The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-28 00:00:00

2. THE PENSHER BRANCH.

This intended branch railway is of about seven
miles in length, commencing near the Victoria-bridge,
over the river Wear, on the main line, and termina-
ting at Sunderland dock. The engineer's estimate of
cost is 150,000/. The directors resolved to let the
contract for the works, on the 2d April last, to
Messrs. Rush and Lawton, for 63,000/., but on the same
condition as the Auckland branch, viz., that they
should not make any arrangement for executing
the works unless they receive instructions from the en-
gineer. Tho compulsory powers of the company for the
purchase of land on this branch will expire on the 27th
July next, and the usual notice has been given by the
directors for taking these lands. The company have yet
two years' time for completing the works, and your
committee have, therefore, suggested to the directors
that, on this branch also, they should delay any present
proceedings upon the contract. '
Your committee will attend at the adjourned meeting
advertised fur the first of June. which is necessary to
remove the suspension on the Bills in Parliament, which
took place by the resolution of the meeting of the 4th
instant, but. they think• it due to distant shareholders to
apprise them that having in this report set forth all the
information they have it in their power for the present
to communicate, the committee will then move—

1. That this report be received and adopted; and,

2. That the meeting be further adjourned to the llth
of July next, when your committee hope to be able to
present their final report.

JAMES MEEK.
HORATIO LOVE.
1). M`LAREN.
JAMES LEECI[MAN.
JOHN KIPLING.
JOHN SHIELD.
R. I'. PHILLirsoN.
GEORGE LEEMAN, Secretary.

York, May 2G, 1549.

PEOPLE WHO _DO NOT LIKE

POETRY.
(From Eliza Cook's Journal)
We have often heard poetry spoken of by certai n
shallow-hearted, hammer-headed people, as an indefi•
nite something of meretricious nothingness, it' one
may use an Irishism. They look upon poetry as a
sort of fantastic, gossamer cobweb, woven by the
hand of unrecognised insanity, and wonder it should
be permitted to flit about the highways of the world ;
they flout it as a trumpery and contemptible pro-
duction of no earthly use, and of course their practi-
cal statistics never descend to the question of orna-
ment. They are totally ignorant that poetry is iden-
tified and incorporated in the primitive elements of
all that makes God visible, and man glorious ;
they know not that poetry is co-existent with
a flourishing state, and a great people ;
they know not that it is poetic instinct
which prompts a Washington to free his country,
and calls the tear of repentance into the felon's eye, as
he wakes from a dream of green fields and his mo-
ther. They only comprehend there is something ar-
ranged in syllables, that this something is unprofit-
able and ridiculous, composed of imaginary trash, and
called poetry. It is " stuff," " rubbish," " nonser
and in the arrogance of their self-sufficiency, we have
heard these people rash enough to assert, that they
could see no use in Shakspere s plays. To listen to
the arguments, or rather declarations of these dealers
in hardware, one would think the great Creator had
sadly wasted his might and ingenuity in scattering
the profusions of exquisite matter about us, which
we hare yet been unable to convert into tangible
utility, or mercenary profit. One would be in-
duced to fancy that the myriads of sweet-bosomed,
bright-headed flowers, flung on the untrodden vallies
and mountain sides, should be exterminated from
the land, since they cannot be packed into bales of
merchandise, nor cast up in day books. We should
begin to interrogate the wisdom of sending unnum-
bered nightingales and thrushes, for the express
purpose of whistling away all their might in the
green boughs, and yet yielding nothing in the great
" commercial account.' Be it understood, that by
" people who do not like poetry," we have no inten-
tion of alluding to those who may have no special
devotion to measured feet and gentle rythm• We
advert not to the myriads who go about their business
in every-day sobriety ; who live, die, woo, wed, snake
fortunes, or become bankrupts, and fill up the ranks
of life without the slightest knowledge of poetry in
its tangible and professed sense.
Such heads may be totally unacquainted with the
classical existence of a Helicon. They may never
dream deliciously in the fairy land of a Spencer, and
even be unfamiliar with the voice of a Goldsmith.
Yet, we see hundreds of these people with the
spirit of poetry playing about them in revelling gam-
bols, at every opportunity the chances of fate may
offer. The most exquisite love of the Ideal, and the
most ardent glow of enthusiasm, often abide in the
bosom that knows not the names of its residents, and
many a rough-hewn denizen of earth goes from his
cradle to his; grave full of rich, sweet poetry, with-
out.l even a suspicion of the " divinity that stirs wittpi.
him." No ! it is not these people we anatheTarsiz,
for these are the mysterious and ceaseless echoing of
the first great Voice that pronounced all thingsiorti theod
and beautiful. These unconsciously
.pourl
vapours that gather so chokingly
perfumed incenseof immortality, purifying
denounce,
he
for we
temple. No !it is not these we God Ct hfool Hie
and feel poetry in its noblestl.
of printed cadence.
worship and honour] the untold nesusneinbeeer,s
yet,wbo neverthink
breathe, and seldom read a line of
standingu t utilitarianism," it ar i a
inni s
upright
theg h
t
hard,lt i
us
nt the
unbending, unit
cr d
of
frozen selfishness, entertaining no speculation, but,
fmc;e7itcion,‘
that depending upon a thriving railway, and respect-
ing no laws but those of Blackstone and Coke; those
who depreciate all knowledge, save that denominated
.. worldly ;" a knowledge too frequently testified by
conduct that would bear the less equivocal term of
" craft ;" those who sneer at a sentinsent, and despise
a feeling that may go an inch beyond the very com-
monest of sense ; it is such we most heartily pray to
be delivered from during oar soj urn here below.
They may be useful and necessary--so may the
cholera, but in honest simplicity, we de.ire to keep
clear of both inflictions.

These people have no ear for music in a " babbling
brook," without the said brook turns a very pro-
fitable mill. They find no " sermons in stones,"
beyond those preached by the walls of a Royal Ex-
change. They see nothing in a mob of ragged urchins
loitering about the streets in a spring twilight, busy
over a handful of buttercups and daisies, lugged with
anxious care from Putney or Clapham—they see
nothing but a tribe of tiresome children who deserve,
and sometimes get, a box on the ears for " being in
the way." They see nothing in the attachment be-

i

_~=.

tween a poor man and his cur dog but a crime worthy
the imprisonment of one, and the hanging of the other.
Indeed, we have remarked that these " people who do
not like poetry" seldom have sympathy for mendicity
of any description. If a sick woman
with a sicklier
child, or an old man with palsied limbs, solicit a
halfpenny, these people have a stereotyped knack
of parading the comforts of the " Union," and the
audacity of `the
about begging." If an orphan
boy of Seven-dials genealogy is recommended by
some benevolent idiot to clean boots and shoes,
" they will have no such young scamp about them."
" But he has not yet done anything dishonest,"
says the pleader for poverty. "No matter,"
is the reply, " I shan't take him, and there's
and end of it." Ah ! these people are doubtless
" wise in their generation." It is too true that im-
position and ingratitade are stalking about us every-
where; the pale woman and the trembling man may
not be quite as wretched as they seem, and the off-
spring of ignorance and misery may not prove a moral
Crichton; yet, with a" day of judgment" in the Chris-
tian's distance, we have a prejudice in favour of giving
an odd penny now and then, without too strict in-
qui▪
ry as to whether the applicant's cup of sorrow is
bri▪
mfull ; and we have a prejudice equally strong,
that it is not contrary to human philosophy, to en-
deavour to " snatch a brand from the burning," and
give the chance of honest pursuits to the children of
infamy, even though they have " no character" to
begin with.
" People who do not like poetry" have rarely much
participation in the elasticities of our mortal lot.
Eating, drinking, sleeping, and " looking to the main
chance," generally form their whole consecutive occu-
pations, but, if any occasional development of humour
and cheerfulness occur in the genus, we have ob-
served that it usually tends to " practical joking and
coarse badinage." This is the lowest and apparently
the only grade of wit they are capable of exercising
with any facility; but with the utmost touchiness, at
the same time, if any responsive liberty be taken with
their own respected person. The spirit of poetry at
least instils the justice of bearing that which we are
eager to award ; but our utilitarians have no notion
of this. Some of them even advocate the strong
practical joke of killing off the superfluous popula-
tion, but we never find their own names on the super-
abundant list.

" Poeple who do not like poetry" are invariably
the most revengeful in their animosities. They hold
malice with strong tenacity; forgiving and forgetting
are not in their creed ; and their bosoms seem
charged with an ascetic vengeance, that is never neu-
tralized by the weak, ridiculous, humanizing spirit of
poetry.
" People who do not like poetry" are the worst
possible companions, in any shape. Take them on a
tour through a lovely country, and they see nothing
at all in the tumbling waterfall or Elysian valley, but
are eternally breaking in on your rapt admiration,
with some abrupt and common-place jargon, that
raises an incipient desire to serve them as Crooked
Richard did his nephews. Have them at a social
dinner party, and they strenuously seek to limit the
conversation to "dry and dusty business" of some
kind or other ; party politics, state of dividends,
joint-stock companies, the cotton market, or some
such themes, are all they can dilate on; and with
loud and pertinaceous determination they " stick
to their last," to the exclusion of general and polite
interchange of discussions and opinions. Walk with
them into an exhibition of paintings, and most likely
you will have to blush up to your ears, for they treat
things connected with "Fine Arts" as mere trumpery,
and, of course, make very audible and very ignorant
remarks on matters concerning which the slightest
poetical delicacy would make them silent. Meet
them when you are attired in a new garb of deep
mourning, and their first question will be, " Who
have you lost?" Let a child cry in their presence,
and they instantly express an impatient disgust, that
would warrant one in supposing that they had passed
through infancy without a single kick or scream.
Let an old horse, that has worked twenty years in
their service, be pronounced unfit for his duty, and
they coolly take sixty shillings and cons:gn the worn-
out beast to cruelty, starvation, and " a sand-cart,"
without a ghost of conscience.
Oh ! these " people who do not like poetry " are
sad thorns in the side of refined humanity. We re-
peat, they may be useful ; but we honestly confess,
if we have one prejudice stronger than another,
it exists against those animated fossils who " do not
like poetry."

~ ,
Luz& COOK.

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
METROPOLITAN REFORM ASSOCIATION,
Sir,—On Thursday the 24th, motion was made by
Mr. Henry Berkeley, for leave to bring in a Bill to en-
able the votes of Parliamentary electors to he taken by
Ballot ; when there appeared the old steady number
of active Reformers, the Ayes being $5, and the Noes
br..tght against them 13G.

• ..
The process is going silently on, cs surely as trim
are growing older; but no palpable progress can be
cxiected on such points, till the Euisian al:ie3 are
driven from Hungary.

On the same evening, leave was moved to bring in
a Bill " for the better government of certain of our
colonial possessions," meaning or including Canada.
It is undeniably desirablo, that there should be
" better government" everywhere ; but it does not
absolutely follow, that every Bill containing there
words is well-timed and promi.ing►. A►:d what are
the circumstances under which the Bill is proposed ?
rhere is, or was when the mail left Canada, as much
of a rebellion as would be made here by burning the
houses of Parliament ; a rebellion of disappointed
Tories finding themselves in a minority, and
rising upon the majority and the Government,
as would be exemplified here by a Tory rising
to prevent the royal assent being given to the alters•
tion in the Navigation-Laws. Under such circum-
stances, is it wise to unship the Executive, and say
Canada shall be governed by the votes of the House
of Commons ? If it is, why should not it be un-
shipped here, where there is no actual storm to call
for its operation ? And of the contending parties in
Canada, which side is it that is to be encouraged ?
Is it the rebellious minority, or is it the threatened
majority with inclusion of the Government? If it
is the first, ought not this to be resisted ; if it is the
last, would not the very persons proposed to be
assisted, implore you to choose another time? If the
statement is, that it is an act of justice and propriety
and such acts can never come at a wrong time ;—it
might as well be argued that it is an act of justice
and propriety that a man should blow his nose, and
therefore he should interpose that ceremony in the
mildle of his declaration to a lady. There are times
and seasons for all things, however absolutely good ;
and the mere fact of being good, does not prove that
the thing was well applied. Any man in the habit of
being responsible for , results, must be inclined to
admit, that no time could be chosen when it was more
desirable to act in concert with an existing Govern-
ment and through an existing Government, than when
that Government is struggling with a rebellion, in
which it has manifestly got the right side.
An odd misapprehension seemed to exist among
some of the Liberal party, to the purport that the
Government in Canada ought not to have made the
Tories desire to rebel. In other words, that it ought
to have let the Tories have their way, without the
trouble of rebelling. I wonder where this principle
would take us, if practised here. Who will be re-
sponsible for when
.Tories will rebel ? And when
would they not rebel, if the mere demonstration or
presentiment of it was to be enough to make them
have their way ?
On the whole it will probably be conceded there
was cause, why some of the professed Liberals should
be found on one side of the division and some on the
other. The motion was finally negatived by 116
against 73.

erresc,on:,aids ebrartoiuognhotfftohroen:Ratr.ludeleabpou.nt
theTehxeclmusoitoinonoffosrtrathnge
certain
probability
changes. It consequently pn
eoatr
apnrcees s eodf
at to
iaspdoisviitsiioontol,t
oi in
ciconsequencewith
f
make its appearance again in some form.
On Friday the motions for the adjournment of the
House, and for the Supplies, gave occasion for almost
unlimited discussions de omni scibili, not omitting the
cunt quilusdam. alris. Among other points of attack,
was one upon the salaries of the Board of Admiralty,
in which the Protectionists fell into their perpetual
error of representing the whole country as in a con-
dition of loss and damage because they were losing,
always forgetting the other half who were gaining by
it, and the general additional coat of gain spread as
with a brush over all these hills and holes besides.
Not but that it would be very well to reduce the
salaries of the Board of Admiralty if the Board liked
it. Bat the statement of the reduction of the coma•
try's means through Free Trade, is riot a reason.
The House on its rising adjourned till the 31st.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN OLD REFORMER.
London, May 28, 1849.

The admirers of Mr. Disraeli will be gratified in
ohservinz that a new edition of his most remarkable
work " Coningsby,” has been just issued in a cheap and
popular form, which will render it accessible to every
one. This, it appears, is the fifth edition that has been
published in England, whilst numerous reprints havo
appeared on the continent, and 50.000 copies have been
circulated in the United States. This new edition isin-
troduced by a new preface, in which the author refers to
the political views of which he has. been the advocate,
plrticularly with respect to the Christian Church.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON TUE RIVER. •—•O4 SlltUrlay
afternoon, about two o'clock, a boat, in which wore two
)ouths named Parkinson, sons of Mr. Parkinson, of
Vauxhall road, struck the third pier from the Surrey
shore of Battersea-bridge. Tho collision stove in her
side, and she instantly tilled and sunk, and both lads
were immersed. Tho accident was observed from the
shore, and several boats put off, but before asbnitance
mad reach them they Bunk, and were drowned.

TIIE Se] E GAL TITLE ASSURANCE
COMPANY.
(Provisionally Registered, January 17, 1849.)
Capital, 2,000,00 C/., in 80,000 Shares, of 251. each.
Preliminary Deposit, 2s. 6d. per Share
Pro ,r.zchases and full information may be obtained at the Tempo-
ary Oh:" ries of the Company, 12A, Cannon-row, Westminster, on ap-
Ucation to

G. F. HOWE, Hon. Sec., pro tern.

rirll E GYAINETRLIS NORTHUMBRIENSIS.
A splendid and interesting specimen of a species undescribed
by naturalists, and entirely new to science, its great length for a fish,
evidently very young, and peculiar crest and main, favours the sap-
position of the existence of the SEA SERPENT, is now exhibiting
at the Cosmorama Rooms, 200, Regent-street, where it will re-
main for a short time, to afford opportunity to be seen by all inte-
rested in the further of science.
Admitsion, One Shilling.

TIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
GRAND EXTRA NIGHT.
It is respectfully announced that a GB
AND EXTRA
URSDAY
NIGHT,
on the scale of former seasons, will be presented on TH
XVENLNG, when will be performed 3lotart's celebrated Opera,
DON GIOVANNI.
With various Entertainments in the Ballet Department.
Applicationi for Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets to be made at the
Box-office of the Theatre, where Pit Tickets may be obtained as
usual, price 10s. Gd. each

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
GRAND MORNING CONCERT, on WEDNESDAY, May 30.
The programme will embrace the principal features of the follow-
ing Operas :
Serniramide, Lucretia Borgia, Il Barbiere, Don' Giovanni, Lucia
dl Lammermoor, Don Pasquale, Masaniello, Les Huguenots, &c.
Mme. Gtisi and Mine. Persian', Miss C. Hayes and Mme. Donis
eras, Mdlle. Corbari and Mme. Macfarren, Mdlle. de Merle and
Airgri ; Signor Mario, Signor Salvi, Signor Laila, Mr. Sims
Reeves, Signor Tamburini and Signor Ronconi, Signor Tagliofico,
Signor Polonini, M. Masao', and Signor Marini,
M. Dreyschock will play a fantasia on the pinaoforte, Signor
Bottesini a solo on the contra-basso.
The Hungarian vocalists will sing two of their favourite merceaux.
The orchestra will perform Beethoven's Overture to " Leonora,"
Rossini's Overture to " Semiramiele," and Mendelisohn's Overture to-
" Midsummer Night's Dream."
The Celebrated Prayer (without accompaniment) from the Market
See le in " Masaniello " will be sung by the full chorus.
Boxes from one guinea and a half ; Stalls, 16s. ; tit Tickets, 58.
at CRAMER, BEALE, and Co., 201, Regent-street.
• Composer, Director of the Music, and Conductor, Mr. Costa.
QT.
•

JAMES'S TH. B A T B.E.
Season 1849.
FRENCH PLAYS and OPERA. COMIQUE.
THIS EVENING,
(By Desire,)
The Performances will com
HILTRE CHAMPEf-pNmence at Halast Sevex o'clock with
POIS.
To conclude with
NE TOUCHER PAS A LA REDA-E.
Mr. Mitchell begs also to announce that, notwithstanding the In-
=Axed expenses of the present entertainment, the prices of admis-
,ton are determined as follows:
Boxes • • • • • • 6s. Od.
Pit • • • • .. 33. Od.
Amphitheatre .. • • .. 2s. Od.
Subscriptions for the season may be arranged at Mr. Mitchell's
Royal ;:114rary, 33, Old Bond-street ; Mr. Sams', St. James's-street ;
Mr. AncLrews', New Bond-street ; and at the Box-offlce of the
Theatre, which is open daily from eleven till five.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
TO-MORROW EVENING,
Will lab: performed Rossini's celebrated Opera,
_ LA GAZZA LADRA.
To be followed by th,e principal Tableaux of the admired Ballet of
FIORIT.
By M. P. Taglioni ; the Music by Lkignor Pugni; the Scenery by
At.r. C. Marshall.
Pincipal parts by Md.lle, C. _Rosati, Mdlle. Marie TagllOni, and M.
Dor.
The Selection will comprise the principal Pas of the Ballet, and
the admired Tableaux of the Water. fall.
Application for Boxes, Stalls, and Ticke's to be made at the
Box-office of the Theatre, where Pit Tickets may be obtained, as
usual, price 10s, 6d. each.
Doors open at Seven ; and the Opera to commence at Half-past
Seven o'clock.

•
THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.—GERMAN OPERA.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed Mozart's Opera,
DIE ZAIIBERFLOTE.
Performances to commence at Eight o'clock.
Private Boxes and Pisces may be obtained at the Bex-office ; and
at Messrs. Jullien and Co.'s, 214, Regent street.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN.
TO-MORROW EVENING
Will be performed Auber's Opera,
MASANIELLO.
Supported by Mdlle. Wuthier, Male. Louise Tagllonl, Mons.
Alexandre, and Signor Casati.
Composer, Director of the Music, and Conductor, Mr. Costa.
The performances will commence at Eight o'clock precisely.

TUE KUYAL, HAYMAXKEA..
Mr. B. Webster, Sele Lessee and Manager, Old Brompton.
THIS EVENIN'..
Will be performed THE HOUSEKEEPER. Sidney Maynard,
Mr. C. Kean ; Fel cia, Mrs. C. Kean.
After which THE WONDER. Don Felix, Mr. C. Kean; Donna
Violante. llrs. C. Kean.
After which a Classical Extravaganza, called THE SPHINX.

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII.
ender the direct/lon of Madame Celeste.
THIS EVENING,

Will be performed THE IRISH POST.
After which a new grand Extravaganza, entitled THE DEVIL'S
T10..1N AND THE REVOLT OF THE FLOWERS.
To conclude with a Farce, called GOING TO THE DERBY THE
DERBY DAY Mr. Jeremiah Twiddle, Mr. Wright; Mr. John
James Chucklpkr. Paul Bedford ; Captain Nobble, Mr. Worrell ;
Mrs. Chucks, re. Matthews ; Mrs. Twiddle, Miss Woolgar.

ROYAL LYChUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame VeSte&
Soli Lessee, Mr. Charles Ma•he
THIS EVENING
Will be per:limed KILL OR CURE.
At ter which, A WONDERI UL WOMAN.
To conclude with THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS OP CHRISTEN
,DO3l.
Dress 'loco, ss. ; Upper Boxes, 4s. ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, Is. NO
Ralf-price to any part of the house.
te New Box-of ace, No. 2, Wellington street, is opea to the
;nth, cery day, from Ten till Six.

PRINCESS'S THEATV.E.
Mr. J. M. Maddox, Sole Lessee and Manager.
THIS EVENING,
Will be presented a new vrio-comic Drama entitled THE DE-
SERT E
To conclude with the new Domesne Opera, enkttled THE BLIND
SISTED ; or, the Mountain Farm.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPIIITIILATR.E.
Proprietor, Mr. W. Batty.
tinder the Patronage of her Majesty the Queen, his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, &c.
The following eminent artistes form the greatest amount of femaie
equestrian talent ever engaged in this or any other establishment a'
one time

Adelaide llinn!e, Valentine, Louise Touirnaire, La Jeane
; Miss Wooltbril, Barrand, Davidson, Avery, and La Petite

Josep
Jeanette.
In addition to the above Mr. Batty has great pleasure in alnounc
ing that lie has engage l that peerless equestrian Marie Macarte,
whose brilliant triumphs on the Continent anal in America have ac-
quired for her the appellation of the Equestrian Enchantress, and
whose first appearance will be duly announced.
THIS EVENING,
The performance will commence with a Grand Military Equestrian
Spectacle, entitled
3100LTAN and GOOJERAT ; or, the Conquest of the Seikhs.
To be rollowed by an inimitable display of SCENES IN THE
CIRCLE. In
To which the first Equestrian talent of the day will appear.
conclude with THE WHITE MAIDEN OF CA LtroRNIA
or, the Horse of the Ocean.
hoz-office open from Eleven till Irma.
stage Manager, Mr. W. West.