The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-26 00:00:00

LITERATURE

Remarkable Pamphlets.

A CHAPTER ON STREET NUISANCES, by Charles
Babbage, the eminent mathematician, has just now
been published, by Mr. Murray, in the form of a
pamphlet of twenty pages octavo. It is, in point of
fact, a chapter extracted, thus, for separate publica-
cation, from the forthcoming work of Mr, Babbage,
entitled " Passages in the Life of a Philoso-
pher," a work prominently among Mr. Mur-
ray's announcements. Nothing could be more
opportune than the issue of this particular chapter,
just at the moment when the street nuisances com-
plained of, are at length being directly, and, let us
hope, vigorously dealt with by Mr. Bass's Bill, now
going through Parliament. fo no living man, per-
haps, can the gradual ripening of that bill into an
enactment be more intensely gratifying, we shout;;
coejecture, then to the author of this eccentric
pamphlet—a pamphlet, the like of which
we don't remember ever to have encoun-
tered. Illustrious, years ago, by right of
his marvellous scientific contrivance, popularly
known as the Calculating Machine, Mr, Babbage
has for several years past been cruelly subjected to
a species of petty martjriotn, or rather, it should
be said, to a scat of ignoble tormentirg, driving
him at times (according to his own showing, here)
very nearly to the verge of distraction. For ten
years he has been thus tormented, we may say,
systematically. By whom ? By Italians, Germans,
and Indians, by English men and women and child
dren! 'The instruments of torture employed by

these, he thus enumerates :
Organs, brass bands, fiddles, harps, harpsichords, hurdy-
gurdies, flageolets, drums, bagpipes, accordions, halfpenny
whistles, tom-toms, and trumpets. The human voice in
various forms—Shouting out objects for sale, religious
canting, and psalm-singing.

Those who are mainly responsible for perpetuating
these street nuisances from year to year, Mr. Bab•
bags also catalogues, in the manner following:—

ENGOURAGERS OF STREET MUSlC.—Tavern-keepers,
public-houses, gin-shops, beer-shors,coffie-shops, servants,
children, visitors from the country, and ladies of doubtful
virtue ; occasionally titled ladies, but these are almost in-
variably of recent elevatijn, and deficient in that taste
which their sex usually possess.

In trying to suppress the system of annoyance—a
system that has seriously militated against the
development of hia own philosophic investigations,
Mr. Babbage appears to have been subjected to ali
imaginable kinds of indignities, insults, an even
injuries, alike to his person and property. He has
had his windows smashed—he hes been pelted with
stones—mobbed—placarded, one might even pro-
nounce it blackguarded—he has actually been
serenaded by a brass band far hours at a stretch,
when himself barely recovering from a most

painful surgical operation ! We wilt content our-
selves with making one extract along from his
pamphlet in illustration of this disgraceful persecu
tion, a persecution directed egainst one of the most
eminent of living philosophers ;
At an early period, when I was putting the law in force,
as far as I could, for the prevention of this destruction of
my time, I receive' constantly anonymous letters, advising,
and even tlireatening me with all sorts of evils, such as
destruction of my property, burning my house, injury to
myself. I was very often addressed in the streets with
similar threats. On one occasion, when I was returning
home from an affair with a mob whom the police had just
dispersed, I met, close to my own door, a man who, ad-
dressing me, said, " You deserve to have your house burnt,
and yourself in it, an i I will do it for you, you old villain,"
I asked him if he had any objection to give me his address.
Of course he refu, ed. I then followed him at a short dis-
tance, looking out for a policeman: Whenever he saw one
at a distance he turned rapidly up the next street ; this
chase continued above half-an-hour ; he was thou joined
by a companion, an ill-looking fellow. They still continued
to turn off into another street whenever a constable became
visible in the distance, At last we saw a great crowd, into
which they both rushed, and further pursuit became im-

possible.
The whole record here given of the bodily and
mental suffering endured by reason of these
maddening strict musicians we would refer our
readers to—as to (such is human nature!)
a something frightfully entertaining. The whole
chapter, as penned by Mr. Charles Babbag©, is, in
its strange way, a sort of literary companion
sketch to that pictorial record of similar inflictions
endured more than a hundred years ago, also in
the streets of London, according to Hogarth's im-
, immortal p:cture of "The Enraged Musician."

THE PROSPECTS OF GOOD ARCHITECTURE IN
LONDON, having been lectured upon by His Emi-
nence Cardinal Wiseman only a few weeks since,
namely, on the 12th of last month, in the Theatre
of the South Kensington Museum—that distin-
guished dignitary's Discourse has since been pub-
lished verbatim in a goodly pamphlet of forty-one
pages octavo, and so published, like Mr. Babbege's
pamphlet (just now mentioned), by Mr. Murray,
of Albemarle-street. At the time when his Emi-
❑ence delivered this very charming and luminous
dissertation upon the probable prospects of good
architecture in our metropolis we gave an unavoid-
ably abbreviated report of it in the columns of the
Sun—unavoidably, that is, bearing in mind the fact
of the lecture being delivered during the sitiings of
Parliament. Here, however, are the Cardit;are
ipsissima versa as nearly as possible as they fei;
from his lips. And they are peculiarly worthy of
having been thus preserved for us by the aid of the
stenographer. For, while they are profoundly
interesting and valuable, whe❑ regarded arch ve.)-
logically in regard to the past, they posses
for English people, for Londoners especially,
a very peculiar interest and value, indeed,
because of their opening up to view the
probabilities, and still more the possibilities of
London architecture in regard to the future. From
the stand point of the Present, the Cardinal firs,
looks back, in teis lecture of his, for instruction,
for example, for hints, for suggestions to be drawn
from antiquity, especially from classical antiquity.
Having collected together much of which—
namely of instruction, of example, of hints,
of suggestions calculated to be especially valuable
to everyone in any the smallest degree interested
in or connected with the prospects of London archi
tecture, his Eminence applies these hints, and sug-
gestions, adapts those examples and instructions,
derived from the past, to the present and future
condition of our own metropolis, considered archi-

- - -
tecturally. It is very strikingly remarked by him at
the outset that almost everything that is
known of the architecture of past ages, peoples,
countries—is known exclusively from the " public"
edifices in the various capitals. The one only ex-
ception (proving the rule) being referred to by his
Eminence in the sentence here immodiately ful.

lowing
Submerged in a deluge of bland, insinuating ashes,
which penetrated into the most remote corners and crevices
of every building—.mbalmed, instead of being petrified like
its twin city Herculaneum, Pompeii has given us the only
pracCical and sensible illustrations of what writers had let
us know about their domestic arrangements."
Here, again, as in the instance of that pamphlet of
Mr. Babbago's but just now noticed, the publica-
tion of the Cardinal's Lecture in a separate form is
wonderfully opportune. In proof of which, hoar
what he has to say about the threatened interference
of Railway Schemes with the actual condition of
London and Westminster 1—
" You will all have heard of the extent, reported by the
City engineer, to which new railway schemes carry their
competing designs, in that venerable portion of our metro-
polis. It may be summed up in one sentence. The require
about 160 acres only, which is about one-fourth of the
entire city ;' the total length of railways proposed is about
20 miles; and the various public ways of all descriptions
which are interfere .l with are about 300.' The requirement
of one-fourth of the area of a city for the conveyance of th,
inhabitants of the remaining three-fourths, does indeed seem
dispreportoned. But lam not disposed nor entitled to dis-
cuss this great statistical point. The question is, could not
the ravages which necessity imposes be repaired, and more
deference be paid to that natural piety, under which the
ancients classed reverence for religion and respect for the
departed ?"
Yet, while he pills the query thus—he has already
had occasion to remark with terrible significance--
"There is a natural reverence for whatever is monu-
mental or historical, and this feeling grows and ripens to
religious reverence. Neither of these feelings seems to be
much cultivated amongst us. Take the following evidence
from the City Engineer's Report on Public Companies
applying for Bills in the present Session of Parliament.'—
• The monument at Fish-street 'ld, and Temple-h-r,
Draper's-gardens, Finsbury-Circus, Apothecaries' Hall.
and portions of the 2i/et's office are scheduled, as are vari-
ous of the City halls and the Admiralty at Whitehall,'

And again, ' public parks and gardens are to be cut or tun-
nelled through,' These extracts sufficiently justify us in
paying that there is a reckless disregard of public and monu-
mental property in the exactions of projects for material
changes, on this vexed soil of ours, into something new and
strange. As to more religious objects, my own experience
may warrant somewhat. I have myself received this year
seven or eight notices of the intended destruction of
churches, schools, orphanages, or other charitable institu-
tions, to be ruthlessly demolished or treacherously bur-
rowed under. And my portion in the danger must be bus
a small item in the general fate."

Altogether the Londoners have reason to feel not
only gratife3, but rtjoiccd at the circumstance
that ono so rarely gined and so eminently wall
qualified to afford us an invaluable word cf advice is
regard to the future prospects of our metropolitan
architecture, should have spoken out at once as
frankly, as eloquently, and as persuasively as Car-
dinal Wiseman hes certainly done in this, in mar
respect, .masterly lecture upon the atchitect.ura4
prospects of London and Westminster.

A COLLECTION OF OCCASIONAL ODES, by /an
Francis Waller, LL.D., better known an this Bids
of the Irish Channel as the " Jonathan Freke-
Stirgeby" of the Dublin University Magazine, hos
lately appeared as a pamphlet of 23 pages ectavc---
across the counter of the Messrs.llodges, Smith, and
Co., of Grafton-street, the publishers to the Dubin
University. One of these Occasional Odes has
reference to the opening of the Exhibition at Cork.
Another to the installation of the Earl of Posse as
the University Chancellor. Another to the opening
of the Dublin Royal Society's Exhibition. It is at
all times a gratification to read anything of Dr.
Wallen's, whether in prose or in verse, whether
grave or gay, whether relating to matters of perma-
nent interest, or, as in these instances, to subjt.cts of
the most fugitive character. But the Occa.aional.
Odes which have just now reached us are pecu-
liarly welcome, coming as they do simultaneously
with an entirely new Ode from from the same
ready and gifted hand in celebration of the Dublin
Exhibition, the Exhibition, comparatively speaking,
but a few hours since manguratel. Sufficient
for us if we add that this latest of the Occasional
Odes of Dr. Waller is one of his most graceful and
felicitous improvisations.

THE CHEVALIER DE CHATELAIN'S pc eicbl
apostrophe, through the columns of the Courier de
L'Europe, to M. Victor Hugo, as the author of (that
last work of the great French Poet-Novelist-
Dramatist Critic's 1) the book entitled "
Slaakcspeare"—would certainly tempt us to descant
upon the merits both of Victor Hugo's book and of
the Chevalier de Chatelain's panegyric in respect
to it, but that we are really repelled, almost as
by a sense of shame, from enlarging upon
whatsoever relates either directly or indirectly to
the late unfortunate Tercentenary Celebration. We
can therefore only find the heart at this moment to
offer our felicitations to the accomplished Chevalier
de Chatelain for his brilliant add apropos tribute to
his illusa-ious contemporary.

SHAKSPERE, AN ODE FOR THE TERCENTENARY
OF SHAKSPERE'S BIRTHDAY, written by Mr. J. F -
C4rpenter, and published by the Messrs. Routledge;
Warne, and Routledge. Bvo. pp. 16,—we are, tor
the self same reason that repels us from descanting
upon the effusion last mentioned, constrained to pas'
by, with a mere look askance, coming to us, as l&
does, now, upon the morrow, as it were, of the date
of the Tercentenary Celebration. Here at any rate
are the closing lines of Mr. Carpenter's 01,e—

What I are there none to fill the mimic s::ene—
To catch the mantle of the generous Kean ?
Are all the actors of the Kemble school
Lost to the Theatre they once could rule ?
The boards where Foote and _David ( arrtck played,
Unmeaning spectacle alone pervade ?
No I not while Phelps will his ripe powers engage,
To grace and elevate the British stage ;
While Helen Faucit, now tea seldom seen,
Still lies, her well-earned laurels fresh and green;
While Stirling acts, and Compton keeps the boards,
And Webster glimpses of the past affords;
While Henry Marston, artist good and true,
Still keeps the Drama's polar star in view ;
SUAKSPERE, again enthroned, may crown the stage,
The noblest, greatest bard of EVERY AGE!
The living names of the well-known actors of oar
own times—names here very agreeably, and sone
of them at least not at all extravagantly introducA
thus in an ode in celebration of the Immortal BArd--
thus lend a present interest of some kind at least to
the always harmonious verses of J. E. Carpenter•

THE ROYAL WEDDING, an Ode, extendin g
through 28 pages, penned by S. R. W. Low'
and recently published by Messrs. Mart si
and Co., of 13, Paternoster-row, would ilti°
been more valuable, had it appeared about
a twelvemonth earlier. As it is—coming into the
world later even than the Royal Baby itself--4i
can be pronounced extremely pretty, and e"
passed by. As an artistic production, it commands i
from us no more lengthened scrutiny than Mr.O'NvilS
Court picture in this year's Academy 411111'i•
tion—a picture all scarlet cloaks and pretty
girls and spring flowers, "all" that is, e
cept the youthful Royal Pair themselvth
—then, at the Arrival, as a week afterwards at ttl°
Wedding, the cynosure of neighbouring eyes, i3A°
observed of all observers. Mr. Lomax, in a w°'
de
after-date. He surely cannot have been all traB
while writing it—meaning his Ode.

The Metropolitan Association for Promoting t"
Education of Adults being dt:sirous of
encouragement to physical exercises and games of strenEla
and skill among the working classes, and also to afford 03
members of the Literary and Mechanics' Institutioo,
Working Men's Clubs, Young Men's Societies, 8:01 1:11
union with the associati,n an opportunity for a sueltit
re-union, have arranged for a gathering at the Ctic
Palace on Monday, June 27. In addition to the vari°e,o
attractions at the Palace, arrangements have b,;10
made for a series of athletic sports, i'or which valtassuo
money prizes will be given; an open ate' concert of
voices, under the direction of Mr. G. W. Nlarti,a; a ball°°„f
accent; a grand organ pt_rformance ; and A priz, ) conies
cadet bands, The band of the Crystal Palace Coues3oi
will play during the day within the patace, and thc ki°4oo
the Gieville House Working Men's Institute, Ana
Kingsland sub-division of Metropolitan Felice, N
in the palace grounds. Excursions are being orgatO°,
institutions in union, all expenses, apart irons ciao plow'
of tickets, being borne by the aesociation.
INTERNATIONAL STEAM PLOUGH COMPETIT-' 9:
ti
This contest, which took place at the regional 113'
fvt
ing of Roanne (Loire), has proved a great success boa' to
the inventors and manufacturers of such imple(ne'ro
and also for the proprietors of the heavy and stulAus-.0
lands of, that and the neighbouring departments. of
great, indeed, has been this success, that the ques Ito" or
the general use of agricultural instruments wuria'A foci
steam in such of the soils of France as have hitherto c tot
the greatest resistance to the ordinary means of tillage
now be considered as set at rest. The trials of the Os' :pa
competing machines were made between the 29th .Aril too
the Bth May, at about three miles from Rearm(/'
presence of the Sub-prefect, the Mayor of Routine'.
members of the Committee of the Agricultural 5°
and before a special jury compoeed of the fon"
evia
French gentlemen :—Count Benoist d'Azy,
Lehalleur, Charles Jobez, Tiersonnier, Pluchet, 9,1'"001
undernarned English gentlemen; Messrs. Fisher, „0.0-
T. J. Thackeray, and Jacob Wilson. Three French g'atit'
men—the Marquis de Poncins, M. de Baulay, and INI' tlry
noron, and two English parties—Mr. Fowler an „otos
Messrs. Howard—had sent in their names as coinPeticor
Mr. Fowler, however, was unable to get his inacliih°t o
0,0
pleted in time, and -so did not compete, much Game'
regret of the Committee. The machine of , coeio'
ron operated as a " digger,' and was worked by Shedl° 05f
tive steam engine connected with it, and which P
the land operated on. The machine of the blarquis eoe9.
cins operated as a sub .soil plough. The machine of
I%j
,
Howard operated-Ist, us a plough ; 2d, as a chit° :b0
3d, as a sub- soiler ; and is well known in Enghold,;/es;o'
machines both of the Marquis de Poncins and ()" l fixed
Howard were operated on by stationary steam engd'itiar6'
in adjoining ground. The jury awarded to tb
t rbe
doward the first prize of £lOO and the gold med3l;e o
Mai quis de Poncins the second prize of £do and 1b od tits
medal; and to M. Ganneron, the third prize of £lo,,,l'axo dv
bronze medal. Ihe prizes were distributed by tha
Bersigny.—Galzpani. Aubi64
A mason named Lieurei, residing at St'
it3e ore°
du-Thernay (Lure), while proceeding to his 11% think
evenings ago, from a wine shop where he bad "elle 10(2/6
ing, met a woman tamed Desdoights, to when"
_ito 0110
use of some insulting expression. Tier husband,:evt, toe')
with her, resented such conduct, and a struggle t "410113.
ed 1)"
between them. At that moment a man nam
LiCUSI
yadd
came up and put an end to the fight, when. ~.,tudt
use of:a heavy iron hook which he held in his 10_
with a blow on the head laid Levillaiu dead at liiin iv, 0
then returned to hia first antagonist and cc t
dreadful manner. Lieurey was-soon after arrests
a