The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-14 00:00:00

Tricks of Travellers.

(Iron the Builder.)
Under the heading of " The Brothers Davenport," a party
of adventurers from America five in number, here to exhibit

certain "manifestations," have been so fortunate as to obtain
such prominent notice by well-known writers in leading

- .
journals as will doub less send numbers of persons to them.

Written with candour, and describing, we have no doubt,

,rutbf ally what occurred, the unquestionable inference to be

drawn from the notices nevertheless is, that the writers

believe they witnessed an exhibition of some unknown in-
telligence and force, " an annihilation of what are called

material laws ;" and the notices are thus calculated to do

much mischief. A week ago the writer was present at a
seance with the party in question, in the private house of a
distinguished gentleman; lords, ladies, naval captains,
poets, artists, and public writers formed the circle; two of
the mediums—not the Davenport Brothers, by the way, to
whom the power was at first attributed, as one of them
being unwell had his place supplied—were tied to their
chairs in a manner that seemed quite secure, and then very
complete darkness being produced, guitars were strummed,
bells were rung, and individuals touched ; while, on the
candle being lighted, the two mediums were seen still tied
in their chairs.

Other acts followed, such as have been described in the
newspapers ; thus the coat of one of the performers was
whisked off (in the dark), and a loose coat, opportunely in
the room, was whisked on. Again darkness, and the
removal of the cords was heard os'entatiously grating, and
a light showed the performers unbound in their chairs, to
which afterwards they were again tied up by " an unknown
force 1"

When we say that half the eminent persons in the room
professed themselves thoroughly assured that other than
ordinary agencies had been at work, it will be supposed,
and rightly, that the tricks were cleverly played. The whole
affair, however, is too gross and preposterous to etand a
moment's reflection. On'y admit that one of the two me-

diums so contrives, when being tied that he can free his
hands, and all else is perfectly simple. The whole proceed.
kg is not half so difficult to comprehend as some of the pro-
fessional conjurors' tricks, and it might be thought we w,.tro
wasting space in thus stepping beyond our province to de-
nounce the imposition; but when it is found that a Master

of Arts more than hints that these adventurers belong to a
quiet society, "the silent heralds of a social revolution,
which must shake the world I" and we know the extent of
the "colossal self-deo-it," which permits itself to he made
stronger by such exhibittions—it becomes the duty of every
man who can obtain a hearing to assist in exposing the inju-
rious imposture.
By what curious shutting up of the reason intelligent
men and women can bring themselves to believe that those
cords were noisily pulled through the loops into with they
had been twistei, and were afterwards put round the per-
former, and tied clumsily to the table, without hands, it is
difficult to say. Just reflect on one of their assertions,
that unless a circle is formed by the spectators, if people in
the dark can be so called, holding each other's hands, no-
thing can be done; and that if broken some one's head will
be so too; and recollect that after all it is no circle at all,
only a part of a circle, and it must surely suggest that this
threat is merely to prevent detection. if the writer, when
his own hand was pinched by a hardish thick hand with
very tangible nails, recognised with tolerable certainty as
that of one of the mediums, had sprung out and seized hold
of the arm beyond, he would probably have received a blow
on the head with a handbell or guitar, but the trick would
have been made obvious to those who were willing to be
convinced. The entertainment cl ,scd by the table rapping
out the word " Retire," much as they eay " Farewell" in
coloured fires at the close of a pyrotechnic exhibition; but
the slovenly manner in which this was done by the opera-
tor showed in what contempt lie ht hl 11. e cemleen sense of
his audience—running rapidly on 1% nil the alphabet when
the letter sought was at the end of it, and pausing when he
came to the letter itself, so that it positively did not need
the raps, which were once or I vale., in the wrong place, to
make out the word that was desired. These practitioners
were chased out of Canada, according to a moat circumstan-
tial statement in Toronto papers ; one of them, it is asserted,
was formerly in the employment of the Wizard of the North;
and the whole affair will doubtless be blown in England
presently ; but in the meanwhile they are aiding an evil
delusion which is much more widely spread than some be-
lieve, and will walk off sneeringly rejoiceful with pockets
full of John Bull's guineas.

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LONDON, FRIDAY, OCT. 14, 1864.

Mr. GLADSTONE has certainly been busy enough,
and has done trot.e than his share of speechifying
fur the recess. He had to perform a very gracious
task in opening the Park at Parnworth. This was
one of those occasions which are of so interesting
and exciting a character that they are far beyond
ordinary eff,irs cf the day, and live in the re-
collection, invested with peculiar and particular
regard. Mr. GLADSTONE, of course, uttered some
appropriate remarks as he performed the task as-
signed to him, and appeared to be deeply impressed
with the nature of the ecene before him. To one
so often accustomed to formal arrangements and
stereotyped methods of carrying on affairs, it must
have been a relif to witness the general expression
of feeling among the vast multitudes assembled, and
to take part in a ceremonial where the trammels of
official life were cast asidt?, and a universal senti-

moat of hilarity and good- will reigned supreme and
paramount. Mr BARNES deserved the encomiums
which were passed upon him, and none the less so
because he is, as the right hon. gentleman observed,
no isolated instance of the sort, but the honoured
representative of a principle which adorns this
generation. Mr. GLADSTONE could not have
more forcibly expressed the purport and
bearing of the work before him than in these words
-.-gg In this busy, stirring, critical, industrious,
enterprising, money-making, money-accumulating
ege, it is well that while these pursuits have full
scope given them, it should be forgotten that there
are other wants and other interests." This is
exactly the definition of this affair, and it fulfils
one of the great requirements of our time, that time
and opportunity should be afforded to the over-
worked and over-tired population to refresh them-
selves for a season from their hard positions, and to
think of the world around them, besides the limited
part which contains their engagements. Work is
better when the workers are allowed a little breath-
ing time, and there is no greater mistake made
than that which taxes the energies to the utmost,
and in the end produces exhaustion and incompe-
tence. "Property has its duties as well as its
rights," is a very true maxim, and one that cannot
be too much attended to by all whom it concerns,
and unless it is recognised and fully carried out
there can be no peace or prosperity in any land,
however many advantages it may enjoy or
possess. Mr. GLADSTONE laid great stress
upon this point, and it certainly is one that
was particularly applicable to the subject before
"aim. He said that its consideration had increased of
late years, and what had at one time been looked
upon as a" dreaded monster," was now a "domesti-
cated ides." Well might we say that it was offend-
irg against the will and design of Providence tc
refuse to recognise the truth of this adage, and that
the relation between the master and the workman
ought not to be carried on without good feeling
and mutual feelings of respect. The right hon.
gentleman very truly observed that in no part of
the country had the rights of labour been more
respected than in Lancashire. The changes that
the law had made had also brought about changes
that no law could produce ; the " moral transforma-
tion," as he truly called it, had been shown in the
manner in which recent trials had been borne, and

thin " surest test of what constitutes the true man,
has shown in what estimation the factory people
are to be held by the " rest of their fellow-
countrymez." Pursuiug his theme to a wider
extent, Mr. GLADSTONE remarked that the
enterprise of the British nation was some.
thing surprising, and when he said that for
every two yards of cotton consumed in the world
one was of British manufacture, he thought the
factory system should be recognised as an important
element in all economicil and social arrangements.
Wiaen things are viewed in this light, it is surpris.
ing what a different aspect they assume, and it is
only by taking all these into consideration that
a due estimate of the relative importance
of thee() matters can be arriyed at. The right

hon. gentleman truly depicted the necessity that
existed for some sphere in which those who laboured
so strenuously could meet with some respite, and thus
introduced the immediate object of their meeting
that day. "Here we have," he said, "before us a
scene in which, as we leap from generation to
generation, the young and old of Fsrnworth will
seek for health and refreshment after the hours
of honest labour have come to an end," This is
in itself a matter of great and vital import, and
one which may well excite a feeling of deep in-
terest in the minds of all who attentively
study the subject; and, besides the question of
health, there is the afterthought that the mental
and moral requirements of the labouring population
will be better cared for by the opportunity afforded
them for healthful relaxation. Mr. GLADSTONE
may be envied the privilege of thus having his
name associated with a work thas connected with
public good, and which is intimately associated
with the happiness and comfort of the great indus-
trial community of a crowded mart of industry. The
right hon. gentleman was scarcely so happy in his
remarks at Liverpool in the evening, for he made
some attempts to prop up the cause of the Ministry
which were not very cordially received by the
audience. A suspicious cry of " Oh," was heard
more than once during some passages of his speech.
This may, perhaps, tend to impress on his mind,
and also on that of his colleagues, that all is not so
favourable to the Ministry as they would fain per-
suade themselves that it is. It was a more gracious
and genial task for the right hon. gentleman to
allude to his early connection with the town, and
the sentiments with which he revisited it. Since
the days when he was more familiar with it Liver•
pool has increaeed in wealth and in importance,
until, as the distinguished guest of the evening
observed, it " may challenge conclusively the place
of the first commercial emporium of the world."
Mr. GLADSTONE spoke impressively of the vast
responsibilities which lie upon this country,
and the due performance of the duties of
legislation for which utterly overtask the
best human energies. There was great wisdom i❑
the right hon. gentleman's remarks upon the instinct
of preservation that has always been so strong i❑
this country ;, but he added this should be combined
with the spirit of improvement, " and the laws and
condition of this country after all that has been
done yet will offer a rich ha:vest to the wise and
judicious efforts of the statesmen of future times."
Such counsel is correct and straightforward, and it
impresses those who depend upon it with the notion
that as yet there is no occasion for us to consider
that enough has been done in the way of improve-
went. The surest way of maintaining the present
position of England is for her rulers and population
❑ever to relax in their efforts in seeking for a better
and more approved method of transacting the busi-
ness of the State. This will prove the surest way
of meeting with success ; and those orators who
' encourage the spirit of energy and the desire to
excel render a great service to the community of
which they are the pioneers from a glorious past to
an uncertain future.

The prorogation of Parliament at this time of the
year is an event which excites little interest. A
few "potent, grave, and reverend seignors" assemble
in discharge of a formal duty, and no one not im-
mediately concerned in the routine thinks it worth
while to step out of their way to look at them. Yet
the principle which lies at the bottom of this appa-
rently trivial and useless form is a very sound one,
as are most of the underlying motives of our con-
stitutional solemnities. The Septennial Act is a
national guarantee that the people shall be fairly
represented in the government of the country, with-
out depending upon the caprice of a despotic mo-
narch or the equally dangerous and tyrannical will
of revolutionary leaders. It is true that in either
case the tyrant or the aw,rch might act in dt fiance
of the law had they sufficient power, but there it
stands as a substantial protest on b:ihalf of consti-
tutional government. Moreover, neither tyranny
nor anarchy is established in a day, and these forms
are the outworks which any invader of notional
rights will have to break through, and by which
attempt he will give timely warning of his motives
and intentions. When the Parliament reassembles
next spring it will probably be for the last session
of the present House of Commons, a fact which no
one except its own immediate members will
oe much disposed to regret. It began its
course on the 31st of May, 1859, and
consequently has a right to exist until May, 1800,
since by the terms of the A3t the seven years
of a Parliament's life are reckoned from the day
on which it assembles. Mauy persons imagine
that the seventh session of a Parliament must
necessarily be the last, but this is a misapprehen-
sion, since there may be any number of SCSSIODS
within the given seven years. It is therefore
possible that our faineant dynasty may see fit to
prolong their present comfortable existence by
retaining the compliant members of the existing
House as long as possible. When a building is
tottering on its foundation, any shock or change is
much to be deprecated, and no doubt Lord PAL-
MERSTON would prefer to let the memories of his
Danish policy grow a little fainter in the
popular remembrance before he tests the feeling of
the country by a general election. It is, however,
always customary to dissolve in the sixth year, so
whether the etiquette will be observed or no remains
to be seen. At any rate, we may reasonably hope

'or a little more energy next session, though Re.

formers must apparently rest and be thankful, and
ask no inconvenient questions. Whether they will
be contented to obey this emphatic injunction is a
question for the session of 1863 to solve, but the
growing feeling of the country will not support
them in inaction. A calm often precedes as well as
follows a storm, and the present lull in the Parlia•
mentary atmosphere might perhaps, had we political
as well as meteorological storm signals, foretel a
tempest of no ordinary description.

The public will learn with great satisfaction that
the long and harassing war in New Zealand has
been brought to a close: For some time past its
immediate conclusion has been looked upon as almost
hopeless, and we in this country at least were be•
ginning to resign ourselves to a winter of inaction
before any further steps could be taken towards
the pacification of the colony. Rumour, however,
began to whisper that famine had proved a power-
ful ally, and that the brave and daring Maories,
who have proved no contemptible antagonists even
to our troops when behind their entrerchments,
were slowly but surely succumbing to the influence
of a more insidious but not less deadly foe. Happily
these reports have proved to be well grounded, and
within the last two days a telegram has been re-
ceived at the Foreign Office, conveying the welcome
intelligence that on the sth and 6th of August a
meeting took place at Tauranga between the
Governor of New Zealand and the natives, at which
the Maories submitted unconditionally to the
QUEEN'S authority, and placed their lands at the
Governor's disposal. Such a conclusion disposes
most satisfactorily of the difficulty which had grown
to be a serious one, and was threatening the fortunes
of the colony in an alarming manner. The most
rigid disciplinarian could not exa;t more than

such complete surrender, and the object of
the war may thus be said to be fully ac-
complished, since the natives have not only been
compelled to abandon their pretensions, but they
have been taught to acknowledge our superiority,
and to confess their own inadequacy to oppose it.
This is the more encouraging, as after several
triumphs we had had one or two reverses, or,
rather, we had bought our victories too dear.
Brave officers and gallant men had laid down their
lives in numbers too great for a semi-savage strife
like this, and there seemed to be reason to appre-
hend that England would have to mourn many
more valiant sons before the contest came to an
end. Its nature, too, was harassing and unsatis-
factory ; it was not like a bold encounter in an open
field nor a direct attack upon a defended city ; but
it was a struggle with the bush and the marsh,
with ene nies who fled and left no trace, and who
rewarded a successful assault with an empty vic-
tory. The admixture of civilisation in the Maori
race renders them most difficult to deal with, for
they are far more formidable than ordinary savages,
while they cannot be treated like Europeans.
Many wise and kind persons, in their regard for
the defenceless position of an inferior race, are in.
clined to overlook the rights of the settlers, and the
fact that a due respect for life and property must
be seeured if the islands are to be inhabited
by civilised human beings. Oa the other
hand, the colonists and their friends are,
in their natural indignation, perhaps too
much disposed to forget the provocations
of the natives, and the difference between their
views and our own. The authorities are not, how-
ever, likely to show any harshness or injustice in
dealing with the surrendered lands ; in fact, we
learn by the very telegram which brings us the
news of the peace, that most of their lands have been
restored to the natives, only a few having been con-
fiscated, and those few, no doubt, on clear grounds
of right and justice, By a happy combination of
lenity and firmness, the Governor has it now in his
power to effect a lasting settlement of the long-
pending dispute, and by so doing he will be not
only conferring a blessing on the natives, who will
be slowly but surely exterminated by the continu-
ance of the war, but he will be doing the best thing
possible for the colony, which can never flourish
under such a disadvantage. The idea of a war with
savages is quite sufficient to deter emigration, and
the insecurity of life and property consequent upon
the unsettled state of things counteracts the attrac-
tions of a healthy and fertile country. New Zia.
land has great capabilities as yet but half deve.
loped, and we trust, now the great stumblingblock
is removed out of her way, to see her rise to her
proper rank umong our southern dependencies.