The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-16 00:00:00

fashion to the presence of the springs, but probably '
few of its inhabitants are aware that they are in-
debted to those springs for the very existence of
the city. When the Romans first landed in this
country the spot where these waters rise, was, as
Sir;CHARLEs LYELL reminded his hearers, a deso-
late morass, with clouds of white vapour rising into
the air. The Romans were not likely to overlook
such a chance, and accordingly a spacious bath-
room, " built in a highly ornamental style of archi-
tecture, and decorated with columns, pilasters, and
tessellated pavements" soon sprung into existence.
By its side a stately temple was erected to Minerva,
of which some relics are still extant. Then come
tt e military quarters, and many other buildings, the
massive foundations of the surrounding wall being
traceable. But this gorgeous city was not the
Bath of the present day. The Acitim Solis of the
Romans lies some ten or twenty feet below
the level of the modern fashionable city,
and the antiquary may still find proof of its
earlier existence in coins and pavements, and even
coffins. It is a noticeable fact that while even the
architecture of the Romans has crumbled into
nothing the hot springs have not even modified
their temperaturein the years that have passed. In
common with the most noted springs of the Conti-
nent, they have retained a heat as great as is toler-
able to the human body, although when used by
the ancients they did not require any artificial cool-
ing, so that a remarkable degree of uniformity
of temperature has been preserved in some places
for more than two thousand years, while the iden-
tity of the mineral ingredients with those of centu-
ries ago and the unfailing constancy in the ♦olume
of the water are also very noticeable facts which sti-
mulate the philosopher to fresh investigations, Sir
CHARLES LYELL entered at some length into various
theories concerning these mineral springs and their
subterranean sources, and brought forward the
treasures of his knowledge and experience to illus-
trate the several hypothesis which he suggested to
his audience. The concluding portion of his address,
in which he referred to the changes which have
occurred in our planet in the subdivision of sea and
land, was especially interesting, and the facts which
he recited were more intelligible to ordinary com-
prehensions than the scientific analysis of the waters.
The effects of the sirocco which sweeps over the
African deserts upon the glaciers of the Alps are
especially curious, and the influence of the Gulf
stream upon the climates of Europe, though better
known, are no less remarkable. Such statistics are
full of interest, and it is the office of such associa-
tions as the present to popularise them among the
general public while collecting valuable data for
he cons i 'e:ation of men of science.

Mr NEWDEGATE has taken his turn in discours-
ing upon public events, and in his speech at Coven-
try last Wednesday he discoursed with his usual
decided manner and his downright style. There is
always this to be noticed in Mr NEWDEGATE, it is
his distinguishing characteristic, and it secures him
the respect of those who differ greatly with him in
politics. In this respect he forms a notable con•

trast to those wily politicians who aim at nothing
beyond the needs of the passing hour, and if they
can only secure their immediate object all else is

unheeded and nncared for. He spoke on behalf of
the House of Commons, and certainly made a most
effective address. Ha had an awkward task before
him in accounting for his own conduct in the great
debate which took place at the end of the session.
He took what he truly called an " isolated part" in
that great discussion, and it was not a fortunate
selection that he made. It is impossible to account
altogether for people's predilections as to their own
choice, but it must require a powerful incentive to
induce anyone to exult in the issue that has taken
place in the affairs of Denmark. The position in
which that country has been placed is a reproach to
all concerned in the matter who had authority to act,

and yet neglected their opportunity. Mr NEWDE
GATE'S chief object appears to have been to secure
peace. As for the satisfaction with which Mr NEW-
DEGATE regards the present interference of neutral
Powers, it rests upon a very shadowy foundation,
and he will be very much disappointed if
he is counting much upon it. His criticisms
upon the present state of the House of Commons
were a little more to the mark; and, certainly, no
strictures can be too severe which bear reference to
an assembly the majority of which conducted them-
selves in an un•English and anti-national manner
at the period of a great crisis. The hon. mernh.,
alluuCU LO 6Ge caLicature la I'ane.4, and declared,
with reason, that there was truth in the represen-
tation of" John Bull" in a state of plethora, a " sort
of commercial Falstaff in top boots." This is a
ludicrous definition of a serious subject, fur it is,
indeed, greatly to be deplored that such a semblance
of indifference to the welfare of others, and of ex-
treme selfishness as regards individual and national
benefits, should have crept in among us, and found
their way to the high places and great assemblies
of the land. The principle that has lately been so
eagerly put forward, and so vehemently proclaimed
by influential persons, and by those possessing
power to regulate the actions of others, is a very
false and fatal one. It is false to the best feelings
and noblest instincts of humanity, and it is fatal to
the growth and maintenance of honourable senti-
ments, to encourage the doctrine that the best
policy is always the safest one. It is not by such
notions that nations have sprung up from obscurity
into renown, and grass-grown solitudes have been
transformed into cities that impress and influence
the world. As Mr. NEWDEGATE said, this Parlia-
ment has grown old, and it is high time that it
was swept into the past ; a new one can
hardly so misrepresent the genius of the
people and the spirit of the country.
From the actual state of things at present the
honourable member passed on to discuss the nature
of the Parliament in itself, and his remarks contain
reflections worthy of notice. He said that lately
two attempts had been made to describe the House
of Commons. One was by Mr. ROEBUCK, and those
who rmembered that eloquent harangue will ac-
cord with the praise here pronounced upon it by
Mr. NEWDEGATE, when he said that " in speech
the steel of Sheffield shone bright through their
representative." The Duke DE PERSIGNY made
the second endeavour to give an account of our
Parliament. He was not so successful in his task,
it being of course nearly impossible for a foreigner
to comprehend fully and fairly the nature of the
functions performed by that body, and the high
duties and responsibilities it has to fulfil. Mr.
NEWEDEGATE'S definition of the difference that
exists between the constitution of England and that
of France is a correct one, and he has shown great
perspicuity of a difficult subject. He said that the
French Constitution was " based upon what was
called Ruthority, which meant absolute power in the
chief of the State however modified," but that the
Constitution of England was quite different. "It

was based upon the freedom of the people, but a
freedom regulated by this adherence to the only
true scurec of freedom, that pure morality which
was to be found in the Gospel." In this description
we have, perhaps, as good an account as can be
met with of the difference observable in
the two countries. The French nation re-
present an "idea," but the English ex
hibit a principle in the form of government, The