The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-04 00:00:00

Obirening

LONDON. SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1849.

In our publication of Tuesday last we hailed in
a spirit of kindliness and philanthropy the glad tidings
of a new and, as we believed, a practical project for
the amelioration of Ireland, introduced to the notice
of the House of Commons by the talented and pa-
triotic Member for Ennis, The O'Goitscssi MAHON,
and strongly sustained by the high character and
sound intelligence of the benevolent Lord ASHLEY.
There is no exercise of our laborious duty more
gratifying to us than to give our active support to
any project or principle tending to the benefit or
happiness of our fellow-man. It was purely in this
spirit that we noticed and recommended the /risk
peat distillation project, as one calculated to confer an
unspeakable measure of good upon our suffering
fellow-subjects in Irelard. The project came before
us under such high auspices, aad with a statement of
facts so strong and so accurately ascertained, that we
gladly availed ourselves of our position to give it all
the publicity and support in our power. In the
enthusiasm of our sympathy we almost wel-
comed it, at this critical moment, as a
providential intervention for the regeneration of that
afflicted land. We thought that in Ireland's own
bosom was at last found the panacea for her many
calamities. We thought we should soon see the
patriot, the philanthropist, the money-jobber, all
joining in a happy rivalry for the benefit of Ireland,
and that the lands of the Sacramento were never dug
with more avidity than would be the bogs of Conne-
mara. We were almost tempted to think with the
high-minded and philanthropic Lord ASHLEY, " that
one hundred thousand acres of Irish peat would be
worth more than the whole region of California."
But, alas ! for poor Ireland, we believe it was a
way ward fate that wove her web. The moment a ray
of hope appears to brighten her horizon some evil
star arises to shed its malignant influence over, the
dawning light, and to dispel any brightening prospects
of peace and hope that may for a moment beam out

on her.
We have been led into these remarks by the
perusal of a letter, signed " HENRY. SEAMAN," in
the columns of a morning Contemporary, not
certainly supposed to be overburdened with Irish
sympathies or predilections. He dates his
letter,ino " Bedford-street, Plymouth." A natural
place enough, doubtless, for a " Seaman," but we
cannot help noticing this little coincidence between
the name and the locality. 'We do not know whether
it will prove interesting to the generality of our read-
ers to learn the reasons why HENRY SEAMAN, from
our -I
Plymouth, has troubled Contemporary on the
subject of Irish peat, but as some of
goodbo apology
benefit,
cor-
respondents tray occasi,maily requireoaur modest
for addressing us, we shall, for their
them in his own words. He says, " Havialgt, been
many years a subscriber to your ahly-conducted
journal, and reading y our statements in reference to
our bankruptcy law, railways, and other great com-
mercial matters, an l your great desire to advocate
always what is correct and true on these important
points, I trouble you with this letter." To criticise
this specimen of epistolary excellence would be waste
of time, we shall at one?,-let him come to the sub-
stance of his letter. He adds, " A statement was
made in the House of Commons on Saturday
(it was made on Friday), sanctioned and sup-
ported by so good and ;great, a man as Lord
Asnim,' which, ,not, early contradicted, may
lead many into error. What he supports. by=' his

high authority is, that the peat-bog of Ireland, 100
tons at a cost of labour, &c., about 161., will realise
to the fortunate speculators the enormous sum of 911.
odd—and he calls this a' second California. Now
three years since a company was formed here amongst
the merchants and-- tradesmen—their able chemist,,
the relative of the great DREW, who wrote the Im-
mortality of the Soul, was manager—under six able
directors ; they leased the Government premises on
_Dartmoor, which were formerly occupied as and
termed the French prisons; they erected steam-
engines, and laid out every apparatus considered
necessary with tramways running across Dartmoor
to the different bogs where this peat could be had in
the greatest perfection; they produced from it
naptha, ammonia, grease for railways, or candles,
gas, &c. It was burnt and used, and the
profits were held at as being equal to the
Ashley statement, for his products are correct. But
somehow or other it is a failure. 20,0001. and up-
wards have been expended; my brother tradesmen
right and left have suffered. Your correspondent
here, or I, will furnish you, if worth your attention,
I with all particulars in figures, and the cause of
failure."

____
-We have taken the trouble of quoting Mr. SEAMAN
in extenso, lest we should by any chance mistake him,
or do him any injustice, and we believe the most con-
clusive reasoning could not demonstrate the absurdity
of his interference in: a matter of which he does not
even profess to know anything, and about which we
believe he really knows just about as much as he pro-
fesses. The project of Lord ASHLEY'S approval is
an experiment upon Irish peat, the superiority
of which over all other peat has been fully
tested by actual chemical analysis. Mr. SEAMAN'S
experience does not extend beyond the French prisons
of Dartmoor. The project noticed by my Lord
ASHLEY has been in successful operation in Ireland
for more than a year, yielding a large return to the
spirited and benevolent gentleman, Mr. OWEN, who
invested his capital to a large amount in the enter-
prise. Before Mr. SEAMAN can fairly bring his expe-
rience to bear upon Mr. Owzres operations be must
show us that he knows something of Ireland and
ea
otred
ea Irishoti
opoe as
ht .0
ollaf
prove
vbeeeffectivenanxious
s we
eat
wouldhlsr recommend
philanthropic
him to take the great DREW to Ireland, where his
a o
ability can have full scope, 'tis a pity to chain up
the genius of the relative of the great author of the
Immortality of the Soul within the dungeons of
1304rtmoor. Do, Mr. SEAMAN, take him to Ireland
and try! hiagenius in the distillation of real Irish peat.
If you fail then you will enter the field of argument
Ivith some legitimate claim to be heard on the subject
9f Mrs OwEN's,projeet ; until yini dp:tl4yoit gaimot,
fairly lay claim to any credit from the public on a
project which you do not profess to say you -have
tested. Should you act upon our hint, and change
the scene of your operations to Ireland, we would
recommend you a new board of directors, and, above
all, that you yourself should have as little as possible
to do with the "management ; for if you should deal
as loosely with the accounts as you do with
arguments, we could anticipate nothing but
failure. We have strong doubts if the
great LIEBIG himself could by any process extract
any very marketable commodity from a pate that
could argue the failure of an Irish project upon
Irish peat, because he had failed in realising a fortune
in the French prisons of Dartmoor.
Even upon Mr. SEAMAN'S own showing, it is mani-
fest that there must have been gross mismanagement
in the direction of the Dartmoor undertaking. He
admits the correctness of all Lord ASHLEY'S products.
He says, " the profits were held as being equal to
the Ashley statement." He does not question
the marketable nature or value of the articles pro-
duced, but he tells us, "somehow or other, it is a
failure, 20,0001. and upwards having been expended."
We are left in ignorance of how far this failure is to
be attributed to unnecessary preliminary outlay, or
what amount had been applied in the " erection
of steam-engines," or in the " laying out of every
apparatus considered necessary with tram railways
running across Dartmoor." Until these points are
fully explained, no accurate opinion can be formed as
to the causes of the failure of which Mr. SEAMAN SO
deeply complains.

One of those grand civic banquets peculiar to Eng-
land and to the city of London, took place on Wed-
nesday last at Fishmongers' Hall. A combination of
memorable incidents rendered the festive assembly of
the Fishmongers' Company especially interesting and
worthy of remark. In the first place, the enthusiasm
with which her MAJESTY'S name was greeted was
greatly increased by the recollection that at that very
moment she was departing on her auspicious visit to
Ireland. Again, the toast of "The Judges " was re-
sponded to by Mr. Justice TALFOURD, who was
warmly welcomed on this his first public appearance
since his elevation to judicial rank. It must have af-
forded Justice Tai.rouan peculiar gratification in his,
as he justly termed it," strange and solemn position,"
to find himself supported and encouraged by the ap-
probation and regard of so respectable and influential
an assembly. Sir ROBERT PEEL, on one occa-
sion, disparaging the over-estimated privileges of
office, observed that patronage occasioned its pos-
sessor more annoyance than gratification, for, while
he satisfied the one chosen individual, he disappointed
ninety-nine expectants. The recent promotion of
the author of lon has, however, produced universal
satisfaction. In this instance public opinion has been
especially unanimous, because the new Judge is not
only generally respected for his ability as a lawyer,but
generally beloved and honoured for his excellent qua-
lities
as a man. The pleasure which we experience
in the success of one who would himself be the first
to sympathise in another's success, or to weep for
another's sorrow, is infinitely greater than the ordi-
nary satisfaction with which we notice the merited
triumph of some intelligent but cold-hearted egotist.
It is not surprising, therefore, that the appoint-
ment of the new Judge should have been :greeted
with so much approbation, nor that Justice TALFOUND
should have been so warmly welcomed in Fishmon-
gers' Hall. The profession of the law is, it would
seem, in no way inimical to literature, when we re-
member that the new Judge is the author of lon, and
the biographer of CHARLES LAMB, and moreover that
the eloquent writer of "Now and Then" is also en-
gaged in the same laborious profession. In addition
to the interest afforded by the first speech of Justice
TALFOURD, the banquet of Wednesday was rendered
remarkable by being another evidence of the sympathy
of this country in the struggle for Hungarian inde-
pendence. Counts TELEXI and PuLsru were present
at the banquet (seated on either side of
Mr. Hume). The cheers with which the noble
strangers health was greeted expressed, if such
an expression were required, how warmly the good
citizens of London sympathised with Hungary and
the Hungarians. Count PuLsa.r endeavoured to
thank the English for their sympathy. " The sym-
pathy of England," he said (and it is no empty
compliment) gives strength, because it is always on
the side of justice, freedom, and civilization." A
public dinner is sometimes considered a meaningless
affair; but we are disposed to regard our civic fes-
tivities in a more important point of view. In the
first place, they serve to commemorate the grandeur
of our merchant princes—
" The merchants of Old England—the seigneurs of
the sea ;"
and beyond that, they tend more closely to
unite together the various branches of the com-
munity. At this festive board were assembled
men of all classes and characters—merchants and'
Lords, authors and judges, and Generals, Ministers
of the Crown, Members of the East India Company,
the Governors of the Bank, and a crowd of simple
citizens. So it should ba in every event, however
otherwise trivial, every entertainment, however
seemingly insignificant, that helps to bind together
the various members of the great national family.
To make them feel their common brotherhood
avra,drioustheoierfaumse commendation.
ustu abalovde mentionedepedence, is honourable and
worthy
.For th, isthreeaFsti)snh,maonndgetrhse,
banquet of Wednesday la was peculiarly interesting
and remarkable.

It is with feelings of great satisfaction that we
contemplate the progress', which the cause of reform
in the laws regulating lunatic asylums has made
within the course of the last few years. Four years
since the Alleged Lunatics' Friend Society scarcely
numbered ten members, now it holds its meetings in
Exeter Hall ; three years since my Lord DUMAN