The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-02
The British Periodicals.

The London Quarterly, the Edinburg, the
Norlh British, the Westminster, and Black
GOODS Magazine have commenced the year, il
seems to us, with more ability and interest even
than heretofore. In fact, the recent great events
in Europe could hardly fail to arouse the intel
lect Of Great Britain. And as Europe is now
SO much more connected with US, by trade,
travel, and emigration, than formerly, we do not
see how the statesmen, philosophers, and Swans
of thscountry can dispense with these publica
tons. They abound in elaborate articles on the
politics -statisticsseoz sDience, literature,
and arts of Europs-and-are almost the only
works that give US an adequate knowledge of
the movement of European mind, society, gov.
eminent, and trade.
Europe seems to be approaching again to a
conflict between the Northern and Southern sec
tons. This tendency is visible from cause
more powerful than the antagonism of liberalism
and despotism that exists between them. The
North Of Europe is increasing much the most
rapidly. Heretofore the population Of Great
Britain has been the most prolific of any in
Europe, and hence has advanced in the last two
centuries from about eight to sixty millions, and
has overspread North America. But now it has
become SO dense in England, and has resorted
so much to towns, to manufactures, and to CON-
merce, that the ratio of increase has seriously
diminished: to this has recently been added
the destruction by famine in Ireland, and the
enormous emigration to this country. Emigra-
ton and deterioration have also been going on
in and from Germany. The foreign arrivals in
our ports last year from Europe exceed three
hundred thousand-and as they consist chiefly of
young adult males, they take away the effective
strength of million Of population from home,
and leave it burthened with the young, the old,
and the weak. So, that as the period approach.
es for Russia to disgorge her growing hordes on
the South of Europe, the latter grows rapidly
weaker and more incapable Of defence.
Within the last three years three Peace Con
crosses have assembled in Europe-one in
France, one in Belgium, and one in England
These assemblages were attended by many per-
sons Of distinction, for talent and philanthropy
who depicted the horrors of war in vivid and
appalling manner. But the long duration o.
peace in Europe has developed the horrors o
peace, that Is to say, of state Of peace, of civil
ization and refinement, in which the passions
of men are not subdued-and the result hal
been registered in crime, pauperism, want, suf
fering and death, which may challenge com
parison with the horrors Of war The presen
population of England would, If It increased in
ratio which results from ordinary comfort am
morality, double itself in twenty five years; but
the present and declining ratio Of actual increase
that result would not be attained in less thai
seventy-fve Hence, in seventy five years, th,
population will be a hundred millions less thar
it is capable Of becoming discrepancy due Il
vice. And, compared 10 such deficit in mum
Der, the losses Of all the Auzterltzes, Borodinos
and Leipzigs, shrink into insigni6cance. Tn,
horrors Of war are so obvious, and make sucl
deep impression on the senses, that philan
thropists and Christians have often been be
wildered Tor reason that il is permitted b
Providence. But the statistics of peace furnis
the reason. Nay, so terrible have been the re
suits Of peace, that the masses have started u
in Europe rife for war and revolution, unde
the vain Illusion that the misery Of men is pro
duced by forms Of government, and may be re
moved by a change in political systems.
Some Of the most extraordinary results Q
modern civilization have appeared in Ireland
Although She rs been devastated by famine
has probably lost a million Of her reopIe b
want-slthoueh every county exhibits loss O
population-eveU city, without one exception
has increased-in numbers. The land of Irelan,
is undergoing dsseriion, and although the wage
Of agricultural labor have largely advanced, tn
cities are filing up with crowds.
The foreign Reviews are all 10 be found a
Messrs. TAYLOR g. MAuRY's, in this city.
The Democratic Review.