The Sun. — London, England, 1830-01-15 00:00:00

3 , /41. vent.' LITERATURE. THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS.—Vor„ cuvirms ANIMAL KINGDOM. Part XXII. LONDON, 1830. When completed, this will be one of the most useful and intelligent works that has issued from the press for many years. It is a transla tion of the Animal Kingdom, of the celebrated naturalist, Cuvier—who has himself, we under stand, expressed his approbation of the spirit in which the translation has been executed—ac companied by such additions in the way of fact and information as have been made in natural history since the publication of the original. The engravings of different classes of animals, appended to the Number, are executed in a very superior style. THE ROMANCE OF HISTORY.—LoxDox, 1830. The author of the " Castilian " has added not a little to his reputation by his present series of the Romance of History, which the late Mr. Neale left unfinished, and which Mr. Trueba E Cosio has here completed in a style fully equal, if not superior, to the original. The sub jects of his volumes are drawn chiefly from SpaniNit history w hi c h, as our rea d er i s not to be told at this time of day, abounds in materials for romance and sentiment. Among the best and most naturally told tales in the present series, W may mention the " Pass of Roncesvalles." The incident also of " The Poisoned Goblet," in another of the stories, climes considerable Powers of description. LECTURES ON NATURAL HISTORY. LONDON, 1830. • The following lectures were, it seems, delivered befor e a Philosophical Society at the Isle of Wight, and being received with much favour I,y the different audiences who attended them, the author, (Dr. Lempriere, a relative, we under stand, of the late distinguished compiler of the " Classical Dictionary") was advised io publish them in their present form. We think the ad rice was far from injudicious, inasmuch as the Lectures every n here exhibit proofs of unwearied industry, and useful and various information. DICTIONARY OF QUOTATIONS. We have before noticed this very able publica tion, and are happy to find that the praises we then bestowed upon it have been seconded by the public voice, which even as long ago as 1826 called for a Ninth Edition. The work has been much improved and enlarged in bulk since we first directed attention to it, and as a work of constant reference cannot fail to be in general request. A CODE OF HEALTH AND LONG LIFE. BY J. PINNEY, E•q. LONDON, 1830. There is a great deal of sound practical sense in this volume, which is the composition of a gentleman who prefers theory to practice, and states valuable truths in a homely, unadorned, intelligible manner. A variety of subjects con nected with the well-being of every individual are canvassed fairly and sensibly, and rules for the regulation of health, and the preservation of happiness, laid down with a simplicity that Cannot fail to become appreciated as it deserves. The most useful portions of the volume are, Perhaps, those which are ranged under the head Exercise," where the author dwells empha tically on its advantages, as also on the incon veniences, not to say the necessarily attendant , attendant on indolence of action. We cannot speak in higher terms of this volume than to say it makes an admirable Family Book. Hg PASSES OF THE ALPS. By WILLIAM BItOCKEDON. LONDOK, 1830. We have just seen the twelfth number of this te rY splendid publication, which consists for the 111 0. 08 t part of Illustrations of the Pass of the ' l naplon, d rawn an d engrave d i n a sty l e o f ex ellence fully worthy of the former numbers.— Brockedon looks on nature with the eye 11 °t less of a poet than a painter. He has a genius sensibly alive to her various forms of gran deur and beauty, and seizes with felicitous readi ness on the most prominent portions of a land 4espe,--the wild frowning gigantic precipice on Which the clouds love to balance themselves— the waveless far spread lake, whose shores at one Place are studded with villas and luxuriant shrubs a nd forest trees, and at another are barren and ti tountainous—to a degree that forcibly im- Presses itself on the imagination. The Lake of Prta, with its secluded little island in the middle, one castellated promont or y s t re t c hi ng f ar i nto th e water, and its enormous mountains piled '` ) llfusedly one upon another, the foremost range ° f which plant their dark f ee t i n th e L a k e , h ave been viewed from the most picturesque point of k elt by Mr. Brockedon, and transferred with 14PPropriate fidelity to his canvas. In this illus -4tlon we scarcely know which most to admire, it it h exquisite and complete styl e i n w hi c h "ss been finished, or the admirable tact by be 'eh its numerous points of attraction h ave e 4 brought together, a nd made to form one v li turesque coup d'ceil. " Monte Rosa and Alps, from the Strada Sempionc near Q°4 lma," is another able embellishment, in which l ong and difficult reach of perspective is ma- Red with consummate skill. In this engrav h hR We must not o m it th e a pp earance o f t h e littl e e, whose waters, b ac k e d by a l o f t y range o f is, gleam brightly in the distance, and lend ; eat vi vac i t y t o t h e landscape. " Lago Mag -ore,"--that unrivalled lake, over w h ose en kiting 1 scenery Rousseau, who resided for The details of the Siege and Capture of Jerusalem, by Titus, which commence the pre sent volume, arc given with great power and eloquence of language by a gentleman whose " Fall of Jerusalem," published a few years. since, obtained him a high rank among the poets of the day. Mr. Millman sketches the different factions which devastated the " Holy City," at the opening of the siege, with a graphic energy not easily to be surpassed. He seems evidently to delight in his subject ; and has consequently embellished his information, which is both great and various, with all the graces of style. some time on one of its most romantic Dorm mean islands, has thrown a never-dying splen dour—pos,.-csses a most exemplary correctness, as regards the site and aspcvt of the different objects which Mr. Brockedon has chosen to group to gether. To the high recommendation of exact ness, it adds those of elegance and spirit, in which however this artist has never shown himself deficient. We shall anticipate the fu ture numbers of this attractive publication with no slight interest. MAD DOCTORS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR ; —When I took the liberty to address you on the epithet " Mad Doctor," I did not presume to dis claim the character as applicable to myself or other wise, although I never was connected, directly or in directly, with any private establishment for lunatics. I by no means deem myself of that importance as to think ally such disclaimer could for a moment de serve the notice of the public, or even yourself, who have shown me some friendly feeling. In truth I had no idea of the kind ; my sole object *as to point out that the terms applied stigmatically and indiscriminately on all whose line of practice is the treatment of the insane, which mine is not; was calculated to induce the more sensitive and honour able to abandon the practice, or to avoid it, since an odium seems to rest, by public consent, on all such practitioners as came under the denominaticn of" Mad Doctors ;" and thus the wretched lunatic, alike unfortunate in his enemies and his friends, would be still more certainly thrown into the cus tody of the rapac►ous, the ignorant, and the cruel. In justice, too, your blows should fall on the trans gressors, on the individual species, and not on the whole class, to which, however, I have for many years ceased to bring. I have read all the evidence taken before the Parliamentary Committees; it was sent to me, from time to time, I believe, from the Committees; and I am sorry to say the perusal of it has convinced me that the human character is more generally vicious tha►i I had conceived possible in s country, where the benign influence of Christianity may be expected to soften the callous heart, and give us an exalted idea of our religious and moral duties. I say more generally vicious, because lam quite convinced that individual character may be ' found, whereof all you can conceive of that which is deceitful, subtile, and, to ordinary rsiitids, unima ginably wicked, will exist, and occasionally be brought into action ; so, on the other hand, may be found all you can conceive of that which is noble, undisguised, virtuous, and pious; but that there should be such a mass of viciousness as polluted some former receptacles for lunatics, I should never have suspected notwithstanding. The following I offer as a contribution towards a system of laws for the protection, &c. of lunatics:— That a class of well-educated medical men, prac tically versed in the treatment of the insane, morally and medically, by studying the diseays under the superintendents of the large public lunatic hospitals, or asylums, for at least six months, and to be after wards examined and approved by the Commis sioners for Lunatics, be appointed Inspectors of Lunatic Asylums. The appointment of these of ficers to be vested in the Commiisioners for Lu natics. They should be allotted districts, at a Axed pay per annum, sufficient to enable them to main tain a respectable station in society. They should not remain longer than one year in a district; they should not, in any manner whatever, exercise their profession ; they should inspect very carefully every asylum in their respective districts at least once a month ; they should keep journals of the particulars of all their official proceedings, and transmit the !same quarterly to the Commissioners; they should receive immediate notice of all admissions into any asylum in their respective districts, and should, within one day, visit the lunatic or reputed lunatic, and very carefully examine Into his state of mind, or assign a sufficient reason why ,a day is suffered to elapse, in case he is not visited within that period. They should have full powers to inspect all recep tacles for lunatics at any time; and they should transmit to the Commissioners any information they :nay think requires prompt attention, over and above the information transmitted quarterly in their journals. They should be deprived of their office only on being proved guilty of neglect or malprac tices. They should at all times be subservient to the orders of the Commissioners. Nov, Sir, I think there are many respectable Army and Naval Surgeons, and Assistant-Surgeons, who, with the addition of the study I have pointed out, would make the best possible Inspectors; and I apprehend there are an abundance of them who would be exceedingly glad to have their income in creased to be equal to a respectable subsistence, on condition of their taking this duty. Thus we should have competent Officers, their authority being pro perly decided by the laws, whose only interest would be to see that the lunatic wai properly treated, and that no sane person was confined ; and who would labour under a heavy responsibility, and whose re ports to the Commissioners would be annually tested by the reports of his successor. Such Officers would be paid at much less expense than asylums would be built, and the relatives of lunatics may enjoy the liberty of choosing between a private and a public receptacle. The keepers to be liable to heavy penalties if they attempt to bribe, directly or indirectly, any Inspector. These observations, crude as they are, do not re sult from a hasty reflection ; nevertheless I submit them with great deference. A sounder head may see insurmountable objections, since every species of legislation not only affects causes to which it is immediately applied, but inevitably creates a new series of actions, by which the social system be comes modified either for the better or otherwise. It requires no ordinary mind to run down the chain of moral causes and effects. I remain, Sir, Your obliged and obedient servant, PAUL SLADE KNIGHT, M.D. Glossop, Derbyshire, Jan. 9, 1830. _ . - N. B. For the author quoted by Dr. Morrison, read Gaubino, and not Jaubius, in my last letter. SINCERITY OF CIIILDHOOD.—The since rity of childhood is occasionally very inconvenient, and let that person be quite sure that he has nothing remarkably odd, ugly, or disagreeable about his appearance who ven tures to ask a child what he thinks of him. Amidst the frowns and blushes of the family, amidst a thousand efforts to prevent or to drown the answer, truth, in all the hor rors cf nakedness, will generally appear in the surprised resembly ; and he who has hitherto thought, in spite of his mirror, that his eyes had merely a slight and not un pleasing cast will now learn, for the first time, that " every body says he has a terrible squint." BRISTOL SESSIONS, JAN. 11.— WILLIAM DIArIN and FRANCES DEAVIN were indicted for cruelly beating and ill-treating WILIAM DEAVIN and CitwaLorra Diravrw, both children of tender years. The children were the son and daughter of the male prisoner by a former wife. Between the death of the male prisoner's first wife and the marriage with the second, there was an interval of four years; and (luring that time the children were in the care of a woman of the name of GARLAND. Upon the marriage of the mile prisoner with his pre sent wife, about two years ago, the children were given up to the care of the prisoners, in a healthy state. Mrs. GARLAND had heard that the children were badly used, and she called to see them several times, but was always denied, under various pretences, from seeing them. At last she went up stairs, and there found under a heap of filth and rags, the wretched boy. Hr was covered with filth and had several sores. The chil dren, when food was offered ate it voraciously, and in a disgusting manner. They were taken to the Infirmary. The children had been cruelly and shamefully beaten; the boy had even been suspended by the thumbs, so that he rested only on his toes, and in that state he had been beaten in a shocking manner...—Verdict, Guilty, against both prisoners. Sentence against FRANCES DEAVIN, 18 months' imprisonment ; and WILLIAM DEAVIN 12 months' imprisonment, DUELLING, (FROM A CORRESFONDF:.T. Does it arise from the increasing influence of Christian principle, or from wars having for som e years ceased, or from our national gallantry having been too signally proved to require the testimony of personal conflicts, or from all these, in greater or lesser proportion combined, that duels are latterly of comparatively rare occur rence? The speculation is highly an interesting one, and bears so directly, and with such weight, upon our domestic happiness, that it might be an occupation of no small utility to follow it up, especially as the practice has hitherto marshalled on its side arguments to which, though the understanding and conscience did not assent, it has been really difficult to urge any thing like a satisfactory and universal reply. This, however, we not now attempt. Our business shall rather be to inquire whether duels may not - be prevented through a positive institu tion, formed with that single view, by the gene ral consent, and under the immediate auspices and direction of those persons to whom public opinion assigns the principal interest and skill in questions of " honour." On behalf of duels, it is alleged that they operate, and they alone, to prevent rudeness, brutality, and offensive personal presumption.-- But is it so ? We doubt it very much. Occa sionally they unquestionably do, though, even then, by the intervention of a custom upon which, if carefully analysed, we fear we can pro nounce no other nor more favourable verdict than that h is itself too much a-kin to rudeness and brutality, in principle, we mean, for we arc very far from asserting that none have recourse to it but the rude and brutal. We know the contrary ; but we know also that it is never used by those who are not so, without a strong feeling of its utter inadequacy to accomplish its supposed end, and without regret that opinio❑ should have peremptorily demanded what reason, and conscience, and humanity so intelligibly dis own. But what duels take out of one scale, they throw into the other. If they disarm, they also arm. Insolence, united as it may be, with personal hardihood finds its increase of power, its additional opportunities of tyranny and insult, in the very system which, it is argued, is to repress it. The consciousness that a rencontre may be the unavoidable result of disputing its preten sions and resenting its claims, may, in fact, throw around it a shield, and confer upon it a new and more offensive strength. Duels originate in jealousy of manhood.— That must be asserted, cost the assertion what it may. . . . But do they either prove or vindicate it ? Is it not quite certain that many men of unquestioned bravery have refused them ? Is it not equally certain that many cowards have been goaded into them : the sense of present shame overcoming the sense of present danger ? The system, let it be remembered, admits of no distinctions nor exceptions : its rules apply, in the gross, no matter whether the parties be already noted for their deeds of bravery, or of unknown and unrecorded name, if certain words are spoken, or certain acts done, to which this arbitrary code of honour has annexed the idea of insult, a conflict or disgrace must follow. How, we demand, is this the test of courage ? Admit, for argument's sake, that it is so in the latter case, it cannot possibly be such in the former. Undoubtedly there are offences which the law of the land do not, and cannot reach, without descending to a minute legislation, unworthy of their dignity ; if, indeed, it be practicable, but which, altogether uncoerced, may molest the peace of society, and blight the comfort or re spectability of individuals. These are the wrongs mainly, though not exclusively, uphold ing the system of duelling. But, if carefully examined, they will be found to be not real, not attended, that is, by absolute harm to person, or property, or name, but imaginary, wrongs of Opinion, wrongs which the individual would have little or no difficulty in passing over alto gether, were they not. unhappily known to others. In such cases they are resented, simply because public sentiment demands it ; and were it pos sible to obliterate that sentiment, the will and the necessity would cease. And can it not be obliterated ? so far, we mean, as to admit a transfer of the appeal from one individual to many—from a person to a tribunal. This we will 'consider by and bye. Mean while, it will be desirable to advert to some graver charges against duelling. Now it i s a fact that in every instance, whether the wrong resented be greater or less, a life is hazarded commonly, of course, more than one. What says the Christian law to this ? It utterly con demns it. In such instances, whether it be losing or taking life, it matters not which, account must be given for " shedding man's b100d.".._ And under what circumstances does this priva tion of being take place ? In the act of rebel lion against a solemn law of God : when, from the very posture of the parties, it is difficult to understand how there can be on any good ground of faith or repentance, preparedness for death. But again, how stands the case with respect to political or social duty ? It is an axiom of Government, full of sound wisdom, that the King has a right to the service of all his sub jects. But how, then, are those subjects free, upon any principle of loyalty or patriotism, to sacrifice life, in private conflicts, and those often for the most trivial offence ? And what shall be said of the laws of honour, thus diametrically opposed to the laws of the State ; and whose indiscriminating, ruthless, and, we do not hesi tate to add, in this sense, treasonable dicta tions have power to rob the land, at any time, even in its moments of most imminent peril, of its noblest champions, and the King himself of his trustiest counsellors ? Once more, and finally, let it be well•weighed how this code, like death itself, in the broadness and sweeping generality of its laws, levels all men, without distinction or compunction. One might anticipate that the affectionate husband, the father of a numerous family, looking up to him alone for subsistence and protection, the man essentially precious to any circle, might claim some exemption from its grasp—might, at least, risk something short of life, and yet not be subject to its " ban," but no ! For some trivial wrong, which has not sting enough to excite any, even the smallest sense of personal wrath, on his own account, the man of most value in a community must, under pain of ig mlniy' peril hi s lif e , an d per h aps t h e li ves, an d f n o o rtuies,and happi ness o f t h ose near an d d ear to him, in a contest with another of the least value ! If we exclaim with Falstaff gazing upon the corpse of Hotspur— " There's honour for you," we do so, in the unfeigned spirit of our bit terness of spirit ! __ But it may be replied, 4( are you not rather !" speaking or a past than present evil and did " you nut set - out with affirming that, of late, , " duels were of rare occurrence ?" Certainly we did. There are, however, three circumstances winch urge us to prosecute our short inquiry. 'File first is the recent occurrence of one, attend ed with peculiar culpability ; the second, the probable recurrence, at no great distance of time, of military habits—to which we principally ascribe the practice under discussion ; the third, that there cannot be a better season for applying a remedy, than during the prevalence of that spirit of forbearance and moderation, which is, as yet, in spite of evil example, well disposed to listen to reason and to adopt its suggestions. We ask, then, with all seriousness, whether there might not be instituted with much proba bility of providing a more adequate and satisfac tory redress, for personal offences, than that by combat, as we before hinted, a Court of Honour, under the wing of men of undoubted character and tried courage, who should bestow upon it respectability and weight, by being themselves the first to submit, according to an express sti pulation, to its authority. We are most fully aware that the very pro posal of such a scheme will, from its apparent impracticability, most likely deter some of our readers from perusing another line, and will, at all events, implicate us in the charge of visionary and romantic speculation, more proper for a novel than any graver pages. Nay, we have no hesitation in avowing, that no long time has passed since we ourselves should have joined in the lAugh at the adventurous propounder of such a Quixotic code of pacification. We have no right, therefore, to be either surprised or offended if others are affected with the same humour. All we can do is to address them, in a slight parody, upon the celebrated speech of history— " Lnigh, but hear!" _ _ Now it is acknowledged that public opinion is the thing to be operated upon—that alone up holding the duelling system in its general fea ture. The sense of insult, that admonishes, must be kept sharp and tender. The assertion of personal prowess be prompt and vigorous. But as to the first—would not a body of ho nourable men be more competent to detect, real affront, where it existed, than one ? Again— looking at the obvious incompetency of the ex isting system to effect its proposed end—the irregularity of its action, and the mass of mis chief, beyond ali denial, mixed up with it —may we not hope that the intervention and mediation of persons whose characters gave them weight and atahority upon such points, would he willingly accepted ? Let it be supposed then, that such a tribunal were established, with the Sovereign at the head, and its associates, in the first instance, leading men from all professions, except the clerical— but especially from the military and naval—and, in the sequel, all persons of the rank of gentle men. Such an association being itself deemed, as so constituted it assuredly would be deemed, honourable r —let them individually bind them selves to seek and abide by the decision of such of the associates as should be constituted into a Court in all such conjunctures, as its juris diction, well defined and subscribed to, should embrace. Would not " honour" be more punctiliously defended in this manner, and aggression re pressed, and recompence obtained, than by the, to say the least of it, questionable remedy of combat ? At all events, is not the experiment worth trying? There are, it must be frankly admitted, diffi culties and objections. Who, for instance, would undertake the trouble of such a business? For trouble there must be—and that too gratui tously—because we assume that a court of honour would be somewhat tarnished by acting 13r pay ? We hope, and verily believe, many would. Those who already occupy themselves, upon the mere principle of duty, in the further ance of public interests, would hardly decline an office so eminently distinguished for its dignity and importance. Again, there is the difficulty of reference— perhaps, also, in certain cases, the expense. But these might be obviated by the formation of pro vincial courts, with right of final appeal to a central one. Once more—there may arise a quarrel be tween parties, of whom the one shall have recog nized, the other declines, this supposed jurisdic tion—what could be done in that case ? We answer that the obligation of the former is dis tinctly marked out. The pledge which he has given lie will redeem. And for the latter, since he has not chosen to concur in a measure up holden by the voice and co-operation of honour able men, and by that weight of testimony pro nounced "good," he cannot reasonably com plain if he is without his remedy. With respect to disobedience, under unfore seen and peculiar circumstances, to the general laws originally agreed upon, which, we admit, is to be occasionally apprehended, unless strongly opposed by counterbalancing considerations, we would propose that the preventive of this should be found in a power—or rather a positive reso lution, to expel from our association for any such act of insubordination j And if to belong to it were once felt to be a distinction, or, at least. a privilege —as, with its proposed constitution we honestly think it would be, then certainly expulsion could not be lightly regarded. That such an institution would occasionally shclter a coward is most clear. It should, how ever, set out upon the principle of admitting into fellowship no man known to be such ; for if per sons of this stamp were found in its ranks, its hold upon public opinion, as a mediator, would be at once and irrecoverably lost. As to the unknown, the humane axiom of our English law must apply. " Every man is presumed to be innocent until proved to be guilty." It may be averred that there are injuries visi bly trifling, but substantially considerable, which may be felt, and are intended to be felt, but cannot be defined or described, and therefore cannot become the subjects of narration and in quiry. But surely, if there be nothing which can be made intelligible to the apprehensions of sensible men, conversant, as our premises , sup pose, in m a tt ers p ro p er ly ca ll e d " o f h onour ; there can be nothing to risk life about. And, in such cases, the contemplated court would have its essential use ; for, either the very con viction that they could not be made matter of evidence would itself salve the imagined wound —or, if they did come before it, in their almost imperceptible dimensions, the verdict of the tri bunal would show the folly of such resentments. Again—there are wrongs of another sort ; great by common consent, and by common con sent also demanding signal redress. The se duction of a sister is an instance in point.— Could our Court afford, in such instances, the redress demanded by wounded honour ? Why not ? In point of fact, how could the seducer be more effectually branded with public contempt and infamy, than through _ the unanimous ver dict of distinguished citizern.? • But it' may be that the challenger seeks blood—and, assuredly, there are cases of this description wherein the of enders have merited even that "ultimum sup p!iciu n" far more than many - that sufFer by the laws. Yet no man, after a time, will lament that neither his own life has been taken by a miscreant, itor that, by his hand, a being,,untit to die, and consigned to ignominy, if be lives, has been dispatched to his premature and fearful account. We are perfectly aware that we are open to the charge of proposing for a remedy an in ferior principle, when a greater ought to govern— of substituting secular for spiritual motives—of putting man where God should be. We do not plead guilty nevertheless. Tice whole system of criminal law is composed of eu actments, superadcled to those of the divine law. We do not supersede Christianity--but, painfully estimating the weakness of human nature, and the power of opinion over men, we desire—by measures, fitted to the " present need," to make way for its mild arid merciful influence. We would, God permitting, silence the torment of the earthquake and the storm— that its "still small voice " may be heard, would enlist worldly (are they altogether worldly ?) in terests in its service. So much for our inquiry. We now take leave of our readers, whether at this point of their task, disposed to smile on or be grave, with observing that as one clergyman invented gunpowder, " inulta non sine laude," another may be pardoned for endeavouring to confine it to its proper, if it hare a proper, destination. TO THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN. The population of the British empire is oppressed by a superabundance of wealth, and by an excess of poverty. _ It seeks the means of relief from both these evils. Other civilized nations are beginning to experience the same effects from similar causes, and the most enlightened individuals in these countries look to the wisdom of your councils for a remedy. All who reflect now perceive, that the immediate cause of these is an excess of production, unaccom danied by a knowledge of the means by which that excess may be advantageously distributed. These evils were first experienced in the year 1810, when a new era commenced with regard to supply and demand. _ Up to that period the supply never equalled the demand; it was therefore the chief business of poli tical economists and others to devise and point out the beat means of increasing the supply. The introduction, within the last fifty years, of machinery into the manufactures of Great Britain, overcame this aliculty; and in the year 1810, the period of a deficient supply was passed, for the first time in the history of nations. It was passed, too, in the midst of a long, gene ral, and most wasteful war; proving that the powers of production were become not only ample for a period of peace, but were also more than sufficient to meet the exigencies of the most \vide-spread war• fare, simultaneously carried on by the most powerful nations of the world. Since that eventful year, the distress which has arisen in Great Britain, in the United States of North America, and in many of the civilized coun tries, has uniformly arisen from an excess, conti nually increasing, of supply over demand. In consequence a necessity at that period com menced for a change in the commercial policy of so.. ciety ; that necessity daily increased, producing periodical distress among the industrious classes, until at length its severity in 1816 became such, that the proceeds of a large public subscription were inadequate to af f ord relief to the extent required. Under these circumstances, a public meeting was held in London, to consider of the cause of the evil and of its remedy. At this meeting a Committee was appointed to investigate the subject, composed generally of the mast respected public-spirited Statesmen, politi cal economists, and other<and the late Archbishop of Canterbury was selected to preside over its deliberations. It appeared inexplicable to the mcm'eers of this Committee, how much general and alarming distress could arise among the agricultural labourers and manufacturing operatives, while there was at that moment, throughout Great Britain and Ireland, a greater superfluity of productions, both agricultural and manufacturing, than had existed at any former period. At the first meeting of this Committee various conjectures were offered by different members as ex planations of this singular anomaly ; but none were deemed satisfactory. The writer, who was supposed to have some useful practical knowledge upon the subject, was requested by the Chairman and others to state his view of the case; which he did, but probably in a very imperfect manner, as he was then ❑naccustomed to public speaking. He attributed tl►e difficulties, the cause and re medy of which they were met to consider, to the rapid extension of machinery and other scientific in ventions and discoveries, which bad been introduced during the late war, and which had superseded the necessity for so much manual labour as had formerly been called into action. Thus a large surplus of al! kinds of productions was created, and a dimi nished supply became unavoidable : the newly-ac quired scientific power produced more economically than did manual labour; manual labour was, in con sequence, dismissed from employment, and ma chinery was retained. The Committee considered that this statement contained a reasonable and satisfactory explanation of the subject, and the writer was requested to draw up a report on the existing state of the working classes, and to propose a remedy for the evils under which they were suffering. He accordingly, in the spring of 1817, presented to the Committee a detailed report upon these sub jects. The distress of the working classes had become so general, and pauperism had in consequence in creased to such an alarming extent, that your Lower House was induced to appoint a numerous and highly respectable Committee, under the title of a " Com mittee on the Poor Laws," to trace the subject to its source, and through all its ramifications. When the writer presented his Report to the General Committee, of which the then Archbishop' of Canterbury was Chairman, the subject was deemed by them too important to be passed slightly over; and they recommended that the Report should be submitted to the Committee of the House of Commons on the Poor Law s, which was then sitting. It was presented, accompanied by drawings ex planatory of the practical arrangements proposed; and the writer offered to be fully examined as to the cause of the evils under which the country was suf fering; the principles on which he proposed to apply a remedy ; and as to the detail of the practice which he recommended. The report, the plans, and the offer of examina tion, were under the consideration of the Committee, with closed doors, for two days; at the termination of which the writer was officially informed by one of the Members, that the Committee, after a long and interesting debate, had come to the resolution not to receive the report, or to examine the writer upon the subject. The Committee judged wisely. The public had not then been sufficiently prepared by commercial difficulties, or by distress among the lower orders, to believe that a change so extensive as the one proposed was necessary, nor indeed would become at no distant period unavoidable. The report and detailed reasoning thereon were, however, at that time, extensively published in the nemspapers, to prepare the. puNic f,:r the adoption of the principles and the plan wino the further ex tension of mechanic and other scientific producin,: powers should compel all daises to seek relief Eon] the overwhelming effects of over production, and of competition between scientific power and manual Li hour, and when the increased knowledge of the people should have convinced them of the necessity of changing the policy of the empire, in order to supply this new power in aid of, instead of bert;, as it now is, opposed to human industry, and the general prosperity of the D Irish dominions. lu proof of the benefit arising from the practical adoption of his plan, the writer now begs leave to refer to the experiment c )mmenced in 1818, in the Netherlands, under the Fauction of the Government and the auspices of the Royal Family, when some of the principles, and much of the detail, were put to the test of experience. That experience during the period of neatly twelve years has now abundantly proved these eminently calculated to diminish pat:- peticm, and to improve generally the habits and condition of the industrious classes. The principles and practice recommended in t! report to the House of Commons are no long-tr hypothetical; it having been preyed that they have rai,ed the condition of 30,0(10 ignorant, and there fore generally vicious and useless pc-x.6mm, from it state of burdensome dependence upon the producing classes of the community, to become industrious an d useful, to earn their own support, and to acquire good and orderly habits ; and these favourable re • subs were produced, too, in a country where know ledge was less diffused than in Great Bri•ain, and where the colonies were, to their pecuniary disad vantage without the aid of modern improved ma chinery. Still they have produced a surplus which will repay the original capital expended upon each establishment, and all the interest accruing thereon. When the Committee of the House of Commons, on the Poor Laws, rejected in ISI7 the report and the plan presented to them by The writer, circum stances justified their decision ; but these circum stances no longer exist, and have been replaced by others of a different character. The machinery of the kingdom has been nearly, if not fully, doubled since that period, and in conse quence distress now not only ovens helms the ope rative manufacturers and agricultural labourers, but pervades the smaller farmers, and a large portion of the master manufacturers, and threatens continually to advance upwards until the sufferings of the ma jority of the population will become greater than they can endure; and this by means of a power, which, under a wise direction, is capable of securing permanent prosperity, not only to those born within the British dominions, but to the subjects of every state brought under its influence, when aided by a rational system of education, founded on a know ledge of the general laws of human nature. The writer, therefore, now in the most earnest manner recommends the full consideration of there all important subjects to the Members of the Im perial Parliament, as individuals and as constituents of that Government to which all nations are look ing for direction, in the adoption of measures for the relief of their respective populations, from poverty, vice, and misery. Bedford-square, Jan, 12. ROBERT OWEN. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PLYMOUTII,JAN.I4.—Lieutenant Di:lien, ( 18 15) formerly of the Lion revenue-cru . ser, and Astiatant- Surgeon Stevens, are appointed to the Reindeer, fitting at this port for the packet service. His Majesty's steam-vessel Meteor, Lieut. Sim mons, sailed for Falmouth on Thursday afternoon, for the purpose of taking out a mail to Lisbon on Friday, arid returned again on Saturday, two pack ets haying arrived. The Royalist brig, Lieut. Nash, tender to the St. Vincent, returned from a cruise on Tuesday morn ing. The Royalist saw his Majesty's ship Pearl, 20, Commander Blake, on Friday last, and the Leveret brig, Lieut. Worth, on Wednesday, cruising to the Westward. The Royalist brig, tender to the St. Vincent, Lieut. Nash, sailed again on Wednesday afternoon, to cruise, we hear, for the relief of the homeward bound trade. In Hamoaze—St. Vincent, Kent, Druid, Ariadne, Vigilant, Starling, Reindeer packet, and Meteor, steam-vessel. His Majesty's ship Sapphire arrived at Guayaquil from Lima 28th July. The Victor, from Cam peachy arrived at Jamaica 13th Oct.; Firefly, from Bermuda, 15th ; Kangaroo, from Curs:pa and Ma racaibo, 19th; Pickle, from Nassau, N.P., 10th Nov.; and Shannon, from Bermuda, 14th ditto. TI e Ranger sailed from Jamaica for St. Jago de Cuba, 12th Nov. The Adventure sailed from Bombay for Chiloe, 11th August. The Bustler, Leader, of this port, arrived at Bristol from Denia, 7th inst. The John Craig, Younger, from this port, arrived at the Cape of Good Hope Oct. 9, and sailed for Ceylon 26th ditto. The William and Mary, Mills, of and from this port, arrived at Lisbon 22d Dec. The Experiment, Yabsley, arrived at Seville from Malaga, Nov. 25. The Kerswell, Armstrong, of this port, was in Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope, Nov. 11. The Sophia, Cuthbertson, from this port, arrived at St. Michaels, Dec. 18; Eliza, Edwards, and Cygnet, Russell, 19th ditto. The Henry, Wescott,:of this port, arrived at Bristol, from St. Michael's, Jan. 10. His Majesty's revenue cutter Nimble, Lieut. R. White, seized last week off Exmouth, (in conjunc tion with the Exmouth party, under Mr. Stocker,) smuggling boat with four men, and 51 tubs of spirits; which were conveyed to Lyme Custom House. The same night the Nimble fell in with the vessel which is supposed to have brought the goods over; she proved to be the New Eagle, of Wey mouth, which is detained and sent into Exmouth. The Erasmus, of London, a smuggling cutter of about 50 tons, was taken a few days since, within six miles of Poor-head, with 300 half bales of to- bacco by the Speedy, tender to his Majesty's ship Semiramis (flag ship at Cove). The crew, four in in number, were all taken. It does not appear that she had landed any part of her cargo. Sir THOMAS LAWRENCE had two brothers and two sisters; his elder brother, the Rev. Minima, LAWRENCE, was Chaplain of Haslar Hospital, and has been dead some years. His brother WILLIAM was a Major in the Army, and has also been dead some years. His elder sister, Luct; married in March, 1800, to Mr. MEREDITH, solicitor, of Birmingham. She died in February, 1813, leaving one daughter, married to Mr. JoHx ASTON, of St. Paul's-square, in Birmingham. His youngest sister, ANNE, married the Rev. Dr. BLOXADt, of RUGBY, who have six sons and three daughters living. BALL AT THE CROWN AND ANCHOR.— Last night the: Ball in aid of the funds of the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum, in the Kent-road, took place at the Crown and Anchor Tavern in the Strand. Dancing com menced about eight o'clock with a quadrille, led off by Miss MANDY and Mr. Wass, who acted as Master of the Ceremonies on the occasion. At one period in the course of the evening there could not have been fewer than from 140 to 150 couples present, the greater portion of whom tripped it on the " light fantastic toe," to the music of a well selected band. We could mention a number of young friends who danced in a superlative style, but where all was excellent it would be unfair to name the parties. Owing to the judicious management of the stewards, much comfort was derived ; the suppl► of refreshments was also at once plentiful and of easy access. Dancing was kept up with, we had almost said, undiminished glee till a late hour this morning, when the company sepa rated, greatly delighted with the amusements of the evening, from which the consciousness of having contri buted to the funds •f one of the noblest institutions of which our country can bout, in no way detracted. The ball was on a scale of great splendour ; but we doubt not that the Asylum will reap a considerable hatvest. Morning Advertiser. There was shot at Eccles, in Dumfries-shire, on the 31st ult. a woodcock of the extraordinary weight of 14 oz. 6 drs.—Edinburgh Advertiser. Persons who pay attention to every thing have remarked that all those years which end with nine bars been distingniehed by excessive cold, from 1709 to 1929. RA 13' )6 th ,0 • 1/ 'l 6 Isl'