The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-02 00:00:00

TEES SUN, LONDON, THURSDA'
~... EVE_NING, JULY 2, 1863,

—it is net the heat of the engagement which
tries the mettle of the troops, but it is the long-
protracted inaction—it is the lying exposed to
fire with the enemy in your front, and not being
permitted to make an attack—the waiting for
the moment when victory may be achieved, and
which might be lost if too early anticipated.
That is the trial of the temper and forbearance
and of the real courage of the soldier. That, too,
is the trial of the temper, the forbearance, and the
real patriotism of a political party. My Lord
Mayor, such is the course which has been pursued
by the Conservative party of this country for the
last four years." This observation of the noble
earl is most correct, end those who have struggled
in the great battle of life will recognise its truth
and attest its validity. Also,Lord DERBY remarked
that any other party might have fallen off in num-
bers during this vexatious period of suspense ; but,
on the contrary, there were now in the House of
Commons a larger number of Conservative members
than be could claim the assistance of when he was
First Minister of the Crown. Lord DERBY
then commented on the state of things in
the Liberal party, and said that they were
willing to leave their favourite places in abey-
ance just now, or if they did advance then, they
had the pleasure " of seeing their projects when
brought forward either faintly supported or actually
wet-blanketted, or in some cases even laughed out
of the House of Commons by their very leaders
themselves." Lord DERBY then went at some
length into the general state of affairs and finally
declared his conviction that it was better for the
Conservatives to be in a strong opposition, than in
a weak Government. In one case they were in a
feeble state trusting to " precarious forbearance,"
in the other they were able to control the actions of
the Minister and preventing any injury to the
public service by their determined front and bold
bearing. His lordship then commented on the
barren crop of legislation which the present session
afforded, but reminded them of the words of a de-
parted statesman, "Register, register, register," this
was the month to follow that advice. Lord DERBY
then said that the four members of the city were
professedly opposed to monopoly, but that they
were effecting a scandalous one by monopolising all
the seats of the City to their own party. He con-
cluded his brilliant address by declaring his con-
viction that the great party who trusted him had
adopted a wise course, and that at some future period
they would reap their reward; if slow it would be
sure, and better than hastily grasping at a prize
wbich would assuredly havebeen snatched from them.
Mr. DISRAELI made an amusing speech, which was
on the House of Commons. The hon. gentleman's
sarcasms on its want of performances and paucity
of good works were very entertaining. He thus
characterised its late proceedings :—" I believe I
may say, on the part of that House, that at present
its health is very good. It is not as full of vigour
naturally as it was some years ago, when in this
hall I was called upon by the chief magistrate of
the city to return thanks for it. Then it was full
of youth, of hope, and of promises. Its youth is
exhausted ; its hopes have been defeated; and its
promises Lave not been fulfilled. This I acknow-
ledge, but I trust it has obtained that which indi-
viduals under the same circumstances in life often
acquire in the sunset of their days; I trust it has
acquired the character of respectability. At pre-
sent, considering its course during the current ses-
sion, the moderate exertions which it has made,
and the early hours which it has kept, I hope it may
arrive at a green old age." Mr. DISRAELI is in-
imitable in his quiet satire, and certainly he could
not have a better theme than the course pursued
by this famous Parliament, which was to have
effected such wonders, and whose only at-
tainment has been to do nothing, or es
little as possible, with regard to a sense of
propriety. Mr. DISRAELI adverted to the excite-
ment in the City lately with regard to proposed
changes, and declared that, whether in or out of
office, they would always uphold the importance of
maintaining the rights of ancient corporations,
which, " among many other causes, have greatly
contributed to the formation of the English charac-
ter." The Conservatives have had a brilliant season,
this year they have assembled at numeroua meetings,
mppear quite satisfied with their progress. It is a
curious fact that there have been no Liberal re
unions; that party seems to think that silence is
the safest course, which perhaps it is under existing
circumstances.

The recent terrible naval disasters have brought
prominently before us the perils of the seas, and the
appeal of the National Lifeboat Institution for
assistance is not likely to be overlooked. The annual
report of this society is now before us, recounting
the achievements of the past year, and giving a full
list of all subscribers, testators, and donors. We
have already given part of these statistics, which
prove that the managing committee have not dimi
nished in energy, the men engaged in noble daring.
or the public in their appreciation of the services
rendered. The number of lives saved during 1861
and the first five months of the present year is 886,
460 of these being rescued by the lifeboats of the
institution, and 426 by shore boats ani, other means,
for which the institution has granted rewards. The
committee are especially anxious that this part of
the system should be more widely known and more
generally understood. It does not restrict its
efforts to the equipment and maintenance of life-
boat stations on the more exposed and dangerous
parts of the coast. Its primary object being to save
life, it gives reward and encouragement to any per-
-,on who has succeeded by other means in rescuing
those in danger. A notice to this effect has been
extensively circulated in our seaport towns and
fishing villages, and apparently to some purpose in
stimulating exertion or in discovering merit, for we
find a considerable number of rewards thus given.
This shows an earnestness and sincerity of purpose,
theorists
is schemes. t
oo
T
and an absence of that narrowness of feeling which
too often
objectottenin ofreformersterfereswith similar
and
benevolent
fre-
quently not that the work shall be done, no matter
by whom, but that it shall be dons in their own
peculiar fashion. The bestowal of rewards on per-
sons totally unconnected with the society shows us
the real anxiety of the committee to attain the
benevolent end they propose to the public,
andwill greatly benefit the cause not
so
much
,by the money given, but by the public
recognition of merit—an honour well deserved by
the enterprising men who win it. There are many
places, naturally, where wrecks may occur, and
where no lifeboats are within hail, and where all
chance of rescue depends on the shore boats and the
volunteers who man them. There are also occasions
on which it is not found necessary to bring out the
lifeboat, which generally goes to sea on occasions
when no shore boat could venture. This arrange-
ment extends the sphere of the society's influence
and will give it a greater interest in the eyes of our
seafaring melt. The recent catastrophes have given
rise to some
part of the suggestions which might, if adopted,
go far to prevent tbeirfor preventing collisions
recurrence. In the July
journal
of the Institution, we find a
paper on the regulations
et sea which deserves
at tentios.
these articles is really startlingT.heeclu
The average
o
ragot.

number of cases off our own shores during the seven
years'preceding 1862 was 300, the cases during last
year amounted to 338, thus exceeding the average
considerably. The recent amended regulations
issued by the Board of Trade and just came into
effect, will, we may hope, lessen the chance of such
accidents. In recording the two lamentable wrecks
oo f theo
Institution
Orpheus and
deplores
oAr
ens g o Saxon, the journal
f ththe scanty supply of
boats, which so greatly increased the extent of the
sacrifice. The Anglo. Saxon had but six boats,
" being," as the article referred to remarks, " only
one boat to each 74 persons on board." "We con-
sider," says the same writer, " that a vessel of her
size might have carried twice that number of boats,
and, in addition, have been provided with the
material specially prepared for putting to-
gether a raft of sufficient size to carry a
large number of persons." The great advan-
tage of large ships being we 1 provided with the
means of diminishing the loss of life in case of ship-
wreck does not appear to be duly considered. It
has been already Bugg( sted that every boat in a
passenger vessel should be a lifeboat, a really effi-
cient lifeboat, not a contrivance that fails in the
hour of danger. The expense of such an equipment
might, it has been observed, be defrayed by a
trifling charge to each passenger—a specie of in-
surance that would be gladly paid by reasonable
men. We hope this matter will be looked into, and
some plan of the kiwi adopted, since nothing is
more painful in the harrowing narratives of ship-
wreck than the description of the rush to the boats
which often fail and are always too few in number.
We generally find one or two boats escape in safety ;
is it not then doubly mournful to hear of fifty or a
hundred persons being left to go down with the
wreck when, if there had been a proper supply of
boats, all might at least have had a chance of life.
The public will do well to see that some change
is made in the present arrangements, and it is in-
cumbent upon the Government to see that the ves-
sels in the Royal Navy are sufficiently supplied
with really efficacious boats. The National Life-
boat Institution will do good service if it succeed
in convincing thOse in authority of the necessity of
a change in the present inefficient and negligent
method of equipment, and will add largely to the
already extensive list of human lives rescued by its

LITERATURE,

Memorable Eventsinth,e Life of a London Phyzi clam
One vol. pp. 276. Virtue Brothers.

When we say that the physician, whose expe-
riences are here recorded, is Dr. Dickson, the cele-
brated author of " Fallacies of the Faculty," the
great medical reformer and innovator, it is utmost
superfluous to add that this work is fall of interest
end full of common sense. It is earnest and
thoughtful, and eminently practical in the lessons
which it inculcates—lessons worthy of deep atten-
tion. The writer, is, perhaps, a little too anxious to
enforce his own opinions, a little too reliant upon
the truths of his own philosophy, but it is a goad
fault. Earnestness is the secret of all success, and
we cannot expect that a man who has been bold
enough to believe, and to act in opposition to the
venerable traditions of his confraternity, will hesi
tate to stand by his opinions and claim the merit of
their origin when their truth has been admitted by
a large majority, and when others were found (as is
always the case) to share in a success whica they
had no hand in achieving. In his younger days
Di-. Dickson tells us he was constantly assured that
the best school for study was the dissecting room,and
while he admits that this advice is admirable for the
acquisition of mechanical skill iu surgery,he ridicules
the idea of studying pathology in such a spot. " To
associate," he indignantly exclaims, "the word
pathos—sensibility, feeling—with the dissection of
bodies that by no possibility can feel at all, is a new
edition of lucus a non lucendo." We will not fol-
low Dr. Dickson throughout his very clear, and com-
prehensive explanation of his favourite theory—
the Chrono•thermai—a system founded upon the
tact of man being estentially a creature of habit
(periodiciiy ) and exquisitely susceptible to the flue-
' uations of temperwure. A resolute toe, like many
of the more sensible doctors of modern days, to
the old established system of purging and bleeding,
Dr. Dickson's object is to strengthen nature, and
'o employ art only to assist in the progress of a
natural recovery. This teaching is best summed up
in the lines applied to him in a letter ft om one of
his admirers—

" To render with my precepts less
The sum of human wretchedness,
And strengthen man with his own mind."
In the hope that these very interk sting pages may
conduce to that desirable result we very cordially
recommend the London Physician's reminiscences.

31m, or the Old and New Philosophy. By the Rev.
B. W. Savile, M.A. One vol., pp. 296. Hurst and

Blackett.

The distance intervening between the sublime
and the ridiculous is proverbially trifling. Mr.
Savile has endeavoured to combine both extremes,
and the result was so inevitable that is hardly ne-
cessary to particularise it. He has failed, emi-
nently failed, in attaining the sublime--he has suc-
ceeded entirely in ensuring the ridiculous! The
first chapter of his book is on the origin of man,
and gives a tolerably amusing enumeration of the
different theories of "development," theories admir-
ably summed up in a poem (quoted in this volume)
which appeared some time back in Blackwood's
Magazine, entitled " Monboddo," and with which
our readvrs are no doubt familiar. The last chapter
relates to the " end of man,' and is filed with a
collection of most ridiculous epitaphs, some
of which are well known to all the iovers
of such curiosities of literature. The main
interest of the book, in fact, consists in
well known quotations. In fact we may justly
quote, as a true comment on the author of this
work (and Mr. Savile is fond of such quotations),
Lard Russell's witty commentary upon an offending
-Feaker, '6 He has uttered many things that are
true, and many things that are new, but unfortu-
nately those which are true are not new, and those
which are new are not true"—and so haNe we found
it with Mr. Savile.

Life, Law, and Literature Essays on ♦arious sub
jects. By W. G. I. Baxter, E,q , Barrister-at-
law. One vol. pp 230. Bell and Daldv.
These miscellaneous and very thoughtful Essays
have well &served republication, and they are
worthy of an attentive perusal. They are, for the
most part, brief, and may serve to occupy a leisure
ten minutes in the perusal of one or other of them,
but they will not be dismissed from the thoughts
when the book is laid aside. Kindred spirits will feel
encouraged and benefitted by their brief but earnest
intercourse with Mr. Baxter. The subjects of his re-
marks are singularly varied, among them are essays
on "Poets" and " Poetry," and Periodical Litera-
ture," on " Colonies and Commerce." on " Marriage
with a Deceased Wife's Sister," on War not Un-
christian," " Le-gends and Language," " Our Duty
to Society," "How to Make a Lawyer," "Literal
Translations," " Dramatic Entertainments," " Hu-
mour in its relation to the Poet," and a multitude
of others of equally varied character. In some very
just remarks in the last named article, it is truly
iid, in reference to the poet's power of appreciation,
" in this world of good and bad, of mirth and tears,
the master-worker must have his eyes open, and
his soul must vibrate to ever pulse of humanity, or
he will be marred in delivering to men the reflex
of themselves. A complete poet must have the
faculty of seeing everything with the eyes of every
class in the community to which he belongs; he
must see everything as they see it from their point
of view." In other words, he must have sympathy.
In the article on "Childhood," it is happily said,
"a real child is worth kidnapping, for, to say the
truth, they bs rare." " Reading and Study" is the
subject of a very judicious article well worthy of
of attentive perusal.

M. GOUNOD, THE COMPOSER OF FAUST.—In
1851, same sacred music made by htm was first
brought to hearing, and in London. at St. Martin's Hall,
under the presidency of Mr John Hulkh; and later in the
same )ear, Sapho, his fir-it opera, in Paris, owing to the
active and prescient influence of a great brtist. The recep
thin of these works was in England damnation, in France
faint praise. Nothing daunted, the composer went on to
write choruses for Ulysse, a dreary classical play by the
taen much overrated M. Ponsard—a second opera, La
Nonne Sanglante, t one of the worst drarn,s in being—
which open., however, is rich in beautiful and characteristic
music—a third La Me itcin Malgre lui, a quaint treatment
of Moliere's comedy ; and fourthly, this same inconven'ent,
unauthorised, and truly indtifensible Faust, which has been
bold enough to attack and to retain Germany, and to force
its way into two of our English theatres at once—au opera
which, like other things that cannot be cured, must be en-
dured--an opera simply and s. riously the only opera on the
legend which, till now, has gained, or deserved to gain,
universal acceptance. To make the victory more signifi-
cant, it should be added that Faust was originally produced
at the third musical theatre in Paris, with only one good
chance in its favour—that, it is true, a very good one—a
Margaret in Madame Miolan-Carvalho, not to be surpassed
in exquisite musical skill, delicacy of feeling as an actress,
or depth of expression as an interpreter. What the per-
manent fate of M. Gounol's opera may be in England it is
not for us to say. There is a caprice in publics totally ir-
respective of real merit or national consistency. With our
public, two of the best operas ever written, Cherubini's Les
deux Journees, and t.pontini'e La Vestale, have no exis
tence. The Germans care little for Handel—the rench
know nothing of him. Come what may, M. Gounod's
Faust exceeds every other learner work on the subject.—
_Dickens's "All the Year Round,"

CAPTAINS GRANT AND SPEKE AT THE ETHNO
LOGICAL SOClETY.—Yesterday evening an esti
meeting of the members of the Ethnological Society was
held at the United Service Institution, to ht-ar from Captain
Grant an account of the ethnological peculiarities of the
native races of Central Africa. Mr, Lubbock presided, and
said he was glad to see Captain Grant and Captain Speke.
The numerous attendance showed that the society was
fully justified in holding an extra racetirig to hear the paper
whica Captain Grant would real. Captain Grant, who
met with a very cordial reception. then read his paper, which
was highly interesting. The line from Zanzibar to Gondi-
corra was overspread, generally speaking, with the negro
race. The chief exceptions were the Arabs and the
Mahoma. No general description of the features of the
negroes could be given, though the receding forehead, the
prominent muzzle, the blidgeless nose, and well-shaped
dark eyes were common to most of them. The cheek was
prominent, and the head was weil set on the shoulders.
The trunk and limbs were symmetrically formed, and the
head was covered with coarse, wiry wool. The avi rage
height was 5 feet 6or 7 inches. In dress or cleanliness
the natives were not particular. They had no idea of a
soul, and polygamy was the rule among them. The paper
met with a very favourable reception; and in answer to
questions from Mr. Crawford and others, Captains Grant
and Speke entered into a variety of e:.planations couching
the manners and customs of the native races. Votes of
thanks wexe given with wueh cordiality to both travellers.