The Sun.
London, England, 1839-01-31 00:00:00

• . -
4
_ 4Nr.•'. 1
:TO
_Lsz
statement of the progress ofthe Asso LStrd,erenzil-ftsn, .#4l
there were many associations at the nrtlY"
lated to degrade society than to impro ,Itee s
blished for the purpose of strengthening ix't;inia Cyr%
whore they exist ; and where they dui* nebeltWit , as
far as possible, would laudably endeai,our t& supply the des-
rudge through
a,ed
eiency by mutual instruction, that they might not be left tee
d
ateweelsar;yalnifde
wwiitthhoa viuttehw that
help of intellectual:
employment
hat they might be-
come more useful to their employers--a ble, ssing to themselves
—and exemplary to the community at large. There was the
same mutual adaptation between knowledge end the human
mind as there was between light and the eye, seed and the
earth ; and the fact that this adaptation existed wee a sufficient
reason for his brother gardeners pursuing knowledg 0;
where.
with g-
norence was the curse of God : knowledge the wing
with Ave fly to heaven." If evil was referable to ig novreaantei;
then knowledge must, if it did not destroy, at least k 7
impair its force, and the way in which it did so opera, 'e de-
served particular attention. It removed evil, not by et, sten-
nal restraint, not by putting barriers between the will andl the
execution, but by altering and improving the will itself: It
put an end to intemperance by substituting the nobler Stirnaihe'
of moral and intellectual exercise ; it destroyed vice and misery
by multiplying the sources of happiness; and it diminished.
r i
strife and dissension by inculcating principles in which alit
might agree.—( Cheers.) Mr. Russell further observed that:
ext circumstances,ao fame,mnles
wwheicrhe,tuhney had seen of men rising above
ft'noen .
from
obscurityl
disadvantageousorou s
aftirsownier
apovertyble proofsto wtehaaltthte
,alsnndt
was not the peculiar birth-right of any rank or condition of
society. It appeared, at least, as often among the lower as
amongst the higher classes ; and why should it not be culti-
vated wherever it appeared ? Nor let it be said that talent
would always, as in these cases,
distinction and success depend at least its
tas s ownreette,i•ia ye.n
aNeVeorrtdalii
degree of animal energy as upon great intellecatral powers ;
and while the greatest talents were often unaccompanied by
this energy, it frequently coexisted with ignorance \ And folly.
Tln
Howe poetc hFheaedlsw rushell saidltgreater—how
tbat
where— Angels fear to tread."
much happier—how much more use-
ft, might not many men of superior abilities have been in their
nen, 'rations had their road to knowledge been made 'a little
less o.,:efiult, or a little less rugged, and had a. helping- haled
been junneiously extended to aid and guide them in the.cown_..
mencement of tht career.—( Cheers.)
The health of the 'Chairman was then given, and Mr. Fitz-
Strathern, in appropriate language, returned thanks for the
high honour conferred on him at this and on former occasionee
which, he seid, *gelid never lie erased from his enemOry. Fie
stated' that-the antinuitryer-ahn world was sielreeretnnhlst no one.-
could make the proper calculation by piercing through the ob-
scurity of time but if the account of this globe, as recorded by
the illustrious African who was found in a basket on the Nile,
end afterwards classicnlly educated at the royal court of
Egypt, be taken for truth, vegetation could claim priority of
creation to animal existence. And if father Adam wrought in
Eden as a florist and horticulturist, which he, the Chairman,
believed he did, then it was as clear as any section in Euclid
that his descendants, the gardenees here present, could boast
of their trade being the most ancienn•—(Cheers and laughter.)
Mighty organic changes, far above tiers power of man to solve
accarately, had taken place. The wafers had occupied and
deserted. every part of the world, end it was among the won-
,nrs of the creation that the ocean as well as the land was in-
fig bited with innumerable varieties of animals .and vegetables.
u (the Chairman) viewed the whole of this vast earth as one
" °Tea vo,rkshop or manufactory, for the propagation of animal and'
venetgg, e matter. Man and other animals received the spark of
life, and then witner and die—their dust mixed with earths
which hardened into stone—the stone was again decomposed by
air, and n-orrt by constant agitation, . perhaps to nourish some
vegetables. Tine Mandrepores transformed salt-water lute
coral. Petrify:;ng liquor changed wood and other substances
into solid rock ; and by other chemical processes of nature
immense nccumulatic,ns of reeds, ferns, corn, and a variety of'
grasses had been converted into coal (a striking evidence of
the antiquity of the world), while amazing quantities of shell-
fish generated through many ages have been transferred into
lime and chalk. But there were other remarkable changes of
vegetation that took place every day before their eyes, though
the ignorant thought nothing of the matter. What was beef
and mutton, venison, and poultry, but grasses in another form,
since the animals which yield those kinds of food were nour-
ished and grew to maturity by the vegetable kingdom ; even the
majestic form of " proud man himself, who, drest with a little
brief authority, acts such fantastic tricks as makes the angels
weep," could only be viewed as composed of vegetables. This
teas proved by Scripture —" All flesh is grass," and was ad-
verted to in the beautiful and solemn order for the berial of
the dead. In short, mankind, whether in a civilized or a
savage state, were indebted for their clothing, house-shelter,
shipping, and food, to the fertile productions of the ground.--
( Cheers.) Many philosophers have traced a similitude ben
tween animals and vegetables. Moses said that plants have
seeds in themselves—that is, every plant constitutes in itselg
male and female powers ; but this could not be said of animals.,
with the exception of one—the mussel. Since the last annivern
sary dinner of this society, a remarkable discovery had been made
in the East Indies, by a gentleman in the army, in search of
knowledge, worthy the attention of fishermen, the gardeners of
the ocean. He was struck with the fact, that the ponds in the,
hot countries became perfectly dry, and the mud hard, yet the•
next rainy season they were found full of fish, although wholly
unconnected with any stream or pa'sage by which they could.
he conducted thither. The solution of this phenomenon he
found to be simply this—the impregnated ova of the fish of one
rainy season were left unhatched in the mud through the dry
season, and from this low state of organization as ova the vita •
lily was preserved till the occurrence and contact of the rain
and the oxygen of the next season, when vivification takesplace
through their joint influence. Hence a learned naturalist inferred
that the artificial fecundation cf the roe of herrings, ling, cod,
and other salubrious fishes, by drying sufficiently to prevent
decomposition, may possibly be transported, and vivified
ni distant countries, and thereby furnish excellent food to
their inhabitants --(Cheers.) It was the duty of all men, ess
pecially gardeners, who, from their peculiar occupation, might
be styled the prime ministers of nature, to diffuse useful know-
ledge in a social, benevolent manner, keeping in view the a•ise
saying of a philanthropist, that " he who ,makes two blades
of grass grow where only one grew before, is a benefactor to
his country."—(Cheers.) Man was only to be estimated by
he did to others. In former days gardeners were a su-
perior race of men. Some of them became the companions of
Emperors, and in Persia a gardener was made prime minis-
ter of state on account of his transcendent abilities. In mo-
dern times other liberal arts had progressed under powerful
patronage and fortunate circumstances; and it would partly
be the gardener's own fault if he did not preserve his superior
status in society by scientific knowledge as well as influence,
especially as he possesses one valuable advantage over other
intelligent operatives—an easy intercourse with the highest
and most polished orders of society, who all love flowers and
fruits. It was not generally known that two of the Peers of
the present age—men of talent and moral worth—were gar-
deners' sons The interest of the aristocracy of every country
would he much improved if they patronised the science of gar-
dening to a greater extent than was done; and he hoped to
live to see the day when scientific benevolent societies like the
present would be spread all over the country, to keep pace
with the boundless improvement of the age, for the universal
happiness of mankind.—(The Chairman sat down amidst great
cheering.)
The healths of the Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary,
Assistant-Secretary, Mr. Fish, and the Committee, were re-
spectively given, with applause, and suitable thanks returned
by Messrs. Russell, Caie, Kean, and others. The meeting
likewise paid just tributes of respect in complimentary
speeches, and by flowing bumper toasts, to the following
literary gentlemen, viz. :—J. C. Loudon, Esq., Author of
the " Gardener's Encyclopaedia;" George Glenny, Esq.,
Editor of the " Gardener's Gazette," and Main, Esq.,
Editor of the " Botanical Register."
On " The Agriculturists of Great Britain" being given,
Mr. H. Gibbs, a leading member thereof, returned thanks in
a neat speech.
When " the Press, as the palladium of our civil and religious
liberties" was given, in conjunction with " Success to Murdo
Young, Esq., and The Sun, and the Editor and Proprie-
tors of the Weekly Chronicle, two liberal talented papers which
diffuse much useful knowledge," Mr. Fitz-Strathern, in re-
turning thanks, said, that with regard to Mr. Young, he had
the honour to know that gentleman, whose pedigree he was
investigating, for the purpose of proving that, though Mr.
Young advocated popular rights in this enlightened age, he
was descended through a long line of illustrious ancestors,
from the aristocracy of the country 1 The Chairman re-
remarked that the press was the fourth estate in Parliament,
and nothing could be accomplished it without. Newspaper
literature in particular had much power, and governed the
world through the opinions of mankind. The editors thereof
were commonly men of talent, with strong nerves, a quick
discernment, a liberal mind, and a decision of character seldom
to be shaken. Their duties and responsibility were incalcu-
lably great, and they had materially assisted in disseminating
useful knowledge in an expeditious, cheap form. Like mem-
bers of the army and navy, politicians, and lawyers, some of
them ought to be made peers as a reward for their extraordi-
nary abilities. Writing news of the day, and afterwards cir-
culating it for intelligence to a community, was more ancient
than was generally supposed. It commenced by MS. in
Egypt, was practised in Greece and Rome ; and, if an elsl
author was to be relied on, Julius Caesar, who visited London,
nearly 1,900 years ago, wrote periodical news of his successes.
abroad, and the characters and customs of the people he
subdued, for -the information of the warlike conquerors of
the world at home, which was copied by numerous scribes,
the only printers of that time, for circulation ; some of which
news skins or papers, though long since torn up and de-
stroyed, referred to our own savage illiterate ancestona) and
were written in Albion and Gaul. In these days, such emi-
nent men as Sir Samuel Romilly, Sir John Campbell, Ovals.
jeant Spankie, and others, had been reporters of the press.
The health of Mr. Massie, Gardener to his Royal Highness'
the Duke of Sussex, one of the Committee, confined with a
cold, was rapturously given by the Association.
The healths of " the gentlemen present, not members of Ate
Society," were given with great applause and cheering. Mre
Browne, for himself and others, returned thanks very elo-•
quently, and added that he never felt himself better enter-
tained or more happy than on this occasion. In the course
of the evening, Mr. Browne, Mr. Croucher, the Chairman,
Mr. Kernan, and other gentlemen, enlivened the evening's
entertainment with a few select songs. The landlord fur-
nished his guests with a substantial dinner, and good wines,
for which he received the unanimous thanks of the company;;
and the association kept up harmony and conviviality with great.
• glee till a late hour.

GREEN PEAS.—The supply of green peas in Co-
vent-garden market on Saturday was smaller than on the pre-
vious Saturday, and the price was considerably higher. A.
measure holding about a pint and a quarter was sold for 155..