The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-30 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

NATURAL PRINCIPLES AND ANALOGY OF
THE HARMONY OF FORM.
Blackwood, Edinburgh and London, 1842.
The object of this treatise is to show that the
impressions made upon the eye by forms are
really founded on natural principles; and that
the proportions and peculiarities of form which
produce the most pleasing impressions, are in
reality, as well as appearance, dictated by nature,
being a response to those principles in the human
mind. The treatise is singularly well written,
both as respects manner and matter, exhibiting
a force and closeness of reasoning which lead to
the inference that the author has a decided
penchant for mathematical pursuits, and is ex-
tensively acquainted with that difficult and com-
plicated science. Harmony of form, he observes,
depends upon three homogeneous parts, and
these parts are analogous in every respect to the
three hotnogeenous primitive sounds, proved by
the concurrent testimony of natural philo-
sophers to be the foundation of harmony in
music. He then goes on to state that there are
only three kinds of lines used in producing forms,
and that these are, the straight line, the crooked
line, and the curved line; adding, " all varieties
of form, however complex, all the similarity and
dssimilarity that combine in the harmony
of forms, are produced by these simple ele-
ments." The varieties of which these three
kinds of lines are capable, are next considered,
after which the author gives several curious and
interesting plates illustrative of certain theories
advanced in the course of his treatise. These
plates are finished off with the utmost nicety, and
artists and men of science will derive many a use-
ful suggestion from them.

CHINA AS IT WAS, AND IS.
Cradock, London, 1842. _

There is much serviceable, well-digested in-
formation, compressed within reasonable limits,
in this unpretending little volume—or rather,
pamphlet, for it is little more—the compiler of
which has been greatly indebted to Davis's ex-
cellent work on China, which is the completest,
if not the most profound, of any that has yet ap-
peared on the subject of this ancient and secluded
kingdom. As Chinese history, statistics, &c.,
are now the order of the day, we should be dis-
posed to augur favourably of the chances of suc-
cess of the present work.

THE TAitirr.---The importations of foreign cattle
are decidedly falling off as the winter advances, and
in several instances the beasts have deteriorated so
much on their boisterous passages, as to fetch very low
prices. On Monday a vessel arrived at Falmouth from
Corunna, with 80 bullocks, 50 of them having died on
the voyage. Some Irish cattle have been brought
into this port by the Cork steamers, owing to
the great fall of prices in Ireland; which, however,
is considered to be only of a temporary nature,
and it is not expected that supplies from that
quarter will be long continued, as it is well known
that Ireland, once a large exporting country, has now
not more meat than her own wants require. From
the published returns, we find that the total amount
of beasts, sheep, and pigs introduced into England
from all parts of the world under the tariff since it
came into operation, does not exceed a week's supply
for Smithfield market alone, a fact that must go far to
allay all apprehensions of being inundated with cattle
from abroad. We find it also confidently asserted,
that, except in the case of the Dutch and some of the
Spanish cattle, these importations have not produced a
good return, especially of late, since our prices have
given way. The accounts from the country markets
in the west this week are more cheerful to the farmers
than for some time past. Symptoms of a decided im-
provement are visible. At the Yealmpton great cattle
market, on Thursday, prices looked upwards, with a
brisk sale, and it is becoming a general opinion that
things have seen their worst for the British grazier.—
Plymouth Times.
On Monday Mr. Payne held an inquest at St.
Bartholomew's Hospital on the body of Joseph Hodges,
aged 67, a carpenter. It appeared in evidence that,
on Saturday week last, deceased was crossing the
City-road, near the Eagle Tavern, when a horse, rid-
den by Mr. Gray, a livery-stable keeper, of Oxford:.
street, struck deceased with its chest, knocked him
down, and afterwards tranwledtile
uponn t h
was promptly pickedup,theim.
Deceasedsllo p
and aof
Mr. Hill, a neighbouring surgeon, who, on perceiving
that there was fracture of the ribs, ordered him to be
removed to that hospital. It was proved that deceased
had slipped just before the horse struck him, and that
no blame could be attributed to the rider of the ani-
mal. Mr. William Lucas, house-surgeon, said de-
ceased went on well for the first three or four days
after his admission, when he began to sink, and died
on Saturday last. A post mortern examination showed
that several ribs were fractured, and that there was
an effusion of blood into the chest, which proved mor-
tal, and which was caused by the accident. Verdict
—" Accidental death."

SINGULAR CIRCUSISTANCE.—Last week, the Rev.
Mr. Twopeny, of Ipsden Vicarage, purchased an old
writing desk for ten shillings of William Barnshaw,
of that village. Shortly afterwards, on examining
the desk, he found the spring of a secret drawer, on
opening which he discovered gold and silver coins of
the reign of James the First to the value of 2501. We
are gratified in adding that the Rev. Gentleman has
arranged the disposal of the prize in the following
generous manner :--The poor old man is to receive a
weekly sum until his neat h, and his children the re-
mainder, until the whole has been expended.—Ros-
shire Advertiser.