The Sun. — London, England, 1841-08-04 00:00:00

MORNING SUN. TESTIMONIAL to DR. BIRKBECK. The Meeting of the members of the Mechanics' Insti tution, to consider the propriety of tende rin g some mark sf their esteem and gratitude to Dr. Birkbeck, which night, place on Tuesday last, and was adjou rned till last :Ight, w as resumed at lialf-past eight o'clock, when th e hair was again taken by Basil Montagu, Esq., Q.C. The CHAIRmAN said, on the last evening he had the honour of presiding over them, he was not fully ac quainted with the nature •of the resolutions to be sub mitted to their consideration. He had since been more fully informed upon the subject, and had great pleasure in again meeting them, in order' to manifest his affec 'mute respect for his friend Dr. Birkbeck.' With their per- Mission, he would now read the resolutions that had been rased at the former meeting, which would prepare them I csr the third resolution, which they were then about to discuss. The Chairman then read the resolutions passed at the meeting of Tuesday last, which have already ap- Peared in this paper, Mr. READER had much pleasure in moving the third resolution, which he trusted would me et the a pp roval of the meeting. It was, however, open to d iscussion, and e hoped the arguments that might be advanced, either in its favour or against it, would be heard with patience by the meeting. Mr. Reader then read the resolution. Mr. J. SsIITU seconded the resolution. Mr. MAsosz said he was glad the predominant feeling 14 the meetings that had taken place, with, reference to Birkbeck, was gratitude and esteem for that great and good man, to whom the industrious classes, and, in deed, all the world, he might say, were so largely in debted. —(Hear, hear.) He trusted that the interrup tions that had characterised their former meetings would not be persevered in, but that they would hear the arguments that were put forward , a nd then p roceed to _ discuss them in a calm and delibera te manner.--(Hear, hear.) Although fully concurring in the propriety of the resolution that had been moved and seconded, he should take the liberty of moving an amendment to the effect that the subscriptions raised be applied to the pay ment of the debt due by the Institution of which he was the founder, and thereby carry out the wishes which had been expressed by Dr. Birkbeck.—(Hear, hear.) He believed that such a proposition would meet the approval of the majority of the meeting, and would be more con sonant to the wishes of the illustrious individual whom they were met to honour than any other course they could adopt. Such a measure would confer benefit upon thousands, and would be much more grateful to Dr. Birkbeck's feelings than the presenting him with a piece of plate, which he had alrea d y 'Very unequivocally declined. As to the proposition that had been put forward for the establishment of a lecture ship he thought there were many objections to it, and the money raised would be much more usefully and bene ficially employed in clearing the institution from debt. If he was not fully convinced of the disinterestedness and Philanthrophy of the great and good man to whom he re ferred, he should never have thought of bringing forward such an amendment. He believed the great object of • Birkbeck's life was to merit the esteem of all the great and good men of the co untr y , and that in his ef forts t o confer the benefits of education and knowledge !tPon his fellow-men he had been actuated by purely dis interested motiveS.;--(Hear, hear.) Mr. Mason concluded by proposing his amendment. Mr. HAwes seconded the amendment. been CLAxTON did not thi nk the amendment which had proposed would meet the views of Dr. Birkbeck, and he was confirmed in that opinion by some personal communications he had had with that gentleman. — (Rear, hear.) It appeared to him that if the amend ment were carried the impression would be conveyed to the public that Dr. Birkbeck, having lent money to the lnstitution was in want of it, and that they had taken that method of repaying it.—(Cries of " No, no.") He feared that such would be the im pression out of doors, and it appeared to him that the Plan which had been adopted in America by Count Rum ford, of establishing a Professorship, which was filled by an intelligent mechanic, would better meet the views of Dr. Birkbeck. If the lectureship was established to en force the views of Dr. Birkbeck, namely, to explain some t species of popular knowledge , a measure which he • always advocated, it would be much more judicious. .. 4 , 1 , 1 e establishment of a course of us eful lectures annu ally would, he thought, fully m eet the views of Dr. - ,Tkbeck, and be much more co nsonant to his feelings thanr any other course they could a do p t. He could not b etter explain his views and wis hes if he s p oke for two ho urs, and he would therefore now sit d o wn, thanking them for the patience with which they had heard him. Mr. a • h, . Smii•Fr said a fallacy ran through the amend i"heeht, because they could not expect to get money from Members of other institutions, which were struggling TT hard, in order to be applied to the relief of that in stitution. Such a proposition had been met with nothing but disgust amongst the members of other institutions. They could not, with propriety, indicate precisely the manner in which the money should be applied. Money was to be obtained from all who were anxious to do ho nour to Dr. Birkbeck. There would be a General Com mittee, in which their Committee would be represented, and they ought to have confidence in those whom they had elected as office-bearers. He trusted they would not be so selfish, or so indecent as to ask for money from the country generally for their own purposes. He gave the original. motion his warmest support. Mr. SHRIMPTON would ask whether it would be show ing any gratitude to Dr. Birkbeck to go begging through the' c ountry for money to pay t he Doctor the inoney they owed him—to get rid of him in fact. But would that be raising any testimonial to Dr. Birkbeclir It was almost too absurd for argu-: Ment. No doubt Dr. Birkbeck, with his native mo desty, would say he was satisfied in his own conscience ; the good he had seen flow from his exertions was suffi cient reward to him ; but would that satisfy the grateful feelings which existed in the breasts of thousands? He Would answer—No.—(Cheers.) Mr. VALLENTINE thought the whole case was one which required the very gravest consideration. In his opinion the meeting ought to pause and consider before th ey passed either the amendment or the motion. He doubted whether it was at all to be expected that country Memb ers of Mechanics' Institutions would subscribe their money to establish a permanent lectureship for the benefit of their institution. It was a painful subject, but it w as a f ac t that their institution was rapidly decaying —that was seen in the library, nay, throughout the whole establishment. Would it not, then, be a mere mockery to give a testimonial to the Doc tor, while, if the present decay went on, even he might see its downfal ? Let them remember the advice of the Doctor only a short time ago—. Be just before you ar e g enerous. , Mr. Tunica thought the worthy member had answered himself, for with their institution falling into decay, as He stated, would the country institutions come forward to their aid ? Would they not say the institutio n was badly managed, for the building debt had been reduced at the time when they flourished in a manner beyond any other institution in the country. Such an appeal would be most ridiculous. In his opinion the establish ment of a lectureship would be a great benefit to the community, and a splendid testimonial to a great bene factor of mankind, who was now in the evening of his days. Let them bear all these things in mind, and cease squabbling. Whatever would do a gre at g ood in ame liorating th e condition of manki nd b y instructing the ' lli ad, would prove a source of much satisfaction to Dr. Birkbeck. Mr. SouTHGATE had thought, after what had taken Place atithe last meeting, that they would not have heard "gain of the mushroom plan that had been proposed by the Committee. He thought that the speeches that had been made in favour of the resolution had been so under a misapprehension; and, for h is own p art, he could not but think that those who had the benefit of the institu tion at heart would most heartily support the amend ment that had been made. It was his firm belief that the plan proposed by the amendment was more in con sonance with the feelings of Dr. Birkbeck than any other. --(Cheers.) Mr. Shrimpson had said that paying off the building debt would be like saying to Dr. Birkbeck that they had done with him. — (He ar. ) Now, for his own part, lie could not see it in that light. It might be all very well for those who did not wish to pay their debts to say that, but it was widely different with those who did.— (Hear, hear.) He thought that the pet plan of the Committee, namely, that of appointing a perambulatory • lectureship vas absurd, for the fact would be that that institution would have the benefit of the lecturer's ser vice once in about 70 years. —(Laughter.) He believed that by adopting the proposition contained in the amend ment they w ould render the institution permanent, and raise one of the most enduring monuments to Dr. Birk beck that could be conceived.--(Cheers.) When the building debt was paid off, the income of the institution would be considerably increased, and it would then be come, what it had not hitherto been, worthy of its ex cellent and benevolent founder.—(Cheers.) Mr. OGILVIE thought the proposition for paying off the building debt was a most excellent one and one that he would do all in his power to effect,. but he thought that proposition came most unappropnately at the pre sent time. They were met there to offer some testimo aid The to Dr. Birkbeck , and he would ask, could that objectsub be effected by paying off their building debt ? t seription for the great ob j ect the y had in view was _o e he general, it was saidi; but could it fo r one moment bt supposed that any ether i nstitution than the presen would subscribe for the payment of their debts ? and as to the public, h ew as afraid, trom the apathy that had been shown, there was little to be e x p ected from them. If, then, they could not look to the public to assist them in pay ing the building debt, whom:, lie would ask, were they to look to ? Why, to the members of that institu tion ; and was it to be supposed that they could raise among themselves between two and three thousand pounds ? And even supposing that they could raise that. sum would that, he would ask, mark their gratitude to 3 /r. Birkbeck ? Certainly not. A GENTLEMAN, who spoke from the body of the theatre, and whose name we were unable to get, said he did not know which of the plans proposed was the most impracticable. He was most decidedly opposed to any endowment. Let them look at the course pursued with respect to the Gresham Lectures, when the Royal Exchange was burned down, and the lecturers tried to sneak out of doing their duty, until the City Trustees compelled them, if not to perform it faithfully, /It least to go through the form of doing it. Mr.. Foco said that he agreed .with the last speaker that the greatest curse that could be inflicted upon edu cational systems was endowment. The inquiries insti tuted by .Lord Brougham on this subject amply bore that fact o u t. iZ2t all 'endowment in the present case was anadvisable--the same might be said likewise of other in in eas stit u n r tlo s u p s appeal to. other , thens to pay off r i or th se e d. How y proposeriapdp!rinyg, debts due by their own institution, for I. was not to be • imagined the payment of . their debts could be regar ogo) ded as a testimonial to Dr. Birkbeck? What he (Mr. P Proposed would be, that the Committee should submit three or four suggestions to the Doctor, and allow him to choose that which met his app robation. 1-f • . Mr. listox said, as a member of the Westminster Me chanics' Institution, he should protest against any reso lution emanating from that meeting being considered as a resolution on the part of the public. If the proposed Mr. amendment was carried, he trusted they would include the Westminster Institution, which was one of the largest in the metropolis, and founded under the immediate aus pices of Dr. Birkbeck himself. He considered the best plan to adopt mould be to appoint a Provisional Com mittee, which should be prepared to propose some plan to be discussed at a general meeting, where all the branch iustitutions would be fairly represented. A resolution to the effect, that a number of gentlemen connected with the parent institution, and two gentlemen from the other metropolitan or provincial bodies, willing to act, be likewise added, having been passed, after a long and desultory conversation, a vote of thanks was pro posed and passed unanimously to the Chairman, and the meeting separated shortly before twelve o'clock. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. PARIS, MONDAY.—The Moniteurcontains the follow- 1 ing telegraphic despatch : " TouLort, JULY 31.—The column of Ge neral La moriciere re-entered Mostaganem on the 19th." Several engagements had taken place to our advantage. Mascara is occupied by 2,000 men, well provided with everything till October. The arrest in Paris of M. Linormand, the ex-Com missary of Police at Toulouse, was known iu that city on the 30th. La Presse remarks that the recent treaty on the Turkish Straits has restored France to the position she occupied before the 15th July, with the exception of the friendly feeling which prevailed between England and France. The Ministerial evening journal of yesterday contains the following ;--The news received to-day from Toulouse announces that the most complete tranquillity has not ceased to reign there. M. Maurice Duval has formed, according to the terms of the municipal law, a new Pro visional Administration ; which has replaced that of which M. Cerzee was the head. The Members of the new Municipality have been installed in their functions, and are now performing them, notwithstanding the oppo sition of those provided by M. Cerzee, and whom it was found necessary to summon by a Commissary of Police to obey the law. A letter from Brussels, published in several papers, states that the Customs' Union Treaty between France and Belgium is warmly desired by . King Leopold and his Ministers, with the exception of General Busen. The Augsburgh Gazette, in speaking of the aforesaid treaty, acknowledges it to be a fine conception ; but adds that the main fault is that it will considerably modify that state of actuality which treaties have assigned to Belgium. It also draws a distinction betwixt the new German Customs' League and this projected treaty, considering the former as a national institution, and the latter as a violation of the European balance of power under the specious pretext of commercial interests. The Prussian State Gazette observes that this pro jected union will be far more difficult of execution than is generally surmised, and hints that it would be more beneficial for Belgium to unite with Germany than with France. The Castellano of the 26th says that the protest of the Queen Christina was delivered to Espartero by the French Envoy ; as was also a letter from Louis Philippe, in which that monarch considers the vote of the Cortes as an attack on crowned heads. Our Madrid letters state that the new Guardian Ar guelles took the oaths on the 26th. The weather in Paris continues fine. A PASSAGE IN THE EDINBURGH - - - REVIEW. In the elaborate and able article in the "Edinburgh Review" on the Budget, there is one passage to which, as part of an unsound theory, the foundation of many prac tical errors, we wish to direct the attention of the writer and the public. On the 27th ult. we quoted a passage, stating, we think, with great accuracy, that every increase in the quantity of manufactured commodities diminishes the relative cost of production, and exhibiting very con cisely and clearly the advantage of an increased and in creasing demand. In order to contrast it with the pas sage we object to we shall re-produce it : " The explanation is to be found in the well known law of manufacturing industry, that, cateris paribus, with every increase of the quantity produced the relative cost of production is diminished ; and, what is the same in different words, that with every diminution of the quan tity produced the relative cost of production is increased. The larger the production the greater is the division of labour, and consequently the skill of the workman, the smaller the expense of superintendence, the more exten sive the use of machinery ; in short, every element of production becomes relatively more efficient, and every source of expense is relatively diminished." In the same article is the following passage. Speaking of Sugar, the Reviewer says : " The price for the first five years having been some what under 225. Gd per cwt., and during the last five years rather above 225. 9 d., a new demand for the in ternal consumption of the British islands will of course have a tendency to create a rise in the foreign sugar markets ; under that general law affecting the cost of the production of all agricultural produce, namely, that with every decrease of demand the relative cost of production, and, consequently, the price, rises ; just as, with every di minution of demand, the cost of production, and conse quently the price, falls." We have marked in italics the two sentences in the two passages to which we request attention, and we ask whether the great difference between " the law of manufacturing, industry," and the "general law affecting the cost of the production of all agricultural produce," described by the Reviewer, and assumed as a principle in the doctrines of modern political economists, really exists ? The question and the subject are of no trifling importance. .The opinion announced by the Reviewer is the basis of a great body of doctrines, and, therefore, it is worthy of a strict examination. It must first be noticed that the Reviewer contrasts " manufacturing industry," and " agricultural produce," which may tend to some confusion ; but his conclusion applies to the cost of the produce, both of manufactures and agriculture, and l►e maintains, in fact, that it is a law that with an increase of demand, the cost of the produce of manufactures diminishes, and the cost of the produce of agriculture increases. We cordially subscribe to the first statement, we deny the latter ; we deny that there exists a law which causes an increase in the cost of pro duction with every increase of demand for agricultural produce. The writer comes to this conclusion, in common with a school of political economists, by looking only at one fact in the whole complicated process of production ; or rather one assumption ; namely, that every increase in the demand for agricultural produce forces men to culti vate less and less fertile soils. Supposing that such were the fact, he overlooks all the counteracting circum stances ; but we must first inquire is the assumption true? Are all, or were all the most fertile soils first occupied? Fertility is a term relative to knowledge, and as know ledge advances soils that were apt before fertile become so. For example, "by the newly imported practce of f u rrow-draining," says Mr. M`Culloch, " large i racts that were formerly comparatively unproductive have been rendered capable of bearing heavy crops ;" that is, large tracts have been rendered more .productive or more fertile than they were before. They have been made more fertile than other land previously considered to be superior in fertility to them. It is well known that ex tensive tracts of land in Norfolk and Lincolnshire have been made, within a few years, by the application of modern skill, much more productive of wheat, that is, more fertile, than almost any of the land that was pre viously brought into cultivation. It is not the fact, therefore, that what men call the most fertile fields were first occupied, and there is, therefore, no reason to assert that men are driven to have resource to less and less fer tile soils for a subsistence. No man who knows anything of agriculture will assert that the land last broken up either in England or Scotland yields less than the land first ploughed in either country a few centuries ago. But this question is universal, and when we speak of the general law of mankind having recourse to less and less fertile soils, we must include the whole earth. It will not be fair in discussing such an extensive principle to confine ourselves to England, to which an arbitrary law limits our people to obtain their supplies of food. We must look abroad ; and there we see that the plains of the Mississippi, and the Pampas of South America, can be used to supply us with food ; and those countries, ac cording to the best information we possess, are quite as fertile as the most fertile parts of Europe, whether we speak in reference to the knowledge at present possessed, or the knowledge possessed a few centuries ago. It is not true, then, that the most fertile soils were first occu pied, and not true that we know in what fertility consists, so as now and at all times to select for cultivation those soils which will be in future the most-fertile. No man, in fact, can say, looking to the past progress, that those soils which are now the least will not, in after times, be come the most productive. In Mr. M`Culloch's work on the " Statistics of the Bri tish Empire" there is a somewhat striking illustration of the improvement of productive power, or of fertility, which is quotet he same ; thing, remarking by by the v means Nofayl7tohlled those ge, which we shall who, like Lord Stanley and Mr. Pusey, persist in calling agri culture a science, will perhaps point out how the science of astronomy or of botany has improved the movements of the stars or the structure of plants, as the art (science) of agriculture has improved the fertility of the soil. We must add, that we quote such instances from Mr. M‘Cul loch as unexceptionable authority, because he is one of the leading advocates of the doctrine we impugn : " The following statement of the comparative weight of the produce annually afforded under the system of farming followed in East Lothian, as described by Lord Belhaven, and that which is now followed, is taken from a paper by Mr. Oliver, of LOchend, near Edinburgh, one of the most intelligent and extensive practical farmers in the empire : " The mode of cropping at the former period (1723) was—first, peas ; second, wheat ' • third, barley ; fourth, o ats ; the produc e bein g about three seeds, but, to pre vent all cavil, say four seeds. Thus taking the seed for each acre at one boll,* over a farm of 100 =es t i. is 400 bolls. The quantity of straw for each boll of such a crop could not exceed 15 stone, which on 400 bolls gives 6,000 stone, or 42 tons 151 cwts. of straw, to be con sumed to the stock, and returned to the land in the shape of manure. But upon a farm of 100 acres, cultivated as at present—viz., a fourth turnips ; a four r th wheat, e dor barley ; a fourth rov er, or rye grass, pastured oma into hay, and consumed on the farm ; and a fourth oats, or wheat ; the account would stand thus :-50 acres of wheat, barley, and oats, at 8 bolls per acre, which we are convinced is not above the average crops of the best district of East Lothian (and such only was cultivated when Lord Belhaven wrote), this, allowing, as above, 15 stone of straw for each boll, gives 120 stone per acre; which, over 50 acres, makes in all 6,000 stone of straw, or 42 tons 151 owls, being equal to the quantity pro duced by the whole 100 acres under the old system. Now, suppose that the 25 acres of clover and rye grass are made into hay (which, however, is not the mode * One Bast Lothian boll of wheat was equal to nearly 4 bushels ; a boll of barley to near 6 bushels. $ Tho Scotch acre, equal to 2,161 imperial acres, is here referred to. mince It from of road arches. lerable SS the it'r two passe d 3blage . town , in the ant On latter hich ay for' is war* morn- s one Of to cot r o ia Centre isto "s i diog t 0 that oti• "v C O ' the , ate o° 7.di C ct• tyecoor‘ • 3 cal' ,f a Ce.' "S on • 1 tb e) ic 1 co jg er iog ': ki 0 n nt anou. TIIE SUN, LONDON% virETINESDAY, ArGUST 4 - 1841. quantity of manure, and keeping up thefertility of the soil), and that each acre yields 200 stone, the total quantity will be 5,000 stone, or 35 tons 14 1-10th cwts.; and add to this 500 tons of turnips, being the produce practised, no: the best mode of obtaining the greatest of 25 acres, at 20 tons per acre, which is by no means above a fair average crop. Upcn these data, the weight of materials produced annually for manure under the old and new systems will be as follows : Stones. Tons. Cwt. " Old system Straw . . 6,000 42 15+ New system Straw ... 6,000" 42 15 1 Hay 5,000 35 14 1-10 Turnips 70,000 500 " Thus making the weight of materials to be con verted into manure under the new system, in round numbers, 577 tons; while under the old system the quantity is only 42 tons, leaving a balance in favour of the new system of 533 tons per annum, being more than twelve times the whole quantity produced under the old. Nothing more is necessary to show the superiority of the new system, in as far as keeping up the fertility of the soil is concerned ; and upon this depends the pro gress of agriculture. And, as to the question of compa rative profit, it would be easy to show, from unques tionable data, that the new system is as superior to the old in this respect as it is in the supply of manure ; but this, we think, must be abundantly obvious to every one who contrasts the almost imperceptible advances made in agriculture, and in the accumulation of agricultural ca pital for many centuries, with the extraordinary progress during the last seventy years, or since the new system was introduced."—Statistical Account of the British Em pire, vol. L, page 563. That is a proof in detail, not of the less and less, but of the greater and greater productive power in agricul ture, or of the less and less cost of production as the de mand has increased. To illustrate the same fact in a much more general way, we will mention that the population of Great Britain was estimated in King William's reign at 7,200,000, and the whole annual produce of the land was estimated at 32,482,6301. In peorge lll.'s reign Arthur Young states the populatisn at 9,350,000, and the whole annual produce at 72,826,8271. Thus while the population had increased two-ninths, or less than a quarter, the agricultural produce had very nearly doubled. There is no reason to believe that more persons were engaged in agriculture at the latter period than at the former ; on the contrary, the presumption is the other way, and the increase in the amount of wealth, therefore, shows the increased productive power of the people, or of what is called fertility of the soil. We apprehend the same process is still going on. The population of Great Britain, according to the census of 1831, was 16,265,865. Mr. M'Culloch, writing in 1837, estimates the value of the agricultural produce at 145,855,000/. By this statement it appears, that while the population has increased only as 7 to 16, agricultural produces has increased as 14 to 145, or tenfold. We know that, in modern times, there has been a gradual decrease of the number of hands engaged in agriculture, whence it follows that, instead of the labour becoming less and less productive as the population has increased, which constitutes the demand for agricultural produce, it has been more and more productive, or the soil has be come more and more fertile, or the cost of agricultural produce has become, like the cost of manufacturing pro duce, less and less. We shall, perhaps,' resume the subject. TUE WEATHER.—NooN, AUGUST 3. ROYAL GALLERY OF SCIENCE, ADELAIDE-STREET. Barometer Thermometer... 69 Highest 69 / Lowest ... b6 Wind W.—Freezing Point 32 Deg. THE WHEAT CROP IN AMERICA. The following is the report of the appearance of the wheat crops in Michigan, Western New York, Virginia, and part of Maryland : " The Detroit (Michigan) Advertiser gives a most en couraging account of the wheat crop. The simple fact that the crop looks poorly in two or three counties in New York, will not materially affect the supply. The increase of the product since last year in the counties within thirty miles of Detroit is greater, we are sure, than will be the deficiency in Western New York. And in the State of Michigan there will be an increase, over last year's product, of more than the entire product of the Genesee Valley, for the crops in Michigan seldom looked better. Although there has not been a great deal of rain, there has been enough to give sufficient vigour to our great staple. If there has been a deficiency else where, the world need not be alarmed. It can fall back upon the prolific Peninsula, which (the Advertiser says) can furnish a worse currency and a better wheat than any other state in the Union. " The Buffalo (Western New York) Commercial says, speaking of the remarks of the correspondent of the New York Express, writing from Canandaigua, under date of June 22, that the wheat crop of 1841 will be less by six millions of bushels in the State of New York than it was in 1839, being less than one half a crop. 'We think it so great an error, that we cannot but regard it as a mis-statement designed for effect.' It adds, that unless some great calamity shall befal the grain now standing, before it shall be harvested, there must be a large surplus in the country, and the market price cannot rule above the value of wheat and flour to ship . to Europe. " The crops on Long Island, so far as we can ascer tain, are all flourishing. The corn looks exceedingly well. Wheat and rye are very forward, and give pros pect of a good crop. "The Richmond Inquirer of the Ist of July says : —ln several parts of Virginia the prospects were very promising—but we understand the late heavy rams, falling at the very moment when the latter wheat was ripening, and the harvest for the forward was coming on, will seriously in jure it. The rust has appeared, and is doing much in jury ; but it is impossible for us, from the information before us, to estimate the degree of loss which will be sustained. We do not understand that any price has yet been fixed for wheat—but it promises to command a good price. The corn, which has been kept back by the late spring, is now rapidly improving. " The region of the country in the vicinity of Martins burg (V.) was visited on Friday last with a very heavy rain ; on Monday and Tuesday we had also plenty of rain, which has been highly beneficial to the corn and potatoes. The wheat crop, we believe, will be a fair average, should there be not too much rain between this time and harvest. Our farmers say the wheat only wants sunshine now. The adjoining counties of Maryland have also been visited with several refreshing rains lately, and we learn their prospects for a good crop are quite flattering." The accounts brought by the Britannia are favourable upon the whole, though the prices of wheat and flour continued high, and though there were some partial failure of the crops in particular districts. THE PULPIT DRUM ECCLE- SIASTIC. We perceive that the Rev. Fielding Ould has been glorying in the successful political preaching of the Liverpool clergy, before Mr. Edward Litton's Orange constituents, at Coleraine. The Rev. Gentleman seems to have blown his own trumpet with great vigour and complacency ; so much so, indeed, as to draw a slight remonstrance from the editor of the Mail against these and other attempts to monopolise all the glory for the clergy, and to leave none for the press. In order to show the sort of feeling which the clergy of Liverpool are endeavouring to excite amongst the working classes in this town, we copy the following ac count of a meeting at which the Rev. Peter Brown, curate of Christ Church, presided, from the Mail of Tuesday : OPERATIVE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION. — The half yearly meeting of the Vauxhall branch of this excellent Association was held at the Burlington-bridge school room, on Tuesday evening last. The Rev. Peter Browne, curate of Christ Church, presided, and opened the meet ing with an eloquent speech, in the course of which he alluded to the gratifying results of the recent elections in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and called for an in crease of Protestant exertion, in order that the triumph now achieved might not speedily relax. Mr. Evanson, late of Cork, proposed the first resolution, to the effect that the present state of Ireland exhibited the evil work ing of Dens' Theology. Mr. Evanson alluded pointedly to the murders and outrages committed upon the Pro testant clergy and others of the sister country, and at tributed all the demoralizing practices of the Irish people to the baneful effects of Popery. Mr. Greene, an operative, seconded the first resolution, and said the time had now arrived when it became the duty of the several Protestant Associations to call upon Sir Robert Peel to repeal the Catholic Emancipation Act, which, in the memorable year of 1829, he was mainly instrumental in having passed. Mr. Parsonage proposed the second resolution, to the effect that Popery being founded on a system of blasphemy as regards God, and degrading to man in his moral and spiritual character, the Protestant body at large were called upon to stand up and to protest against it. Mr. Leeming se conded the motion. Both the resolutions were unani mously adopted. The Chairman then wound up the meeting by delivering a suitable peroration ; after which several new members were 'enrolled, and the meeting closed with singing and prayer. Previous to the de parture of the assemblage, the three watchwords of the Society—namely, " Scriptural Education," " Church Extension," and " The Repeal of the Popish Emancipa tion Bill," were given and heartily responded to.—Liver pool Times. On Friday afternoon, the first stone of ten alms houses, for the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, was laid at Twickenham, by the Master of the Company, as sisted by the architect, Yeacock, Esq., and Mr. Hicks, the builder. _ -- ----- FRANCIS BAILEY, Esq., F.R.S.—We are de lighted to hear that Mr. Bailey, so well known in the literary world, has recovered from the severe injuries he received six weeks ago by being run over by a horse belonging to this establishment. On the 21st of June it will be remembered he was thrown down and ridden over in consequence of the rider losing all . command of the horse, and was conveyed to Charing-cross Hospital, where he remained several weeks, attended by the sur gical and medical officers of that establishment, when, being pronounced convalescent, he was removed to his house at Tavistock-square on the 11th of July. On Monday Mr. Bailey's carriage drove up to the hospital, and he came into the board-room to return thanks to the governors and officers for the great care and kindness with which he had been treated in that charitable insti tution ; and at the same time, with a grateful yet truly liberal and humane feeling, he presented to the trea surer of the hospital a cheque on the bank of Sir Charles Price and Co. for 100 guineas, and one of ten guineas from his sister, Miss Bailey ; and we believe he also made some handsome presents to those who were specially in attendance upon him during his confinement at the hospital. A COOL PLACE !—The New York Express says, " The thermometer, in a cool place, yesterday stood at 92k at half-past one." This fool place must have been rather warm. SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS. At a recent meetinc , of tl • r ris Academy of Sciences, 1C a M. Mageadie gave a further e xplatiationof the experi ments which had been commenced ten years ago, and were not even yet terminated, respecting gelatine. In the first series it was attempted to feed dogs entirely,.on gelatine without any other nutriment whatever ; it was given either dry or in jelly. Several dogs would not touch it at all, others ate it for a few days, and then re jected it ; all, however, died of starvation under the sys tem. The next series of experiments consis 0.1 . in giving gelatine made agreeab e t ) the taste; and . in particular, it was given in the form such as it is found in the shops of the charcutiers, a form in which it is much sought after. The dogs to whom this substance was given as their exclusive aliment ate it in general with much avidity for a few days ; then they refused it altogether, and all lied of starvation within three weeks. In a third series several dogs were subjected, some to complete abstirfence, and • others to pure water for their sole nourishin en t. Undei this system the young dogs generally died directly, some not survivin 'forty eight hours ; of the older dogs, those which had nothing at all given them died in just the same time as those which had been forced to live on gelatine alone ; whereas those which took w a t er li ve d f ro m six to ten days longer. The fourth series c o n s i s t e d o f alimentary substances , such as bread, *eggs, &c., mixed with th e g elatine and given to dogs. S ome o f th e an imals who had as much as a pound Engli s h o f ge l a ti ne , thus administered daily, • lived eighty or ninety days ; but all grew thin, and ulti mately perished. If, while one of the animals was ill, fresh meat was given it, an amelioration took place im mediately. The fifth series of experiments was that of giving to the dogs the bouillon a la gelatine, prepared for the patients in the Hospital St. Louis and the bouillon of the Compagnie Hollandaise. An animal fed on the former substance exclusively was well for fifty-six days, but • got very thin ; at the end of that time the latter substance was administered and the animal got fat directly. Another animal, fed from the first on the second substance, became very fat on it, but on the 56th day, the first kind of bouillon was substituted for the second, and he became thin almost directly. In a sixth series of experiments dogs were fed on bones, from which the calcareous salts bad been extracted by muria.tic acid. Some beef bones thus treated were to tally refused by the dogs ; and, in the end, they alto gether refused mutton bones on which they had at first fed, and died of starvation. A seventh series consisted of the administering beef tendons and pure water, allow ing the dog to eat as much as it liked. The first day the animal ate 31bs. of tendons, but at:last became affected with diarrhoea, and it was only restored by having bones mixed with the food. The further reading of the report was then again adjourned. The committee.on arsenical intoxication informed the Academy that they consi dered their report (already given) as complete, and the discussion closed. M. Arago read a letter from Ile Savary, in the Indre, stating that the recent shocks of earthquake were felt sharply there, and that a clock, which had 'not gone since May, 1840, had its pendulum set in motion by the vibra tions, and continued to go. At the Observatory of Paris the pendulums were not at all affected. A communica tion was made to the Academy from M. Janniar, an ar chitect, on the condition of the stability of the Column of July, which he considered not sufficiently solid. M. Polonceau sent in a memoir on a new mode of paving for Paris, consisting of artificial stones made of clay, sand, and pulverised - charcoal. The mixture stood heat well, and became vitrified ; :it also dried without crack ing. The stones were made in a hexagonal form, and could be put down or taken lip one by one. Government had given leave for an experiment to be made of this system in one of the streets of the capital. A paper was read by M. Seguier on the means of diminishing the danger of explosion in steam-boilers. He recommended a series of numerous small tubes, not more than six inches diameter, instead of large boilers,—since by this method the explosive force might be reduced to 1-17th part of its intensity. THE LATE DR. KING. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. your report of the inquest held on the body of Dr. Richard King, it is stated, " that the Jury desired to have the evidence of Dr. Randall, or Mr. Hunter, and both gentlemen were sent for, but it was as certained that they, with; the other examiners of Apo thecaries' Hall, were dining at Blackwall." Were this statement correct it would imply an utter want of feel ing and respect towards an estimably individual who was endeared as a friend and a Christian to all who knew him. The fact is that the annual dinner of the Court of Examiners was fixed for that very day ; but so soon as the melancholy event became known, a special message was sent to postpone it, and the Court assembled in the evening of the same day for the express purpose of con sidering how. they might testify their respect to the memory of their deceased colleague. We may add that the body was examined on the fol lowing day by Mr. Hilton, one of the Lecnirers on Ana tomy at Guy's Hospital, in the prasence of the Chair man of the Court, Mr. Hunter, and Mr. Randall, and the result confirmed the opinion previously given, that the death was occasioned by disease of the heart. Your obedient servants, JOHN HUNTER, Minting-lane, ALFRED M. RANDALL, Finsbury square. August 22, 1841. THE FETE OF NAPOLEON AT BOULOGNE. We present to the public this day the programme of the Fete of the 15th of August. It will be seen that, so far as the procession is concerned, it will be military, in every sense of the word, and as such splendid. So far as we have heard detailed the intention of raising trophies, banners, obelisks, garlands, scucheons, and triumphal arches along the line of procession, that is, along the port, Rue de l'Ecu, Grande►Rue, Porte des Dunes, Mar che au Ble, Place d'Armes, Rue de Lille, and the Calais road,—the whole of these streets will display a gallant, gay, and enlivening appearance. The Committee have embarked heartily in the cause, and are determined to make it what it ought to be, the splendid finale of the Grand Army on the heights of Boulogne. As we stated last week, the Minister of Marine has ordered five vessels of war to be present on the occasion.. The programme proves the orders of Marshal Soult, who although, from his numerous occupations and the peculiar positi(7n which, he occupies in the Cabinet, he cannot attend himself, still has ordered an old aide-de-camp of Napoleon, General Corbineau, to be present and preside at the ceremony. The General no sooner received this order than he placed at the command of our Mayor the bands of the 14th Light Infantry and of the Ist regiment of Engineers stationed at Arras, of the 27th at Calais, and of the 40th at Dun kirk, with such detachments from each as should be deemed necessary, and also as many Cuirassiers, Hussars, and Dragoons as requisite. He has also issued orders that all the Colonels and Lieutenant-Colonels of his divi sion should be in Boulogne on the 15th, and it is believed that two batteries of the Artillery, a detachment of Ca rabineers, and the band of the 2d regiment of Lancers, the most complete in France, will be also present. To these add the Parisian Mounted National Guard, the National Guards of Dunkirk, Calais. St. Omer. Abbe ville, Arras, and Montreiul, with the National Guard of the town and the troops of the line already here, and we think sufficient is stated to give an idea of the brilliant Fete, in a military point of view, that awaits us. His Eminence the Cardinal Bishop of Arras, who officiated at the Ceremony of the Institution of the Legion of Honour, and at the laying the foundation stone of the Column, has received the express orders of the King to be present also on this occasion, and has written to say that he shall attend with the greatest pleasure. The fete will commence on Friday, the 13th, by races, at one o'clock, that of the Hurdles for 500 fr. The Departmental prize of 500 fr., and that of the Mi nister of Commerce for 2,500 fr. _ At eight o'clock a grand concert will be given by the Philharmonic Society, at which all the eelebrated singers who will then honour Boulogne with their company will attend. SATURDAY, THE 14TH. Repose till seven o'clock in the evening, when the ves sels in the harbour, and in the offing, the batteries on the "coast, &c., will fire a salute of 21 guns, and the church bells will ring a merry peal to denote the eve of the Fete. An extraordinary display of talent, at the Theatre, of performers from Paris, with singing, &c., peculiar for the occasion, will conclude the evening. SUNDAY, ISTH. 1. At seven in the morning salvos of artillery and ringing of bells as on the previous evening. 2. At nine o'clock the third exposition of pictures by modern artists, will be thrown open to the public. 3. At twelve o'clock, the Civil and Military Authori ties will assemble at the Etablissement. The port on each side of the road will be occupied by the detachments of National Guards from the various towns, by those of the town, the troops of the line in Boulogne and those ordered here from the various garrison towns, the Corps of the Woods and Forests, the Marine, the Custom-house, and the Gendarmes. These will all occupy the position most suitable to their falling in with out confusion into that portion of the procession in which they are to form a part. At half-past twelve the procession will move off in the following order : _ Gendarmes. Band of music. Cavalry. Trumpets and Standard. Cavalry. Artillery. Ist Battalion of the National Guard of Boulogne, headed by their Colonel, followed by the various de putations of the National Guard from all the towns Each deputation preceded by its own band of music. Ist Section of the Artillery of the National Guard of Boulogne. One hundred banners of the various parishes of this arrondissement. Band of music. Engineers. Band of music. Infantry of the Line. Band of music. A company of seamen of the Imperial Guard. A company of seamen of the vicinity of Boulogne who have been decorated with the Legion of Honour. Old officers of the army in active service and on half a p Gentlemen decorated with the Order of the Legion of Honour. THE CAR. The President of the Ceremonial and his staff. The civil and military authorities in the order of pre cedence. Band of music. Drums. Deputations of National Custom-house officers. Guards. Cavalry of the line. Band of music. Band of music. Infantry of the line. Artillery of the line. Drums. Cavalry. Trumpeter and Mounted Boulogne National Grd. 2d Battalion of the Boulogne Gendarmes. - - National Guard. Such is the procession that will pass through the town, along the Calais road, the fort of the Moulin-a-l'Huile, and thence to the Column. In the space surrounding the Column, within the enclosure, the whole of this procession will be marshalled, and such other persons whose influence will be sufficiently powerful to obtain tickets. The public in general will be ranged on each side of the road leading from fort Moulin a-l'Huile to the Column. While thus assembled an ode composed for the occasion, and set to music, will be sung, the troops reviewed, various military evolutions passed through, and finally the statue unveiled, The artillery on the glacis of the fort of the Moulin-a l'Huile will instantly fire a salute of 21 guns, the ships of war off the coast and in the harbour, and all the bat teries along the coast will respond in a similar salute. The procession will return in the same order, but in stead of passing through the upper town it will turn to the right down the road of the Abreuvoir, • Rues Notre- Dame, Duterfte, Wissocq, Siblequin, and Neuve-Chaus k4.4 to the church of St. Nicholas, where a grand Te Deem, &c., will be sung at which his Eminence the Car dinal Bishop of .Arras will officiate. At six o clock, the Theatre will be opened to per formances of a mere attractive character than are gene rally represented, and in which Parisian actors will play the principal characters. Seven o'clock, thunders of artillery from the ships of war and batteries will again awaken attention, and call the crowds together for Fire works prepared by the celebrated Ruggieri, which at nine o'clock will illuminate the liarbour where they are to be displayed, and where every vessel during the day will be decorated with flags, streamers, &c. The whole town will be illuminated. Such is the outline of the intended ceremony of the I,sth of August 1841, a ceremony devised to illus trate the last act of the completion of a coluMn erected to commemorate the assembly of an army that performed deeds of valour imperishable as the History that has re corded them, and of the institution of an order of merit that prompted daring souls to achieve the immortality which has twined its laurels round the brow of the chief who knew how to make use of man and stimulate him to glory. Whether glory acquired at the cannon's mouth, by the destruction of the human species, by the ruin of thousands and the desolation of kingdoms is worthy of ambition, it would be idle to pause to discuss ; but in a country like this, inflammable as their brandy, in deed on fire at the idea of a match, it is questionble whether all this military spectacle is politic ; men's brains, however, run upon it, and the wise, at present, as in all past ages, have been and will be led away by fools and shallow minds. Still the peac e a ble, and all disposed for rational and innocent amusement will find wherewith to be gratified during the fetes, and particularly on the fo' lowing days ; ON MONDAY, THE 16TH. The whole of the troops will receive gratuities, and at eleven o'clock the trial of skill for the mu nicipal prizes will commence in the Tintelleries between the various bands that assisted at the cere mony of the previous day. This will be a great musical treat. It is well known that the northern towns of France are very musical and abound with ama teurs of no common pretensions. The Philharmonic Societies of Calais, Dunkirk, and St. Omer are cele brated for their precision, sweetness, and power • above fifty musicians from each of those to wns will be pre sent ; we hear that they have sunk all minor differences to unite in one common cause, for the honour of their respective towns, and meet constantly at rehearsals to carry home in triumph from Boulogne the first prize. This promises a banquet to the lovers of h a rmony on which they may r ega l e wit h delight •, no dis cord can be contemplated at such a reunion. This melo dious trial of skill, it is supposed, will last upwards of fcur hours, and will conclude by the distribution of prizes among the most deserving. For the rest of Monday the minds of all will be left to chew quietly the cud of medi tation over the sweet thoughts the morning's amusement is so calculated to promote. TUESDAY, THE 17TH. Opens by a scene in the Tintelleries, which it never has witnessed, and probably never will again. That large space of ground will be covered by twenty tables, to which the National Guard will invite to breakfast, at nine o'clock, the officers of the Line, the National Guards from the various towns that will be in Boulogne, and such other visitors or inhabitants as they may deem wor thy of the honour. This breakfast will be in the open air. May the sun shine brilliantly on the friendly meeting. At one o'clock the race course will be the scene of attraction, when the Pas de Calais Stakes of 1,000 francs, the Gold Cup, value 2,500 francs, and the Steam-packet Stakes of 1,000 francs will be run for. At night a dress ball, by invitations, at the theatre. , From — the preparations already making, we have no doubt this ball will be a great 'attraction. A large additional room, extending from the back of the Theatre to half-way up the Rue Monsigny, is erecting ; the whole of the pit will be covered over level with tho , stage, the whole to be devoted to dancing ; two bands will occupy the second row of side-boxes ; the taste and spirit of the manager is a sufficient guarantee that no thing will be wanting to render the scene of amusement worthy of the occasion upon which the ball is given. Ac commodation is preparing. for 1,200 persons. WEDNESDAY, THE 18TH. After the exertions of lak night a little repose is ne cessary to recover Wasted energy and flagging spirits. All, therefore, who have shaken off lassitude and are eager for novelty may seek it in the museum or the exposition of pictures ; and, if so inclined, enter their names for tickets in the lottery of pictures. Time, however, flies, and even ing has arrived bringing with it a concert and ball at the Etablissement. THURSDAY, THE 19TH. Hurrah again for the races, at one o'clock, when the Duke of Orleans' prize for 1,000 fr. ; the Ladies Cup for 1,200 ; the King's Prize for 500 ; and a Handicap for 500 will be contended for. In the evening, the Theatre, with extraordinary dramatic representations, will be the p tof attraction to close the festival of the Fete of Napoleon. Such is the outline of what the gourmand for variety of pleasure will have laid before him during the days of August in Boulogne. Of what the dif ferent condiments will be composed, which are to give relish to the various dishes, cannot at present be made known ; but no one can doubt the savoury essence of the feast when they recollect who are the eooks ? . _ Frenchmen are notorious for their taste • he who saw St. Omer and its fete, the reception at Paris of Napo leon's remains, indeed any procession where French fancy takes the lead, must feel convinced every thing will be in a style becoming the event.—Boulogne Gazette. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. (LLOYDS. LONDON AUG. 3.—Wind this day at noon W. DEAL; Auc. 2.—Wind W.S.W. moderate.—Arrived the Superb and Transport No. 11, westward. Arrived from the River, the Duke of Roxburgh, for Sydney ; Penyard Park , Mauritius ; John Henry Yates, Cape of Good Hope ; Burrells, Quebec. LIVERPOOL ' AUG. 2.—Wind W.N.W. to W.S.W.— Arrived the Royal Mint, Jamaica, sailed 13th June. Sailed the Pampero, Monte Video ; Ellen German, La Guayra ; Mary, St. Thomas ; Fanny, New Orleans ; United States and Glasgow, New York ; Delaware, Boston, Cumberland, George, Renfrewshire, Rainbow, Banffshire, and Queen of the Ocean, Quebec ; Mary Ann, Montreal ; Grace, St. John's, New Brunswick ; Intrepid, Richebucto ; Neptune, Newfoundland ; Sampson, Trieste; Red Rover, Malta ; Nerio, Leghorn ; Patriot, Messina ; Naais, Almeira. The derelict wrecked near Cape Horn, October 2d, was no 'doubt the Galston, hence to Val pairaso. The Mary Ann (whaler) arrived at Monte Video with damaged goods from the wreck. COWES, AUG. 2.—Arrived the Solide, Lundbery, Havanrah ; Minona, Wisterberg, Buenos Ayres. SALCOMBE, Auc. I.—Sailed the Victory, Gibraltar. FALMOUTH, AUG. I.—Wind N. to W., fresh breezes. —Arrived the Crane packet, from the West Indies, sailed from Barbadoes 17th June, St. Lucia and Marti nique 18th, Dominica and Guadeloupe 19th, Antigua and Montserrat 20th, Nevis and St. Kitt's 21st, Tortola 22d, St. Thomas 10th ult., with 50,000 dollars on freight; Carvest Home, Thompson, Quebec ; Royal Tar steamer, Southampton for Vigo. Sailed the Sir James Cock burn,-for the South Seas. Arrived off, the Victoria, from Havannah for Hamburgh. MILFORD, AUG. I.—Arrived the Belfast, from Clyde for Valparaiso, leaky. CORK, JULY 31.—Arrived the Hope, Jones, from Prince Edward's Island. Sailed the Urania, Clark, for Quebec. Arrived off, the Calista, Moyler, from Hondu ras, sailed 20th June. WHITEBOOTH ROADS.—A barque and a brig under quarantine. YARMOUTH, AUG. I.—Arrived the Baltic, Cordian, from Quebec. DOST MAHOMMED KHAN AT CALCUTTA. —The Government-house party last night, in honour of her Majesty's entrance upon her 23d year, went off with great eclat, and, considering the strong nor-wester, with something more than the sound of abundance of rain, was in full force from half-past eight to nine P.M., the fireworks went off very well too. The ex-Ameer, Post Mahommed Khan, was of course the grand lion of the evening. What would my Lady Jersey or my Lady Londonderry have given for such a lion ? and he bore the starings and gazings of the multitude with very laud able patience and complacency. He sate for some time with Lord Auckland, in the full enjoyment of the rich conversational exuberance for which that Nobleman is eelebrated, and afterwards . seated himself to a quiet game of chess with the Honourable Miss Eden.. His gallantry would not permit him to win the first game, but. he checkmated the lady in the second, after a few moves. He said that he would have checkmated old Sale too, out in the KOhistan, if Sekunder Burnes had not been so active with his money-bags. When he took Miss Eden's second knight, he observed, with a smile, that the horsemen of the British were always soon cleared off the board. " Yes," said Miss Eden, smiling, and suiting the action to the word, "but we know how to take your castles."" Ah !" rejoined the Dost good humouredly, " but if the father had been there instead of the son you would have heard less about your Ghuznee victory." The conversation that passed between the ex-Ameer and the Governor. General was highly interesting. It related chiefly to the social customs of the British. The Dost was very eager to know what the gentlemen said to their 'partners _between the figures of the dance, and Captain Nicholson was accordingly ordered to interpr6t, sotto voce, what was passing between Mr. Miss —, who happened to be near the Dost, but the ex-Amneer soon stopped him, observing, " You blame us Moslems for saying that our women have no souls, and yet you British talk to your women as though you were fully convinced of the fact."—Hurkaru, May 25. GIGANTIC AEOLIAN. —Captain Hans, of Basle, thus designates an apparatus which, of itself, emits a variety of tones on a change of weather. Since the year 1787, he has stretched in his garden fifteen iron strings, or wires, 320 feet long, at a distance of two inches one from the other. The largest is two lines in diameter, the smallest one line, and the intermediate strings a line and a half. They are placed to the south, and inclined f rom 20 t o 30 degrees. Their ten sion is effected by an apparatus prepared for the o ccasion. At every change of weat h er th e se resound very forcibly. Sometimes the so un d resem bles that of water when in a state of ebulliti on ; some times that of the Har monica ; and at others that of distant chimes, or of an organ. The invention of this curious machine is due to Mr. Ventan, provost at Burkill, near Basle. The following was the occasion of its discovery. He sometimes amused himself by shooting with a cross-bow, at a target opposite to his window ; and in order to withdraw at will the arrow discharged, he fixed thereto an iron string. He more than once re marked, that the string sounded exactly the octave of its whole length ; and he also found, that all the iron strings, strung in a direction paralled to the sound, gave this intonation at each change of the weather. A cop per string produced no sound, nor did iron wire when strung from east to west. M. Dobereiner, of Jena, con ceives that the phenom eno n j u st described is the effect of an electro-magnetic action, and proposes to try if a copper string might not be rendered sonorous, by placing its extremities in communication with a powerful elec trometer. As a very curious and scientific experiment, we recommend the trial to such of our readers as have access to the needful apparatus, as any discovery rela tive to the philosophy of sound must be valuable to musi cians, considering the very imperfect data they pessess on the subject.—Musical World. THE MOON.—M. ititago, the celebtated astro nomer, has been giving lectures to crowded audiences on the nature of the moon. He contends that this planet is not an inhabited body, and that it is without any kind of vitality, either animal or vegetable. He denies also that it has either seas, rivers, or lakes, but admits that it has mountains and valleys, which, however, he says, are of primitive formation. On Monday afternoon a daring robbery was committed on a Russian gentleman of the name of Kohl kott while passing along Cheapside. The gentleman was standine• at the corner of Friday-street, where several persons had collected till a cart had passed, when two of the swell mob managed to rob him of a steel purse, con taining 51. 10s. in gold, 'and 13s. 4d. in silver. The thieves were about to decamp with their booty, when a person, named Crofton, who witnessed the robbery, in formed the gentleman of it, when one of the thieves seeing they were followed, threw away the purse, which was picked up by Mr. Crofton, and the fellows were given into the custody of police constables Webb and Pearson, who took them to the station-house. As the gentleman could not speak one word of English, the policeman went with him to the Ruisian Consul, where he took an oath that the property was his, and stated that he lodged at the Hotel de Commerce, near Leicester-square. THE WEATHER.—Since Thursday last the weather has been of a favourable kind, and though the temperature has not been so high as we could wish it at this important season, we have had an absence of rain and dry bracing breezes in its stead. Yesterday the sky was unclouded, and the sun extended its clieerhig in fluence in hastening to maturity the crops which so abun dantly crown the fields. We regret to observe that the weather in the south of England has been such, from the long-continued rains, as to give rise to a feeling of uneasiness regarding the fate of the growing crops, and this has brought the speculators more abundantly into the market than at any former period of the season. On a review of the accounts from the various parts of the country, however, we see no just cause for the alarm which has developed itself. In spite of wire-worm and rains, it is admitted that the yield, under present cir cumstances, promises to be a full average one ; and there is yet sufficient time for the weather to take up, and per mit of a favourable season for harvest, as has been the case in many similar preceding years. This feeling of uneasiness has, however, had the effect of advancing the prices in Mark-lane from 3s. to 4s. per quarter during the last fortnight, and the tendency of most of the pro vincial markets is rather inclining to be upward. . 7 The six weeks, or regulating average, is 645. 2d. for wheat, but the average of the week which has just closed is 665. 3d., showing an advance of 2s. Id. Should this advance be maintained, therefore, the duty, which is now 22d. 8d , must be reduced in a corresponding ratio. We observe that already barley harvest has commenced on a hours. fr Justß osto as n small scale in Morayshire.—Glasgo w H era ld. The passage from America to this city was n ever, we believe , per f ormed in so short a time as by Dr. M‘Tear , s ur g eon on board the Britannia, which ar rived at Liverpo ol on Thursda y evening. The Britannia sheto Liverpool rpool enteringinh the nine e harbour, the Ach ill es was leaving for Glasgow, when 1)r. WTear spr un g fr om the paddle-box of the one steamer t o the paddle-box of t h e ot h er, an d wa s brought to Glasgow, where he arrived on Friday night, performed or and m ed nineteen hepassage from —thus making the entire voyage in 10 days and 16 hours.— Glasgow Argus. CAUTION TO MARINERS. GRENADA, JUNE 28.—The buoys in the harbour of St. George having either sunk or gone adrift some time since, will be replaced by three large butts, until others are received from England. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.-The Maria, from London, steering S., Jane 22, lat. 14 S., lon. 29 W. ; Sabina, from London, steering W.S.W., 14th, lat. 42, lon. 30 ; Partheon, bound W., 22d, lon. 13, by the Camoens, ar rived at Havre. Bolivar, for Bombay, April 8, lat. 18 S., lon. 52 E., by the North Pole, arrived at Bombay. Sir Herbert Compton, March 19, in the Straits, off the North Sands. Ilyaram Dyarain, April 1, lat. 6 W., lon. 94 E., by the Bomajee Hornajee, arrived at ditto. Morning Star, London to Ceylon, April 17, by the Lady Faversham, arrived at ditto. Garland, Liverpool to Quebec, lat. 46, ion, 55, by the Aberdeenshire, ar rived off Romney. Carshalton Park, 12th ultimo, lat. 47, lon 44, by the Ocean, arrived at Waterford. Mary Ann, Salcombe to Quebec, Ist inst., off Anticosti, by the Congress, arrived at Fleetwood. Arcadia, Li. verpool to ditto, 24th ult., lat. 50, lon. 10, by the Triton, arrived at Fishguar,l. Richmond, Havre to Richmond, Bth, lat. 41, lon. 58, by the Clayborne, ar rived at Boston. Washington, Liverpool to ditto, sth, lat. 45, lon. 54, by the Lucy, arrived at Boston. Barque Robin Gray, 10th ult., let. 52, lon. 34 ; Madonna of Pictou, from Leith, lat. 57, lon. 17, by the Northum berland, arrived at Pentland Firth. Eliza, Madeira to Bahia, June 10, lat. 9 W., lon. 24, by the Meteor, ar rived in the River. Lady Flora Hastings steamer, 23d ult., let. 45, lon. 11, by the Eliza, arrived at Bristol. Romance. Alexandria to Milford, 27th ult., off Coast Palos, by the Emerald, arrived at Holyloch. Ous Ge noeque, Amsterdam to Batavia, May 14 , lat. 14 S., lon. 32 W. ; Rebecca, Trinidad to Clyde, 11th ult., lat. 36, lon. 36 ; Rhode island and Rockshire, both from Liver pool, 30th, lon. 10, by the Superb, arrived in the Downs. Clorinda, Dominica to London, lat. 47, ion. 34, by the Helene Catharine, arrived off Falmouth. Mary Grey, of Peterhead, for Torres Straits, 22d ult., by the Sir Charles Forbes, arrived at Booby Island. Margaret, bound to Lombock, let. 11, lon. 12, by the Berkshire, arrived at Bombay. Miranda, Hobart Town to Lombock, after being on shore on Portlock Reef, Torres Straits, in a calm, but received no damage, May 6, by the Berkshire, arrived at ditto. Pomona, of Alloa, 4th ult.. lat. 46, lon. 58 ; Wolf's Cove, Quebec to Liver pool, sth, let. 46, lon. 57, by the Lord Wenloch, arrived at Hull. Express, Cadiz to Quebec, sth ult., lat. 57, lon. 6, by the Reward, arrived at ditto. DOGGETT'S COAT AND BADGE. This old-established wager was rowed on Monday. The following young watermen, whose term of apprenticeship had expired since last August, were selected out of a large number to contend : Richard Moore Surrey Canal-stairs. Robert Thomas Skinner Shady Veil. William Hartwell Humphreys Greenwich. William Hawkins Free Queenhithe. William George Hawkins Fulham. James Parsonson Greenwich. The award of victory is a coat and badge; to this has been added the interest of 2001. South Sea Stock, be queathed by Sir W. Joliffe , for the second an d t hi r d men, the former of these two receiving five-eights, and the latter three-eights, amounting to 41. 7s. 6d. and 21. 12s. 6d. In former years this match was rowed in working wherries ; but as the distance from the Swan at London- bridge to the Swan at Chelsea against the tide was considered to be most severe, it was determined some three or four years since to substitute wager for work ing boats. The wager yesterday was not so good as many we have witnessed, but the men had ' to contend against a spring tide and heavy wind. The start, which took place at five o'clock, was even. Hawkins and Parsonson, after rowing a short distance, fouled, and Moore shot by them into the first place. Free was touched on the quarter by the Putney man's cutter (Ha w ki ns. ) , and running under a ballast lighter the m an was i mmersed in the water, but, at his. own •desire, was again pl aced in his boat and rowed after the other wagermen. Moore kept the lead throughout, and facin g L yons ' s, while Skinner and Parsonson were fouling, Humph reys rowed by them into the second place. Moore never lost the lead, and won easily ; Humphreys was se con d , S kinner third, and Parsonson fifth. The wagermen were afterwards pro' vided with a very excellent dinner at the Don Salter°. • COLBURN'S N AND HUMORIST FOR ICW AUGUST. ---------- IyON E T D H IT L ED Y B 111; Tago AGAZ Do IN R : HOOK, EB44.—This Magazin e sho u ld th r i ve , if eminent contributions can bri grist to a publisher's mill. The Editor, Hood, M rs . Jerrold, are palpable rrollir Blanchard, Poole , an d the periodical, and thern- bourers at the vocatio n of are clever anonymous art icles besides. Th e p aper on " Screws of informi ng sat i re, and useful exposure,'" is par example , full and there is no disputing the blended bitterness and wit of Mr. Jerrold's stinging illustration of " The Manager in Search of a Star." We wish, in spite of our apprecia tion of the orce of his ridicule, that this author wou ld write in a kindlier spirit. Poole is ,just as merry, and not half as morose, and his drollery you can enjoy with something like sly hilarity. By the way the "Pedestrian Rambles in the Alps," in the present,number of The New Monthly are very interesting. —Morning Post THE CHINESE. --A few days ago a meeting Was held in the Waterloo Rooms, at which the Lord Provost presided, for t he purpose of receiving Dr. Parker, who has spent several years in China- He gave an interesting and affecting account of the condi tion of the Chinese in several particulars, and more es pecially, of their deplorable destitution of medical know ledge, in consequence of which the ravages of disease are most terrific ; and he described the eagerness with which they sought, and the gratitude with which they received, the advice and assistance of physicians and surgeons from Britain and America. He also pointed out the facilities which were thus afforded for communi eating to them other species of knowledge, and especially such as concerns their moral and spiritual welfare. A society has been formed in Canton of British and Ame rican residents for procuring for them medical aid and religious instruction ; and a Committee was appointed to co-operate with that Society.—Correspondent of the Edinburgh Courant. E NG LISH PRONOUNCING DICTIONARIES. --It is a curious fact that there is no English Pronounc ing Dictionary compiled by an Englishman. Stephen Jones was a Welshman, Sheridan was an Irishman, and • Walker was a Scotchman. MORNIN'I3- SUN. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. -- FROM THE DAILY PAP ERS OP YESTERDAY - CHRONICLE—It will b e very amusing should we find ourselves under the necessity of supp ort i ng si r R. Peel. And we certainly shall support him when he pro ceeds " to apply those renovation s and repairs which the lapse of time or altered circumstances may have rendered desirable in our ancient institutions." These are.,the very things we want, and for the sake of which we have supported the present Ministers. True, we would ra ther have the repairs from honest hands ; but 'Setter from dishonest, than-not at all. 'We are not of ttie opi ,nion of those Eroftsged free traders, who silted in'a mo nopolist . *Sorify . because they doubted, or affe:eted to doubly_ tlie'integrity of the Whigs in their commercial reforms. We are willing to take all the good we can get. When the " a l arm or apprehension" begins —and it will be pretty soon excited—we shall -do our best t o help on the renovatio n , an d ren d er i t " 'more easy" even to the contemptible equivocator by whom the useful change may be wrought. It will nbt be the . first time that we have had such work to . 'do ; nor, should the trimmer whom Tory Immutable§ and Impracti cables have 'toiled to shoulder . ioto office continue there, will it be the last. Timed ,Vanaos shall not make us refuse any dons by which•the. public can profit. We wonder what the first boon will be ; a commercial re form, an ecclesiastical, or a political ? The Tories them selves are, notwithstanding their angy rebukes of our curiosity, wondering just as much as we do. But, after what has passed, they are in the predicament of the heretical bishop with the creeds, " I dare not inquire, I dare not inquire." Each section of the Tories thinks it has hoaxed the other, while their common leader, their sole bond of union, is hoaxing them both. A p re tty ex hibition of public virtue ! How long can this combina tion of rottenness last ? How far is the farce to go, of securing the ancient foundations of religion by the pro fligacy of " tainted" characters forcing themselves into office ? Of how many more candidate chancellors, judges, secretaries, ambassadors, or chamberlains. are we to receive public assurance, from journals tainted or un tainted, that they are not the profligates whose exclusion is so very expedient ? Amongst the renovations which Sir Robert Peel promises to effect, when renovation shall no longer alarm corruption, we cannot anticipate the restoration of " the ancient prerogative of England,' of teaching the nations how to live." POST.—Enormous mischief has been done of late years by the encouragement which a loose system of edu cation has given to speculation. Upon the chance--often an extremely bad chance—of a profitable demand, the speculator sets to work. lle soon finds his capital insuf ficient. He has accumulated a stock, but there is no one to buy. Perhaps there would be if he could wait. He soon finds a bank, ready like hiniself to run almost any risk for the sake of business. They give him credit. He gets money to go on. He continues to produce, because he has an expensed establishment all prepared for pro duction, and thinks he can afford to stand still. Perhaps a demand does arise, and he gets rid of his stock, pays his bills, gets a profit, increases his household expenses, and builds another wing to his factory. Perhaps a de mand does not arise, and as he has traded far beyond his capital, down he goes. He cannot sell his stock, and,, therefore, he cannot pay his bills. The bank grants hits time, but at last insists upon payment. Still he cannot pay, and he is obliged to stop amid great grash and rum, though if he could but sell his produCe at the price he calculated upon when he produced it all would still be well. The whole misfortune is that he has done too much, having been thereto tempted by th e too-easy acquisition of other people's money, that is to say, by the too great accommodation of an over trading bank. This is the ayitem in all directions, and all sorts of markets get stuffed with worthless quantities. Even in literature the system is as bad as anywhere else, if not worse. Books are brought out in preposterous thousands and millions, as if purchasers, like printed sheets, were thrown off by the steam-presS, and had nt ) limit which prudence and common sense might calculate. But all this straining and striving nonsense comri to an end, and grieving creditors are left to ruminate upon the monstrous folly of creating a supply without any pre vious inducement from the demand. It is in such times as these that frantic men would peril the demand which they may calculate upon, for the chances-of a demand which they may not calculate upon. It is in such times as these that persons calling themselves Statesmen, want to become purchasers from foreigners at the imminent risk, not to say certainty, of ruining those who must purchase from them. Our home and our colonial markets are sure, our foreign markets are not, and cannot be, sure. What worse political madmen can there be than they who would direct us to the foreign market for that which the home and colonial market can supply ? The great—the ruinous—defect of our commercial sys tem of late years has been its want of certainty. Menu ! facturing and mercantile counting houses have assumed more or less the character of lottery shops, or offices where the transactions of enormous gambling are re corded in waste book, journal, and ledger, by the system of double entry. To aggravate this uncertainty we are recommended (and by the Government too !) to resort to foreign markets for the commodities we require —mar kets which may or may not demand, or choose to admit, our produce in exchange—markets in which we shall he purchasers of the labour of foreigners while thousands of our own labourers are sighing for something to do, and pining in the poverty which awaits even upon voluntary idleness. ADVERTISER.—The plot thick6ns. Matter s e ra rapidly approaching a crisis. The darkness in which Sir Robert Peel has hitherto shrouded his principles and purposes as the proximate Premier of England, is on the eve of being dissipated. Before three weeks 'have elapsed we shall be able to come to some conclusion as to what we are to expect from the advent of is Tory Go vernment under the auspices of the Right :ion. Baronet. Let us not be misunderstood: We are not simple enough to suppose that Sir Robert is to publish to the world be fore that time a programme of the measures which he means to prOpound to Parliament. That he will post pone till the latest pos,sible moment which the circum stances of the country will allow. The test to which we allude as the one by which we shall, ere the expiration of three weeks, be enabled to try the character of Sir Robert, relates to the course which he shall pursue on the question of the Speakership. It is matter of notoriety to all, that there exists at present a most serious quarrel between the Right Hon. Baronet and the majority of his supporters as to who ought to be the Speaker of the new Parliament. The Tories, as a body, had made up their minds the moment the late elections ensured a majority in their favour, that Mr. Shaw Lefevre should, - as a matter of course, be unceremoniously ejected from the c h a i r o f t h e Commons. The only difference of opinion among theta was, as to which of their own party had the preferable claims to be appointed his successor. Imagine then, what must have been their surprise and mortification, when they made the unexpected discovery that their chieftain. was resolved not to suffer the disturbance of Mr.. Shaw Lefevre in his official seat. At first they re monstrated in gentle terms ; then they besought the Right Honourable Gentleman not to embitter, by so heavy a blow and great a discouragement to their party, the cup of bliss which the result of the late elections had prepared for them, and which they were in the act of putting to their lips. Sir Robert disregarded their remonstrances, and lent a deaf ear to their interests. This was not to be borne. If it was an earnest of the manner in which he meant to treat them, they came to the conclusion that the Liberals might just as well have tenanted the Ministerial benches, and they remained her Majesty's Opposition till the end of the chapter. Ren dered desperate by the cold indifference which the Tam worth Baronet displayed to their wishes, they have now resolved to try the effect of an attempt to bully him into their views. Hence the " Thunders" of the Jove of Printing-house -square which rolled throughout the me ' tropolis yesterday, and whose reverberations will doubt less be heard to the remotest extremities of the e mpire for days to come. The poor expectant Premier is threatened, abused, and assailed in every possible forme and . in every conce i va bl e var i ety o f l angua ge, b ec au s e he will not sa cr ifi ce hi s own op i nions a nd feelings o n the questi of on bec of om th in e g Sp th e e ak s e la rs v h e ip oi. a h n is d p s a u r h t m y. it to in considering TIMES.---We were lately employed the degrada tion principles ought to consolidation of our b th e e a m pp a li n ed ner to in tbe w m hi ai ch n t enani Conser vative co thea b of Conservatism, with legislative department. to be the preservation fundamental institutions to rbailz in prin cipleter, reference to this subj ect _ the Conservatives stand pledged to show ing that by th is rule integrity and freedom of action of all the vindicate the c onstituents which compose the legislative classes and . of the ancient consue-tuton.ial balance of power, and "thin its separate limits, without either authority', eac h clas s to encroach upon the rest, or suffer in g any one l toget her isolatethemselves e e e d to exhibit from the 37 people, v‘vtoproc Its of these considerations, with, some practical results regard to questions agitated at the present day con cerning perm itting bod the of w.g e .e tes t, the sch eme of vote by the Parliamentary franchise. Tried by such device for reducing the United Kingdom to the con dition of one immense rotten borough, and converting a constituency of limited numbers into the most close and irresponsible of corporations. But the same test, while it rejected this spurious remedy, clearly established the duty of adopting some means for purifying the elec toral system, and protecting the possessors of the fran chise as well against intimidation and violence, as from the intrusion of non-electors and voters disqualified by corruption. Upon the measures necessary for securing liberty of election, defining ambiguities in the law re lating to the franchise, and reforming the process of registration, especially in Ireland, we then took oc casion to offer some observations ; but in the last article which we devoted to the subject, our space was exhausted before we found ourselves able to sp. proach the question of bribery. There is no question upon which such unanimity of profession, and (we fear) such uniform inconsistency of practice, prevails amon g men of all parties, as this of bribery. All politicians talk about purity of election ; and if a stranger were to judge by the letter of our law, he would suppose that we were the most scrupulously incorruptible people upon the face of the earth—so uncompromising is the subtlety with which it pursues not merely the direct negociation of votes for money, but-the auxiliary system of treating, into its remotest and apparently most innocent modifica tions. Yet our actual practice is so very different from this fair show of virtue, that we suspect there ate s e ld om ten Members in any House of Commons whose elec tion, if all the circumstances attending it were disclosed,, and if a Minos or Rhadamanthus - were the jud" could be legally sustained. That this 'should be so, aiessie% undoubtedly some captiousness in the law, as well as much' overstrained. laxity on the part of the people. It would be most untrue, to say that there are not many members in the present a ff '-etation of an House of Commons who owe their election tote tree choice of their constituents, apart from all co- rm .,; ‘ ,"„" whatever. In this case, as in many others, an -r -- theory has defeated itself ; and the ex cessive zeal to suppress bribery, ' 0 - are not ve A an is impu hi lse to the evil tA h i c g things ot, haswbue m l o e n g elan a y ll ecit y e co ntdo r e e tl i p t check,g ch Y f,:11.:111 be se w w eb neglects , scene of its regre t passed ,oer b e fore ,; of t he Ot ►i d eath' : : re pe 9 cO 4. wood -6, le P e l! ioYe ' Pes " n ri ie 11" aiali CAl l Ag 0.71 1 % See h e o l iOll A•ps ,f. 0 0e. 1 f .1)00.. as sore o l d :c1 O v . It it L. their_ ~ be. oil, lis p''} 01 ", '.