The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-14 00:00:00

followed some days subsequently. This truly un-
fortunate occurrence has been seized on as the
test on which to hang all sorts of commentaries.
Some, wantonly and untruly, attacking Mr.
SIMPSON, the proprietor of Cremorne, calumniously
and malignantly attributing to him a readiness
"to risk another life for the sake of gaining a

few pounds profit," while others are contented
with railing at the exhibition, and calling on the
Legislature to enact laws for their suppression—
hitting also at Mr. StatPsoN by the praise they
bestow on the proprietor of Vauxhall Gardens
for having refused to sanction a repetition
of such attempts, which, in the first in-
stance, proved a failure at the royal pro-
perty. We shall deal with the latter statement
and suggestion in the first instance— and, in order
to do so, it is necessary to place the real state of
facts before the Community, so that they may
judge of what degree of censure—if any—can be
attributed to Mr. SIMPSON, or rather whether
that ill-used gentleman is not entitled to credit
for his liberal and generous conduct on the de-
plorable occasion.
Monsieur LE TUR, it appears, had patented
his invention in France, and had, in his own
country, made noiless than 29 perfectly safe and
most successful descents. Under these circum-
stances he came to England, and entered into
a treaty for au ascent from Vauxhall. It is well
known that owing to some circumstances this
ascent did not take place ; but the mistake, what-
ever it was, occurred before the ascent, and there-
fore could not have been connected with
the descending power of the parachute. We
are convinced that the proprietor of Vauxhall
would not willingly receive compliments at the
expense of a rival engaged in honourable competi-
tion with himself.
On the failure, the unfortunate stranger was
assailed with gibes and fears from every quarter.
His personal appearance was turned into ridicule,
and the laugh was freely raised at his expense.
With wounded spirit, he appealed to Mr. SIMP-
SON for an opportunity of retrieving his own cha-
racter, and that of his invention. It was granted,
but not until after close and stringent investiga-
tion had satisfied the parties of the perfect safety
—we use the term advisedly—of the machine.
Nay more, to make assurance doubly sure, the
parachute was enlarged until it had " a re-
sisting power" capable of sustaining double
the weight it would have to bear. In addition
to these precautions, and when theory had settled
all that could be done, it was, we believe, stipu-
lated that there should be a trial descent before
any regular engagement should be entered into.
This test was gone through on the 20th ult.,
and nothing could be more satisfactory. The pa-
rachute was liberated at an altitude of about a
mile, and it was three-quarters of an hour de-
scending, having, through the action of the
newly-invented wings, traversed a space of
about three miles in its coral course. Then
came the attempt that terminated fatally.
But it is only necessary to remark, that it was
not " a parachute accident." Had not the ropes,
prepared under the exclusive direction of M. LE
Tun., twisted, there would have been no la •t •ca mi ).
But as they twisted, it was found that the machine
could not be safely liberated. He came into col-
lision with a tree, which caused the injuries end-
ing in his death ; but that was not through any
defect in his invention.
It may be asked cui bone such trials ? What
is the use of parachutes ? We know not. But
that is no reason why experiments should not be
tried in a science of which we are comparatively
ignorant. We cannot forget that the toys of
the 17th and 18th centuries were the sources
from which sprung the steam-engines, power-
looms, and a variety of the most useful inven-
tions of the 19th century. Had not the Marquis
of WORCESTER detected the priestcraft of the
ancient Egyptians Warr might not have had the
foundation for the experiments which he con-
ducted to so felicitous a conclusion. Had there
not been apparently useless trials in electricity,
we might not have had the electric telegraph or
the galvanic battery ; and if a single fatal result
opposed an insurmountable barrier to future trials,
England would not be a maritime nation, or
have railroads, or even carriages of any descrip-
tion. Let us, then, repudiate this nauseatic
twaddle, dospise humbug, and render justice
where it is really merited.

The Bears are a persevering, an indefatigable
race. If so much zeal and energy were displayed
in any other pursuit it would command success.
All, how ever, that they can accomplish in their
patriotic "mission" does not amount to more
than exciting temporary panics, that may frighten
some nervous widows or unprotected spinsters
into parting with their property at less than its
actual value. We have repeatedly exposed the
folly of this undue timidity, and it is but justice
to the community to say that, with few excep-
tions, they have stood boldly forward, supporting
the national credit with their purses, as
they would, if the occasion arose, defend the
national safety with their persons. The fundholders
held their investments firmly, while there were
plenty of persons ready and willing to come boldly
forward and to purchase at liberal prices the stock
necessarily cast upon the market. Under such
circumstances the speculators for a fall met with
repeated defeats, any one of which might have
deterred less determined operators. But even a
starving wolf in pursuit of his prey could not be
more bent on achieving his object than the hungry
bear, actuated by the greed of gain. Even in the
days of JUVENAL we heard of the cupidity of the
, Greeks—

" Grceculus csuriens, in 6Tluin, jusseris, ibit."

But how could any Greek do more than is
frequently accomplished by the ursine fraternity,
who, if they do not scale the heavens in pursuit
of profit, are yet accustomed to make mountains
out of mole hills, and to swell the most ridiculous
rumours into intelligence of the utmost import-
ance. We would, however, once more remind
these gentry of the heavy losses they have already
sustained, and of the dangers attending the
course they are so recklessly pursuing ; and we
would ask the public what has occurred to excite
any real apprehensions, or to justify a fall of nearly
3 per cent. in Consols within a single week, and
nearly 2 per cent. within as many days ?

What are the events that could exercise mate-
rial influence on the quotations? They might be
affected by the prospects of the approaching har-
vest, the state of the Bank Returns, and the aspect
of the political horizon in reference to the war in
which we have embarked. These matters may
more or less alter the value of all kinds of secu-
rities, but a very little consideration will show
that the recent fall cannot fairly be attributed to
any of these causes, and that, therefore, it cau
only be attributed to the number of speculative
Rale% which must be followed by a corresponding
reaction when the time for delivery is at hand,
or to the senseless and absurd panic that has been
excited, nurtured, and fomented by the most un-
thheae t, although
very
w the t f
goruPtdons means.
As to the prospects of the coming harvest, we
finldy
aor some, days, it has not a 3
crops. yet deteriorated the
The intelligence from
different parts of the countryweath
is of a very grafi-
weather has unquestion-
abfying character, aftor
, ;.paromise of ample returns
1 to the Agriculturists,
markets. The quotatio.unnas cthheeaptenatnied neyabuisndsatniltl
in Mark Lane have
dfaolwlenn.:rota.Ocia:).lllelneaxs mtellut, ach,
then, a
s the state of these
1 quotations affords the best criterion respecting the
harvest..prospects, and as the farmers,
I dissatiif ied race, who delight in the a proverbially
most gloomy
forebodings, and who exercise to the utmost the
JOHN I ;um, privilego of grumbling ou any Or no
OCCiI.SiO: -1, have not yet complained audibly, We
may : A 311M0 that the prospects of the harvest are
not sac has to justify a fall in the Funds. The
glooniiness of the weather might have kept par-
ties at home, or deterred them from dealing, for
Jon s BULL is as much dispirited as one of his
own. game-cocks by a heavy and continuous fall
of rain ; but such influences, when not followed

by any serious damage to the crops, are of a
me re ly temporary character, and vanish with the
firf,t gleam of sunshine.
.s to the state of the Bank Returns, they are