgow paper, that the noble Marquis had resumed
the handsome uniforms in which his Highland guard !
of 200 men were equipped on the occasion of the
Royal visit. We have express authority to say that
this statement is utterly unfounded, and that every
man of the Highland guard was presented with his
entire equipment, joined with a recommendation that
he should preserve it as a memorial of the late splendid
occasion, and be in readiness to turn out again should
another such opportunity occur.-4Coolmas•
I iThe late Walter Blackney, Esq., died in embar•
rassed circumstances, originating, we believe, in his
untoward connection with the politics and representa-
tion of this county, his fortune being, small, and his
family very numerous. lie was returned to Parlia.
ment in 1832 (on the retirement, or rather flight, to
Portugal of Sir John Maley Doyle), after a severe
contest, and he continued in Parliament, with Mr.
Wallaoe, until 1835, when both retired to make room
for the late N. A. Vigor% Esq., and Mr. A. Raphael.
Mr. Blackney has left a widow and a large family to
deplore his less. We believe considerable property,
devolves to the Marquis of Ormande by the death of
this gentleman, who was the last life in some im-
portant leases. In the county of Carlow his death
will create a change also, as his property there was
held during his own life, which now passes away
after a lapse of nearly a century, to Lord Kenmore,
H. G. Morgan, Esq., county Wexford, and the Messrs.
Newton, of the county of Carlow. The Radical re-
gistry will Finftbr by his deatb,—otrriote Sentinel,
contested election ell'ST, L'Ultk'S PARISH.—ThO
Vestry Clerk for St. Luke's parish was brought to a
close yesterday afternoon. The candidates were, Mr.
Wm. HottAphreys, son of Mr. Humphreys the solici-
tor i and Air. John Parsons, son of Capt. John Par_
sons, R.N., and junior partner in the legal firm of
Messrs. Burehell and Co. The numbers at the close
of the poll were stated to be—for pars_ se
"us, 530 •
Humphreys, 295 ; majority, 933. The salary, 1*
had previously been 4001., has been increaseud:t:“s‘rtivafFellin
and bonds far the thithful discharge of al d
leirsk,nc:(vissetplp.h
some time since with 3,000/.
iteleasngiiovuennt ofon 3th,oooe
part of
ceingol6,ooo4late,:
person had contrived
than the
stourtcl.
Burton, who absconded
and upwards of the parishTmhaotney, and
posed to be In America.
to unite In himself the preyleu
Vestry Clerk and Clerk to the ,wiisly distinct offices of
default in the office of the lattertees,
after some
addition to his salary, he ac • , and thus, with an
effecting his extensive forgeries, 'Whit% it is clear bad
been thr a considerable time ecoternplated by him, for
bale the list of Trustees em-
powered to a
,a'AR' upon them after Easter, tie intro
and made use of these
names only in dr • names,
awmg and
clerkships are ed &Num The two
to
apiu separate&

PRICE OF SUGAR.
EFFECTS OF MONOPOLY.

LONDON, SEPT. 30, 1842.
The following average prices, exclusive of duty, of
Brown or Muscovado British Sugars, will be pub-
lished in the Gazette of this evening :

s. d.
West India 36 5+ per cwt.
East India , 37 5
Mauritius • 3l 8
The total average price of the three descriptions is
365. Old. per cwt.
The actual weights of Sugar sold on account of the
importers, in the week ending the 27th inst., accord-
ing to the returns made upon oath by the Sugar bro-
kers, in conformity with the Act of Parliament, and
on which weights the above prices are computed, con-
sisted of 28,051 cwt. West India, of 12,786 cwt. East
India, and 6,671 cwt. Mauritius.

2,600 cwt. of raw and black sugars have been sold
at from 20s. to 255. per cwt. in the same week, which
being classed as East India and Mauritius, unfairly
depresses the average prices of those kinds of Sugar,
a; well as that of the total average.
Manilla Sugar of good quality may be bought at
from 15s. to 16s. per cwt. Porto Rico, equal to the
average quality of West India Sugars are 16s. 6d. per
cwt., and Brazil at from 13s. to 223., and foreign Mo-
lasses, which would serve excellently well for fatten•
ing cattle or for manure at 7s. per cwt. This differ-
ence of prices clearly demonstrates that the British
nation is paying the sugar monopolists 20s. per cent.
more fur all the sugar consumed in the country than
it is really worth, being equivalent to an indirect tax,
levied from all classes to enrich the West Indians, of
four millions sterling per annum, and when the fa-
is taken into the calculation, those four
vouritism shown by. the duties on Rum, Coffee,
Cocoa, &c.,
millions will be increased to five.