The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-18 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION.

METROPOLITAN POLITICAL

SUMMARY.

-.-----
The Times of this mo-- rning, in noticing a pamp'Jet
recently published, on the subject of the new Poor-law,
thus renews its vehement assaults on that law :—" This
law is a gross violation of our duties to the poor as in-
cultated in the Old as well as the New Testament, and
as practised no less strictly by the Jews under the Old
.Dispensation than by the Christians of better times
under the new Dispensation. The widows and orphans
:of the poor are they towards whom God's word bids us
more especially to extend our charity and our care ; yet
these are the most oppressed under this unchristian
statute—nay, they are precisely the persons in whose
behalf the House of Commons has frequently been ap-
pealed to in vain. The present Government have abun-
dantly proved on many occasions, and especially in regard
to this measure, that they know (or that they care) as
little about religion as a horse."
The Morning Post, speaking of Lord Brougham's
Preface to his Irish speeches last Session in Parliament,
wherein he alludes to the ppliticel conduct of Ministers,
says :—" For ourselves we must say, with all due re-
spect for the eloquence of Lard Brougham, and espe-
cially his reproachful and sarcastic eloquence, we think
the Whig bunglers—the Whig recreants—the place-
loving, Court-toadying Whigs—have been hit as hard
' by others as by Lord Brougham ; but it is very clear
that there is no scourge that makes them skip like that
With which he operates upon their tender skins.
We think this pain inflicted upon the Whigs—
Pain which they never could have felt but for their
baseness—is exceedingly wholesome for their diseased
moral constitution, and, therefore, we exhort Lord
Brougham to lay on and spare not. But his Lordship
needs no exhortation to this charitable exercise of the
faculties with which nature has blessed him, and in the
use of which habit has given him such astonishing faci-
lity, He is a workman who loves to contemplate the
marked effect of his exertions, and so long as he be-
holds the Whigs writhing, and screaming, and calling
foul names, because he belabours them for their paltri-
ness and their lies, lie will be likely to keep his hand in
practice and give them something to cry for."
Tkle Morning Advertiser alludes as follows to Maroto
and the termination of the Spanish contest :—" We
!rouble not ourselves, neither will the public trouble
itself, about the motives by which Maroto was actueseg"
to
che course which he has pursued. We are too much
.delighted with the event itself to institute any very
rigid
inquiry into the circumstances under which it has
tecten brought about. It is enough for us to know that
the war, which has. desolated and deluged with blood
t‘fo.c. five Or six years past one of the finest countries in
asurope, is now terminated for ever ; and that the
usurper, at whose instigation and on whose behif that
war.. was commenced and carried on, has now quitted
the country which was the scene of the horrors which
resulted from his pretensions to the throne, and has
sought for an asylum in the capital of a neighbouring
land. Don Carlos has now practically renounced all
claims to the Crewn of Spain, by throwing 'nimself as a
refugee into the arms of France."
The ITlorning Chronicle observes, in the course of a
leading article on the last East Suffolk Agricultural
Meeting :—" The derangement of the currency, by the
drain of gold to pay for for ign corn ; the stagnation in
the manufacturing districts, from the absence of demand ;
the proipect of famishing workmen, are all proofs that
the Corn-laws have worked extremely well for the pur-
pose for which they were intended, and calculated to
conciliate the regard of the nation in their favour. They
were intended to swell the rents of landlords, and to
pinch the bellies of the working classes ; and these
Lords and 'Squires are now gloating over the famine
which, aided by • monopoly, promises to make the suf-
ferings of the people a source of -abundant revenue to
themselves. The time is well chosen, we must confess,
for congratulation on the working of the Corn-laws. It
required but such an insult to inflame the people in the
manufacturing districts to madness."
The Morning Herald thus speaks of Lord Howick,
and the probable cause of his secession from the
Ministry :----" The retirement. of Lord Howick from the
Ministry may, by possibility, lead to certain results, not
unimportant, in so far as the stability of the Melbourne
Cabinet is concerned. Lord Howick has long been
known as a turbulent and ambitious schemer. His
temper is bad ; his manners repulsive ; his powers as
a man of business, and as a debater, in no way raised
above the level of mediocrity. Still as representing
the Grey party, he has possessed no inconsiderable
measure of influence ; and his voice is under-
stood to have been potential on many occasions,
in giving a direction to the policy of the Whig Cabinet.
Lord Howick is believed to have had an eye, for a long
time past, to the Colonial-office. When his brother-in-
law, Lord Durham, was appointed to the Governor-
ship of the Canadas, Lord Howick was exceedingly
anxious to fill the post of Viceroy over him. But Lord
Glenelg made no sign of retiring ; and Lord Howick
was fain to remain in the more humble position of Se-
cretary-at-war. His Lordship has, at length, thrown
up the place which to himself appears to have been
all-unworthy of his magnificent talents, and great in-
fluence."

The Courier, of last evening, in a leading article on
Spanish affairs, alludes as fsllows to Maroto :—" Ma-
roto's treason is of the common, vulgar sort. He
abandoned a falling cause, and sought to be reconciled
to the party whose ultimate triumph had become cer-
tain. 4n atrocious villain he has been throughout the
whole course of his career as a General, but we have not
yet forgotten that when the butcheries of Estella be-
came known in England, we felt it our painful duty to
reprove a Tory Morning Contemporary, for repeated
attempts to ' justify or extenuate the proceeding.' It
will be a much easier task to justify the Spanish Go-
vernment tor having paid the traitor his price (if a
Price has been paid) in order to prevent the continu-
ance of a sanguinary war. Nor must it be for-
gotten, that Maroto has contrived to throw a
veil over his treason. He has made the concession of
the
ir privileges to the Basque provinces, the condition
of 'his surrender. When Espartero refused to promise
this concession, Maroto broke off the negotiation,
and issued an appeal to his soldiers calling on them to
die to the last man in defence of their rights. It was
then that Lord John Hay interfered in behalf of peace,
a.ad at his instance it was that the rights of the Basques
we `e recognised. A plausible pretext was thus afforded
to Alaroto, and he availed himself of it ; but those who
offered it, acted only as justice and humanity dictated.
The miesion of Colonel Wylde and Lord John Hay has
been honourable from the first, and honourably has it
been filled. Tne Tinzes disclaims an intention to attack
these officers, and yet openly proclaims them the willing
tools in a disgraceful transaction ! A fair specimen of
the ' characteristic meanness' which he would fain ascribe
to the Liberal press."
The Globe, speaking of the attacks of the Times on
Lord Palmerston's foreign policy, says :—" The last
Session of Parliament was unusually long. It lasted
seven months. Events of considerable importance were
going on in many parts of the world during that period ;
but from the beginning to the end of the Session—from
February to August—there was not a single debate on
Foreign Affairs. What was the reason of this ? Was it
that there was less disposition than heretofore on the part
of the Opposition to harass the Government ? Certainly
net. The reason was, that our foreign policy had
been conducted in such a manner, and with such re-
*tilts, that the Opposition did not regard that field
as a favourable one for giving battle to their opponents :
and the leaders of Opposition in Parliament being men
of honour, and with characters to lose, they were silent
about what they knew they could not impugn. Even
Z.ord Lyndhurst in his summary of the Session, with
his manifest desire to " wound" the Ministry, was
4 atsatid to strike" at this part of their policy ; and
only bestowed one short sentence upon it. But the
Session of Parliament is over ; and now comes the
time for those who have no character to lose, or would
i be fortunate could they lose the characters they
I have got—now comes the time for dismissed and
disgraced underlings, for baffled intriguers, for
disappointed plotters, for anonymous libellers, and
for journals steeped in infamy now begin to
crawl forth those slimy reptiles, which ' Half froth,
half venom, spit themselves abroad.' Now commence
attacks on our foreign policy, which in Parliament
during seven months the Tory leaders had the pru-
1' dence to abstain from attacking. But the attempt
is vain. It will only add to the disgrace of the
party in whose behalf it is undertaken! The subject
of attack now chosen is the pacification which is,
happily, about to be realised in Spain. The Times now
actually fills its columns with attacks upon the Go-
vernnsent, because British influence and British agents
have been employed—and successfully too—in putting
an end to the civil war in Spain, by a pacific arrange-
ment between the Spanish Government and the insur-
gents, so as to establish the authority of the Queen,
expel Don Carlos, and restore the unity of the Spanish
Monarchy without any further effusion of blood I"
The Standard speaks of Lord Brougham's recent
volitical conduct, in the following terms :—" Lord
Bcougbarn's shaft appears to have struck home. Not
dari,ag to grapple with his facts, the Ministerial Journal-
ists have confined their remarks on his late searching
exposioon of the conduct and character of the Go-
vernmetst to elaborate invective. They hint
darkly, tso be sure, at some blight which is said
to have ol.sseended on his Lordship's prospects in
the latter pars of 1837 ; but do not attempt to rebut
his assertion that he acted in concert with Ministers in
1836, and supported them during the whole of 1837,
to all their policy, with the exception of the Canada
question. Now, ,couLl we prevail upon ourselves
instead of being
to believe that his Lordship,
liable to strong
)impulses, was one of those smooth,t
calculating, imperturbable politicians who pocket
Avery affront, however gross, until the ;Host favour-
/ Bible opportunity presents itself of revenge,
"avuted to him by the motives
tellgible. But
l during the t f the Morning Chronicle woula be In-
gofar from resenting the supposed affront.
are ever likely
)
temposary's representat.
temporary excitement of feeling which insults
to create, it would •
appear from our Con.
ton that he bottled up his wrath,
°T.hillY allowed it teliali
and harnale,, to ooze through the cork at dirt ant in-
-s quantities, in order that hemight pour

out upon Ministers its fullest vials in 1839. And why did
he not oppose the Government, as he might and probably
would otherwise have done in 1836 ? He has himsel
told us. Because of Lord Melbourne's miserable appeal
to his pity ; his lachrymose confession, that if Lord
Brougham opposed certain of his measures, he would
overthrow the Government! Yet from the fact of his
forbearance to the Government in 1836—a forbearance
conceded to the deplorable entreaties of Lord Melbourne
—and his support of it in 1837 on every question but
one, it has been inferred, that his subsequent hostility
must have originated in personal motives."

The store at Shorts Iron Work was, on Monday
morning last, broken into by some thieves, who managed
to carry off the iron safe, containing about 301. in cash, and
151. worth of cloth. The safe was found on the same day,
at a distance, forced open, and upwards of 201. carried
away ; the rest of the money in the safe had been over-
looked in the dark.—Edinburgh Evening Courant.
Letters from Athens of the 14th ult. state, that
Sultan Abdul Medjid had sent King Oho letters to notify
his accession to the throne, enclosed in a gold box of ex-
quisite workmanship. Greece continued to be infested by
banditti, notwithstanding the rigour displayed against these
who fell into the hands of the troops sent in pursuit of
them. Acarnania, Phtiotide, and Laconia were traversed
by numerous bands, who spread terror and devastation
everywhere. It was reported in Athens, that Sir E.
Lyon, our Minister in that city, would, it was supposed, ba
appointed Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands.
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT. On Thursday
morning a fine girl, four years of age, met with her death
under very distressing circumstances. A baker in Gauze-
street, whose house was infested with mice, on Tuesday
afternoon mixed up a small quantity of arsenic in a cake.
Part of it had been eaten by the mice, and the remainder
was put in a place where it was supposed no person would
have access to it. The little girl was in the habit of visit-
ing the baker's-shop several times every day, and happens
ing to see the cake, eat it. In about two hours, the effect
became visible, and medical aid was instantly procured, but
without effect, as she died on Thursday morning.—Paisley
Advertiser.

BLOWING UP OF A SUNKEN VESSEL IN THE
RIVER MERSEY.—About four months since, the Byron, a
vessel bound to Liverpool, and laden with railway iron,
was run down by a steamer belonging to the City of Dub-
lin Company. The Byron sunk, and one or two of the
crew were lost. Since that time the vessel, lying. in the
'Alttse.:Vhannel, at the entrance of the Mersey, has dan-
genial)/ obstructed the navigation ; a survey was made in
consequence, and by the direction of the Dock Estate, Mr.
Abbinet (who was so successful in his experiment with the
Boyne, H. M. ship of 98 guns, at Spithead) made arrange-
ments to introduce 5001bs. of gunpowder into the ship and
blow her up by ignition. At an early hour this morning a
great number of persons availed themselves of the oppor-
tunity to witness this novel experiment, and a steamer was
provided for their accommodation. This second attempt
of Mr. Abbinet has effectually succeeded, and it is expected
that a very large portion of the sunken property will be re-
covered.

LEAVING LOVERS ALONE.—" I think it's
my duty, Nicholas, my dear," resumed his mother, " to
tell you what I know, not only because you have a right
to know it too, and to know every thing that happens to
this family, but because you have it in your power to pro-
mote and assist the thing very much ; and there is no
doubt that the sooner one can come to a clear understand-
ing upon such subjects, it is always the better every way.
There are a great many things you might do, such as tak-
ing a walk in the garden sometimes, or sitting up stairs in
your own room a little while, or making believe to fall
asleep occasionally, or pretending that you recollected
some business, and going out for an hour or so, and
taking Mr. Smike with you. These seem very slight things,
and I dare say you will be amused at my making them of so
much importance ; at the same time, my dear, I can assure
you(and you'll find this ont, Nicholas,foryourself one of these
days, if you ever fall in love with anybody, as I trust and
hope you will, provided she is respectable and well-con-
ducted, and of course you'd never dream of falling in love
with anybody who was not), I say, I can assure you that
a great deal more depends upon these little things than you
would suppose possible. If your poor papa was alive, he
would tell you how much depended upon the parties being
left alone. Of course you are not to go out of the room as
if you meant it and did it on purpose, but as if it was quite
an accident, at:d to come back again in the same way. If
you cough in the passage before you open the door, or
whistle carelessly, or hum a tune, or something of that sort,
to let them know you're coming, it's always better; be-
cause, of course, though it's not only natural, but perfectly
correct and proper under the circumstances, still it is very
confusing if you interrupt young people when they are—
when they are sitting on the sofa, and—and all that sort of
thing, which is very nonsensical perhaps, but still they will
do it.—. Nicholas Nicklely.

ODD SCRAPS FOR THE ECONOMICAL HOUSE-
WIFE.—Cheap silk pocket handerchiefs or common co-
loured cottons, will not fade if dipped into strong salt and
water while new, An ox's gall will set any colour, silk,
cotton, or woollen ; the gall can be got for a trifle. Get
out all the liquid, and cork it up in a large phial. One
large spoonful of this in a gallon of warm water is suffi-
cient. This is also excellent for taking out the spots from
bombasin, &c. ; after being washed in this they look like
new. It must be thoroughly stirred into the water,
and not put upon the cloth ; it is used without soap.
After being washed in this, things you want to clean
should b. washed in warm suds without using soap.
Feathers should be thoroughly dried before used. For
this reason, they should be packed away in bags when
they are first plucked; they should be laid lightly in a
basket or old box, and stirred up often. The garret is the
best place to dry them. It is well to put parcels which
you have from time to time in the oven, after you beep re-
moved you bread, and let them stand a day. If feather
beds smell badly, or become heavy from want of proper
preservation of the feathers, or from old age, empty them,
and wash the feathers thoroughly in a tub of suds, spread
them in your garret to dry, and they will be as light and
as good as new ones. In winter always set the handle of
your pump as high as possible before you go to ben. Ex-
cept in the most rigid weather, this keeps the inside works
from freezing. When it is extremely cold throw a rug or
old matting over the pump. A frozen pump is a sorry
preparation for a winter's breakfast.—Labourer's Friend.
BRUSSELS ON THE MORNING OF QUATRE
BRAS.—The sun rose on a scene of confusion and dismay.
The military assembled in the Place Royale ; and the dif-
ference of individual character might be traced in the re-
spective bearings of the various soldiery. Sonic were
taking a tender, many a last leave of wires and children.
Others, stretched upon the pavement, were listlessly waiting
for their comrades to come up ; while not a few strove to
snatch a few moments of repose, and appeared half insensi-
ble to the din of war around them. Waggons were loading
and artillery harnessing; crderlies and aides-de-camp rode
rapidly through the streets • and in the gloom of early
morning the pavement sparkled beneath the iron feet of the
cavalry as they
hurried along the causeway to join their re-
spective squadrons, which were now collecting in the Park.
The appearance of the British brigades, as they filed from
the Park and took the road to Soignies, was most imposing.
The martial air of the Highland regiments, the bagpipes
playing at their head, their tartans fluttering in the breeze,
and the early sunbeams flashing from their glittering arms,
excited the admiration of the burghers who had as-
sembled to see them march. During the winter and
spring, while they had garrisoned Brussels, their excellent
conduct and gentle demeanour had endeared them to the
inhabitants; and they were so domesticated in the houses
where they were quartered, that it was no uncommon
thing to see the Highland soldier taking care of the chil-
dren, or .keepin4 the shop of his host. Regiment after
regiment marched cff; the organisation of all most perfect ;
the Rifles, Royals, Twenty-eighth, each exhibiting some
martial peculiarity, on which the eye of Picton appeared
to dwell with pride and pleasure as they filed off before
him. To an indifferent spectator a national distinction
was clearly marked; that of the Scotch bespoke a grave
and firm determination ; while the light step and merry
glance of the Irish militiaman told that war was the game
he loved, and a first field had no terrors for him. Eight
o'clock pealed from the steeple clocks : all was quiet ;
the brigades, with their artillery and equipages, were
gone, the crash of music was heard no longer, the bustle
of preparation had ceased, and an ominous and heart-
sinking silence succeeded the noise and hurry that ever
attends a departure for the field of battle.—Maxwell's
" Victories ofthe British Armies."
DARING BuRGLAIIY.—A most audacious rob-
bery was perpetrated on Tuesday night, at the residence of
Mrs. Grantham, at Ketton, near Stamford. On Monday
a fellow having the appearance of a sailor, called to solicit
alms, which being refused, he went away muttering threats;
and on Tuesday evening the servant girl, on going up stairs
to shut a window which she had forgotten, thought she
heard something under the bed ; she, however, on going
down stairs, did not communicate her suspicions to Mrs.
Peters,' the only other person in the house; but about an
hour afterwards, on fastening the house doors, she observed
a sailor-like man, without shoes or stockings, and having a
sword in his hand, standing at the tot) of the stairs. Ter.
rifled at this sight, she dropped the candle and ran into the
kitchen, where Mrs. Peters happened to be, and with great
presence of mind bolted the door. The robber or robbers
now being in possession of the house, proceeded to work ;
they lighted a candle, and went into all the bedrooms, and
by pick-lock keys opened five chests of drawers, turned out
all the linen, broke open the plate-box, tied the plate up
in a towel, and put it under one of the beds. From Mrs.
Peters' room they took between twenty and thirty sove-
reigns and two 5/. notes, and not a single paper escaped
their notice ; they were all strewed about the rooms. It
is supposed that having possessed themselves of the cash,
, they left the plate behind them, fearing it might lead to de-
tection. A sword and hunting-whiP'
which hung up in the
bed-room where the girl first heard the noise, were found
lying on a table in Mrs. Peters' room ; and no doubt, had
the least alarm been given, the two females would have lost
their lives. The rascals continued in the house for at least
four hours, and Mrs. Peters and her servant remained
poi-
soners in the kitchen until six o'clock the following morn-
ifg
and the family were front• The house is situate in a very retired spot, and Mrs.
Grantham
Mercury.
THE
money. The Committee have adoptedCENTENARY
ac-
tual
the proposition
to divide the amount
objects of the Fund, toalready
—For the purposes of the according
originally appropriated the amount of one-half of the sums
paid up among the various
—ne.ety, 25,000/. •,f
to the following scale:
fer the 'Wesleyan Centenary Boildings,oal Institution, 27,000/. ;
leyan Missionary
tressed Chapels, 18,500/. ; for the anedrptolietfhoef Dis
out Preachers and their Widows,
erection of a Centenary Monumental Chapel_
bse:titreotroh support o
df
sw worn
2,5001. ; to the Wesleyan Education Committt?lenwe,aDr2L,lsbOltoini
—Sheffield Mercury.
The Chapter Order of old nobility of the four
Emperors is being restored in Germany. The grand
master will probably be a Prince Sovereign of Germany.
The scat of the Order is established at Brussels. The
Martinis de Villaneuve-Trans has just been created Grand
Chancellor of the Order.—French Paper.

THE DAGUERREOTYPE.

An interesting work on this modern invention
has just been published in English by Smith, Elder,
and Co. It is entitled " The History and Practice
of Photogenic Drawing, on the true principles of
the Daguerreotype, with the new method of Dio-
ramic Drawing, published by order of the French
Government, by the Inventor, L. I. M. Daguerre ;
Translated by I. S. Memes, LL.D."

This discovery, as might be expected, has created
a great sensation in France. The inventor has
been created a Member of the Legion of Honour.
A motion for granting him a pension was brought
forward in the Chamber of Deputies by M. Duchatel,
the Minister of the Interior, on the 15th of June :
it was referred to a Committee, and on the report of
this Committee, which was read by M. Arago on
the 3d of July, he was awarded a pension of 2501.
a year, and his partner, M. Niepce, 1671., on the
condition of publishing the secret, and making
known all future improvements with which they
may enrich their photogenic discoveries.
"The originhl publication by M. Daguerre," says
the translator, " is one of the most interesting works
ever given to the world. It is the first Manual of
a new science. It is written by the discoverer of
that science ; exhibiting a faithful record of the pro-
gress—the hopes, disappointments, and success of
two men, who, in the term of their successive
efforts for twenty-five years, laboured incessantly in
search of the invention. That invention consti-
tutes an era in human knowledge. It occupies at
this moment the attention of every philosopher
throughout Europe, and nations have contended for
the honour of priority.
The Monarch, the Government, the people of a
great and enlightened State, contending in generous
emulation how best to reward this discovery, offers
a moral spectacle, noble and' spirit-stirring, the
rarity of which, alas ! in the history of genius,
forms another, and not the least striking character-
iistic-of the subject.
The disinterested exertions of the greatest names
in the scientific annals of his country—men who
occupy the highest places in general estimation—
to lift the modest artist into the renown which he
merits, and to disclose the real value of his labours,
is different evidence of the interest belonging to
these pages—a most pleasing, and to the glory of
science be it said, not a peculiar association."
The grant for this discovery was not made with-
out the strictest inquiry as to whether M. Daguerre
had the merit of the invention, and whether it
could be rendered generally applicable and useful
to the sciences. The Committees appointed by
both Houses consisted of men of the first eminence
in science, and after full investigation, they unani-
mously reported in the affirmative. In giving the
history of the discovery, M. Arago gives credit to
Wedgewood, the celebrated porcelain manufacturer,
and inventor of the pyrometer, for the first application
of this new art. The memoir of Wedgewood, he says,
appeared in 1802, in the number for June, of the
" Journal of the Royal Institution of Great Britain."
The author there proposes, by means of skins, or
with paper steeped or washed in chloride or nitrate
of silver, to copy paintings on glass as in the win-
dows of churches, and also engravings. " The
images formed by means of the camera obscura,"
we quote faithfully a passage from the article,
"have 'wen found to be too faint to produce, in any
moderate time, an effect upon the nitrate of silver."
The commentator upon Wedgewood's experiments,
the illustrious Davy, does not contradict the asser-
tion relative to the images of the camera. He
merely adds, as to his own experiments, that he has
accomplished the copying of very small objects by
the solar microscope, but only at a short distance
from the lens."

There can be no doubt that the experiments of
Wedgewood and Davy, though approaching to the
discovery of Daguerre, were abandoned because they
could not give permanence to the objects reflected by
the camera obscura, or prevent them from vanishing
in a few seconds when exposed to day-light. In
fixing the images lies the great, the incontestible
merit of Daguerre. Others, before the days of
Watt and Fulton, knew the powers of steam, but
these two eminent mechanical inventors gave its
powers effect, rendered them useful, and paved the
way in every part of the world for a total change in
the means of communication by land and sea. Ac-
cording to M. Arago, the discovery of Daguerre
will produce no less important changes in the arts and
sciences. " Upon examining several cf the pictures
to be submitted to your inspection," in his address
to the members of the House, he says, " all will
consider the immense advantages which would have
been derived during the expedition to Egypt, for
example, of a means of reproduction so exact and
so rapid : all will be struck with this reflection,
that if photography had been known in 1798, we
should this day have possessed .faithful representa-
tions of many valuable antiquities now, through
the cupidity of the Arabs, and the vandalism of
certain travellers, lost for ever to the learned world.
To copy the millions and millions of hieroglyphics
which entirely cover to the very exterior the great
monuments at Thebes, Memphis, Canute, &c.,
would require scores of years, and legions of artists.
With the Daguerreotype, a single man would suf-
fice to bring to a happy conclusion this vast labour.
Arm the Egyptian Institute with two or three of
Daguerre's instruments, and on several of the large
engravings in that celebrated work, the fruit of our
immortal expedition, vast assemblages of real hiero-
glyphics would replace fictitious or purely conven-
tional characters. At the same time these designs
shall incomparably surpass in fidelity,in truth of local
colour, the works of the ablest artists. Again, these
photographic delineations, having been subjected,
during their formation, to the rules of geometry,
shall enable us, with the aid of a few simple data,
to ascertain the exact dimensions of the most
elevated parts, and of the most inaccessible edifices."
And Delaroche, the painter, for example, declares
that the processes of M. Daguerre " carry to such
perfection certain of the essential principles of art
that they must become subjects of study and obser-
vation even to most accomplished artists, and that
the discovery is already an immense service rendered
to art." But M. Arago goes much farther, and
anticipates with certainty the most important re-
sults in making astronomical discoveries.

"The preparation employed by M.Daguerre," he
says, "is a re-agent much more sensible to the action
of light than any other hitherto in use. Never have
the rays of the moon, we do not say in a natural state,
but even when concentrated by the most powerful
lens, or in the focus of the largest reflector, been
capable of producing any perceptible physical effect.
The plated discs prepared by M. Daguerre, on the
contrary, receive impressions from the action of the
lunar rays, and the succeeding operations, to such an
extent as permits the hope that we shall be in a
situation to make photographic charts of our
satellite. In other words, in a few minutes we
shall be able to execute one of the longest, most
tedious, and most delicate operations of astronomy.
The artificial lights, to which, as
standards o f
comparison, the observer, in the case in question, is
reduced to have recourse, seldom maintain the re-
quisite permanence and steadiness ; nor, more par-
ticularly as respects the stars, do our artificial lights
possess the necessary whiteness. From these causes,
there exist very great discrepancies between the
determinations of the comparative intensities of the
sun and moon—of the sun and stars, as given by
men of equal scientific acquirements. Thence also the
sublime inferences deducible from these latter compa-
risons, in relation to the humble place occupied by
our luminary amid the millions of suns with which our
firmament is studded, are still veiled in reserve, even
in the works of those authors whose least fault is timi-
dity. Let us not hesitate, then, to announce the
fact ; the re-agents discovered by M. Daguerre will
speed onwards the progress of those sciences which
confer the highest honour on the human mind.
By their aid the philosopher will be enabled hence-
forth to proceed on the principle of absolute inten-
sities ; he will compare lights by their effects. If
he find it useful, the same tablet will present him
with the impression of the dazzling beams of the
sun, and with the pencillings of rays three hun-
dred thousand times fainter than those of the moon
--the rays of the stars. These different imprints
he will equalize, either by reducing the stronger
lights,—through means of excellent methods, the
result of recent discoveries, the explanation of
which would be here misplaced,—or by allowing
the brightest say, only for a second,
and continuing ays
atoccoopte,
rderinag
to circumstances the
action of the others for half an hour. In short,
when observers apply a new instrument to the
study of nature, what they expected from it has
r
always proved little indeed compared with the
series of discoveries which the instrument origi-