The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-03 00:00:00

EVENING STN•

MESMERISM, BY DE LA_FON -
T.A.INE.—(SECOND NOTICE.)
In our notice of the Mesmeric exhibition which took
place at the
ay Queen's R HanovGr-square, on fThurs-
Imast • Rooms,
or' :, it was. mentioned that M. de Lafontaine in-
in
the chose' of nis visitors who were disappointed by
crowded State of the theatre on that occasion, that he
w°4ld upon a future day afford them an opportunity of
witnes4ing experiments;the same as those which he was
ffr ,a about Perform. Yesterday was accordingly fixed
the repetition, and at three o'clock nearly two hun-
dred tuld fifty ladies and gentlemen, mostly persons of
rank (t° judge from the crowd of liveries and the number
of
emolazoned carriages which stood before the doors),
were •
4Ssembled in the second concert room—an apart-
bit mach larger than the theatre of the previous
ion. There
.was a better ventilation, less heat, and
fl'i:stei:laently a more satisfactory opportunity of witness-
'"
in e expected reetition, than could have been enjoyed
tue ?b'rvrition of the original. experiments..
.Thes.e.,
were varied and abridged on this occasion by
ahf"ents, far more interesting to the curious than agree-
;_e to the sensitive,
• Ojri after three o'clock, M. de Lafontaine presented
duellnp self upon the platform, introducing a young lady of
1
,eate and bashful appearance, who took her scat in the
.
114ents'
chair, A perceptible sensation, or, if we may
0
s gar a silent- murmur, pervaded the assembly, which to
expressive of a sympathetic shrinking from the
ert..441 anticipated, of witnessing so gentle and engaging a
ter,„lt're, subjected. to the harrowing and (at least appa-
h -Y.) cruel ordeal which the principal subject of the
1,411
d.ty's operation underwent.
"e gentleman. Who had before acted as interpreter,
kt,`,ll!, eame forward and was received very kindly by the
re-
Ported
He repeated nearly as we have already re-
tie(' the cause of his interference, and his own impar-
-143; Upon the subject, wbich this company was try
of mit, inv.. ti
te He-proceeded to sketch the history
esmerism,glslvith less detail than upon the former
6as;,
at'un ,• but adding, in answer to a statement that no
`ello faymes in science could be found in the list of those
h.,sred Animal Magnetism, that Cuvier, Laplace,.
anh„l,,,
Zot and several others, whose names we could
(11 catch, had expressed opinions in its favour.—
Villloleelt applause.) He was disposed, to agree with those
R-leund fault with public exhibitions of the nature of
Q ,kwhich they were now to witness.—(Hear, hear.)
is ought the experiments should more fitly be pur-
hem;',u,the Privacy of the philosopher's salon, or in the
liral• Yet he must ask, what. was to be done ?
Itann the experiments were made under such circum-
lisoce,,s, there was raised a cry of " fraud, folly, delu-
ltft --(Hear, hear.) No other course, therefore, was
did pto those who believed that the alleged phenomena
list ;1411Y occur, and that the appearances produced were,
.4st. e result of charlatanism,-thun to bring the in-
to s,rtiml fully before the public, in such a manner as
firro-
af/cet the facts to unquestionable exposure. or con-
'ktY,nanuy—la(clilyeaL, hear.). With that view he suggested
gentleman should, as happened on
thc, -,:(laY last in the other room, choose to submit
the
Pobli„-Pation, no objection would be raised to t
lt,,,:ilat'en of the name and address.—(Hear, hear.)
Iliesti:d he but justice to themselves. the public, and the
"Ptil4-„n*"(Rear, hear.) If they should he found sus-
Peeted
ff to the mesmeric influence, they would be sii-
wer." o collusion, unless the observers and the public
e ino
414 th rifled who they were, and were thereby satisfied
TheeY had no connexion with the exhibitor.—(Hear.)
Oeti;,;',7ll,ag lady in the chair had been already once mag-
-I?.eliel';il °Y,_ M. Lafontaine, but with little effect : but he
• ha.,4- she was susceptible of the influence ; and here
hot to bto observe that the reality of the influence was
(Neer a,diselieved merely because all persons were not
"Lue of it ; nor even the same persons at all times.
and
.121'as very much applauded throughout a very neat
°fluent address.)
Nat!: Young lady was then subjected to the usual mani-
kOesclis by M. de Lafontaine-t-that is, pressure of the
fixed' Palms of the hands and thumbs, accompanied by a
shegaze of overwhelming intensity. In three minutes
l'rof44l" into a state of apparent insensibility, while the
lessor tested by sticking pins into her head and
(lid S. (A lady exclaimed, " That isvery cruel.") She
degr:eot shrink in the least, or exhibit the slightest
that 14 feeling. But M. de Lafontaine said
, sheuands Was only partially insensible in the
thrast-i„"ead, nose and chin. Thfs he illustrated by
them;"g pins into the parts he named, and leaving
Blight ° ; whilst he tested other parts which by.av?ry
The quivering manifested some degree of sensibility.
bility ly gave very evident tokens of their sensi-
terea el,;11-ng the experiment,. by sighs, sobs, and unit-
Phial -Ws", °t' " shame." The Professor then applied a_
whist, ` 'itighly concentrated ammonia (the strength of
hough''' ean vouch for) to the patient's nose ; and
least, th to our observation she did not wince in the
legree Professor said she was still sensible in a small
did by an:, use would make it more palpable. This he
'l"e •
v-,.„-",,lmg a lighted lucifer to her nostrils, when
'aushe, feebly shook her head. Some gentleman here
y = When M. de L. gently retorted (in French)
50e though, that when she does feel, she shows it "
'"(A.no
itta ..--/ause)—" but we shall see more." He then
1,-,11,11-mlated further passing his hands downwards in a
position, smoOthly, but with great energy, within
-ft,',e‘v inches of her body, from head to foot. He then
-anew
himself (how we could not guess, further than
s4t he gazed upon her intensely) that
la„; was . insensible, and he held lighted
ti'-`t,fers, one after another,. until three or four were burnt
ksheluse to her nostrils, and, to our amazement, her
4„,,dici not blister, nor did she wince or move a muscle.
tq "" cries of- " enough, enough," induced the Professor
,se,t when he was requested to restore her, and
sfl-6-w she felt. On her restoration we understood her
1,,,Q13' with great cheerfulness (but in a low tone,- and in
Tr) that she had felt nothing.
1.13 t % Youth, who had been the subject of the
Iv as m`tY'S operations .was -now introduced. It
Iv, remarked by those around us 'that he looked
ti,bs and anxious. We thought so too ; and the
seea.!!inent interruption of the experiments was possibly
ivi4olled by previous illness, as much as by the fact to
411.11_tti
• dienLafontaine attributed it, and which, if there be
the established doctrines of this school;
Id be sufficient to account for the interruption. Hay-
tftislou,,,,ieltirreduced him to insensibility, M. de La.fon-
"-Jade certain movements of his hands in front of
the •','tt°uth's legs, from the hips down, and they rose from
%n'er'ild gradually, and as if mechanically, until they
hort-,41P0u a level with the seat, where they remained. in a
tteiirnta,l position,
rigidly extended and fixed, without
ii)irior oscillation for the rest of the hour during
w, ',!O continued 'under experiment. In the meau-
sad, ha pins were stuck deep and numerous into his
ta.• attds, cheeks, lips, and thighs, without producing
ht. de observed, that no blood issued. _
ne h ue Lafontaine, with some indignation, pointed to
• and from which the blood was streaming, and then
‘v" awing one of the pins from the thigh, said, " If
vaat to see blood, there it is," and held up a large
biq the kind called " corkers," which was red with
hit t° about half an inch from the point. This exhi-
P4,,lfiedi'Vueed a universal shudder, strangely accom-
utit„,s universal, although • suppressed, apphiuse,
that we must suppose by a painful convictioAn
Prottr, no • deception had been practised..
took Ited, confused; and unintelligible discussion then
kuel))'ilee, of which the object seemed (as we could
reignedte be to settle the question whether the youth only
144 e. °r Was really insensible. A number of gentle-
Iliesti`ewded round the operator and the subject, putting
°,148 altogether • in bad French, and in English of
aracter,
dth. e ieti-onehOr , and wrangling (in greater zeal than
~f good manners) with one another, and with
Whichri:essnr, as to the result of their own experiments,
eoit, uy crowding and• confusion, they prevented the
this, at large from appreciating. In the course of
to order a gentleman applied all his force and might
flit the Of the rigid and extended legs of the poor patient,
Ndde Purpose of trying, as it would seem, whether he
ea
it down. The Professor exclaimed in alarm,
'Pate(' le,° all but the unreflecting experimenter partici-
l'hsh MY God, you will break his leg !" and then
tt,h;el aside the thoughtless medler. The latter retired
tr`,seat amidst hisses and cries of " Shame."
th, his incident broke up the party of disputants, and
hottBPaeo in front of the chair being cleared, it was an-
the need that great difference of opinion existed as to
tif4' state of the lad's pulse, some gentlemen having
'nedtha,t it was imperceptible, and others that it was
eon Which in his state of health, would be the natural
th lion. We understood the explanation to be, that
ol,„_laesineriscd condition was interrupted by so many
rsite wills or temperaments operating on him at the
tehlbe time ; and that those who felt his at one time
o`litt him in a different state from thatwhich he had
il a minute before, when his wrists were held by the
tik,e,irs• His hands and arms were all the time extended,
Itcand motionless, as were his legs, and remained so,
41,„'` he was for a few minutes restored as to the head
-‘e' lie then said that he ;had felt nothing
.but a
Ight
kit, headache, and a pain, for the. seat of which he
that to his groin, which was considered an indicationl
Ils".e had been hurt by the force applied to is
1)r as again rendered " somnambule ; and the inter
l'ir".r ,said that as the youth had been supposed to res-.
14,;A•uen the amonia was put to his nostrils, an amt-
arid would now be applied to him, of such a strength
Forh.' 3o exact a manner, that if he had respired during
experiments he would never respire after this one.
tnit 's 'e experiment was conclusive as regarded ammonia,
h-Pbj:",'eral gentlemen proposed snuff as a surer test, and
.•I'li„letit it copiously and carefully out of their own boxes.
tlae-3,'llaughingly expressed their surprise that it pro-
.A. no effect whatever.
asid, fltlernan who, on being required to give his name,
• st. my name is Jackson, and I am very well known
• • tartholomew's Hospital," asked if the Professor
rellie able to magnetise the young gentleman, and
d er Crer His arms rigid, while he (Mr. J.) held them ? M.
io -arontaine replied in the affirmative, saying he could
As without touching the patient.
ar.etedieus and unmeaning discussion (which was
nitid on in such French that it was necessary to
gent vet it to M. de Lafontaine), was raised by some
ere e t.--en who were repeatedly requested by the audi-
glish. At length Mr. Jackson's expe-
Ulm lit Proceeded. The patient, having been awakened,
lieti:seZ°lsitileenciak:n
took him by the arms iii a manner which
hint ,„ some resistance, and the exclamation " You
Attlee. Mr. Jackson at length raised the arms per-
formeularly above the head, and, the passes being per-
arras insensibility was 'renewed. The young man's
(not `'"atne rigid as one' jointless bone, and descended
wnrWithstanding the utmost resistance of Mr. Jackson,
heuscular and vigorous man) nearly to the horizontal,
Apt,'" be Lafontaine interfered, and withheld Mr. Jack-
teriseing that he would break the arms, as they were
term to a degree of brittleness. Many persons now ut-
Which strong- expressions of disapprobation, of
for fir. Jackson was the unmerited object—
rizht-"at he did was, so far, perfectly justifiable and
the in our mind. On the resuscitation . of
tlUestteePer, M. tie Lafontaine asked the usual
an ex " How du you feel ?" The poor youth, with
444 Pressiou of painful anxiety, said he hail headache
excessive heat. M. de Lafontaine said that the lad

was ill, in consequence of an ascertained law in animal
magnetism, that the patient suffers by any strong resist
ance exercised by a third person to the will of the ope
rater who has magnetised him. The patient intimate,
that such was his feeling, and he seemed to become so ill
that the company with one voice begged he should b
taken away. He was subsequently brought back, fo.
the purpose of undergoing the galvanic and :electro.
magnetic experiments (described in this paper on Friday
last), and took his seat in the chair with a smiling and
cheerful, but very pallid countenance. The com-
pany, however, would not allow this operation tc
be attempted, but unanimously cried " Enough,
enough !" M. de Lafontaine bowed assent, and they
pointed to a large stain of blood upon the back of tin
lad's trowsers, saying expressively, " I did not do that."
—(Great indignation.) The interpreter observed, that it
was evidently done by some gentleman-who wished to
satisfy himself as to the genuineness of the insensibility,
by sticking a pin* severely into a part of the patient's
person, which would not be seen by the patient, or any
one in 'supposed collusion with him. He hoped the gen-
tlenian was satisfied.—(Hising, and cries of " Shame !")
The young gentleman bowed to the audience, and retiree.
amidst loud expressions of sympathy, and even of
regard.
The most curious part of ail day's proceeding now
commenced. It was announced that some gentlemen
were desirous of submitting themselves to experiment,
and the explanation was repeated, by way of a caution,
that all were not susceptible. A lady stood up and said,
"I hope you will magnetise Mr. Jackson, and not spare
him with the pins."—(Great laughter.) Mr. Jackson.
who scarcely merited this spiteful wish, was not inclined
to gratify it ; and another gentleman (about twenty-four
or twenty-five years of age), placed himself in the chair
amidst some applause. He was perhaps as resolute and
bold-looking, as well as strong and healthy, as could be
selected from such a company. M. de Lafontaine
said that he did not expect to produce much effect on
such a temperament in a first experiment. However, in
one minute precisely, the gentleman's nerves gave way in
the distressing struggle, and 'after a convulsive and pain-
ful resistance sank into a state of insensibility, which at
first seeraed as profound and " somnambule' as that of
the habituated patients; but after a few seconds, and be-
fore the amazement of the audience had subsided, he
made some convulsive movements, whigh induced the
Professor to take off his neckcloth, and open his shirt
collar. At the request of some gentleman near the chair
M. de Lafontaine proceeded to revive him, and
when he seemed to be in a state of sensibility
he was asked, did he feel quite awake ? He answered,
with a smile,'that " he was not sure ; but he would try
if he could walk." He was lifted upon his legs, but
found that he was not in the least master of them, and
sank again int%-oche chair amidst much laughter, in which
he good-humouredly Joined. Some manipulations by
the Professor seemed shortly to have the effect of restor-
ing hilitlperfectly to the possession of his faculties and
bodily powers. Being asked what he had felt, he
said he had not been quite unconscious any part
of the time. lie had felt as if he were about
to faint. Upon this a gentleman exclaimed, "Of
course you were !" And we concur in the opi-
nion which the exclamation implied, that any man
in the same circumstances would have fainted, and that
so far the experiment proved nothing. The gaze of the
operator, and the . constant and varied motion of his
fingers before the eyes of the firmest and best• nerved
man in the world must bring on fainting—at least, it
must come to this, if the gaze be mutual and continued,
one of the two, the subject or the operator, must give
way, one of them must swoon. In this case the volunteer
swooned in one minute after a manly and resolute effort
to keep up. In reply to the general call, he gave his
name as "Baggot, of Queen's College, Cambridge."
Another gentleman then volunteered in the same man-
ner, and, being apparently a more nervous subject than
the last, was received with some degree of alacrity by
the lecturer, and placed in the chair without preface.
Contrary to all expectation, however, this gentleman
held out much longer, and with apparently less effort
than his predecessor. He was, however, overcome,
and so completely that M. do Lafontaine, with-
out the least hesitation in the world, put him
to the test of the pins ! They were stuck in his
head, cheeks, and hands, apparently without affecting
him, and left as carelessly as if he were fully initiated in
the art of mesmeric endurance, and accustomed to serve
the uses of a pincushion. M. de Lafontaine, however, was
not yet satisfied of his insensibility. He said he can feel a
little and I think he can hear, to prove which he fired a per-
cussion cap close to the gentleman's ear, and applied the
ammonia to his nostrils. We observed no sign o f
sensation, but the Professor said : " You see he feels a
little, and hears." The patient, however, being aroused
from his stupor, and questioned on the subject, said he
had " not been quite insensible—he had heard the dis-
charge of a pistol, and had felt pins pricking him but
very slightly"— (Laughter and applause.) He gave his
name as Mr. Greenwood, of Peterhouse College, Cam-
bridge.
It is scarcely our province to offer any opinion upon
the facts which we have witnessed, and if it were, it
would be a duty to withhold it for further consideration,
believing that not one man who has yet observed the
phenomena is in a condition to explain them, or to
say whether they result from reality or delusion.
Future opportunities may also enable us to
enter into a question alluded to by the gentleman who
acts as M. de Lafontaine's interpreter, as to the dif-
ference between natural and magnetic sonnambulism,
which it is preferable to waive for the present, admitting,
in the meanwhile, that utter insensibility during the
state of natural somnambulism has been proved by nume-
rous and historical facts, and that there seems little rea-
son to doubt that the so-called magnetic somnambulism
exhibits the same phenomenon.
* From what we have since heard it would appear that a
lancet was secretly thrust into the thigh, and that the loss of
a large quantity-of blood, by this cruel and cowardly experi-
ment was the cause of the youth's illness. The appearance of
the trousers would warrant the opinion that such was the case;
but if any thing to that effect was stated, the confusion that
prevailed prevented our hearing it. In the ill-judged and in-
decorous crowding—upon which we remark above—such an act
might have been committed without observation ; and it is to
be hoped that it will induce gentlemen in future to abstain
from the indulgence of such disorderly zeal as was manifested
on this occasion.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.
PLYMOUTH, FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 30.—The seve-
ral sections commenced their meetings yesterday morn-
ing, and the attendance at most of them was very good.
They all broke up at an early hour, as is usually the
case en the first day of meeting.
Our Correspondent (see The Sun of Monday) has
already watched and noticed the proceedings down to
Paper 4, read in the C. section of Geology and Physical
Geology, upon the destructiveness produced by pholas at
Plymouth. We resume at
Section D.—Zoology and Botany.—Dr. Richardson,
President, in the chair. Mr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., read a
report on the geographical distribution of the animals of
New Holland. There are, it appears, 94 species of
mammalia. There are only two species and two genera
of the ferm or carnivorous beasts, as the dog and seal.
There is only one known beast in Norfolk Island, which
is supposed to have been introduced from Sydney, espe-
cially as it is not known in Van Diemen's Land. Mr.
Couch made a report on the zoology of Cornwall: Amongst
other interesting facts, he stated, that what might be
called severely cold winters did not occur more frequently
than in cycles of six or eight years. The • appearance
of the bat might be witnessed in every week of an ordi-
nary year ; but if the thermometer fell below 40 degrees
Fahrenheit it was a signal for their retreat, although a
milder temperature restored them to activity, when it
was not uncommon to see them the whole day. Another
proof of the mildness of the climate was, that the long-
tailed field mouse breeds at the beginning of January,
forming its nest in the ricks of hay, and that fishes then
deposit their spawn. He stated Cornwall as containing
244 species of birds, and 173 fishes, and made an addition
to the number of testaceous and molluscous animals and
zoophytes. Professor Henslow made an interesting re-
port on certain diseases in wheat. He particularly al-
luded to one which was confused under the name of red
gum, produced by an anima,l and was called the wheat
midge, and was the larva of a gnat, that deposits its ova
in the unripe cars of corn in the months of May and
June. These larvae, which are developed with the ri-
pening corn, do much damage to the crops, and he had
found from a hundred thousand to a million in a bushel.
As a remedy, he proposed sifting the chaff of corn and
burning the dust with the midges that had passed through.
Section F.—Statistics.—Colonel Sykes in the Chair.
Mr.•Woollcombe read a paper on the statistics of Ply-
mouth, Stonehouse, and Devonport. It first made re-
ference to the history of these places, which are not of
very high antiquity, as they are not noticed in the
Domesday Book. In the time of Edward I. Plymouth,
however, was a town of some importance, having 325
vessels on its waters, and in 1346 it sent its quota
of 26 ships and 603 men to blockade Calais.
been consideredo:asfuotrrhyawtt
ho
lt
thesht e, returnnp lla se
le 2, buti otsf
population peacethis i
llawtd ohm:n:11:01st
phraovie-edbetlhne
20,900, in 1831 it had increased to 3'1,000 ; and accord-
ing to the present census it was 36,000. The houses were
also better built, the appearances of domestic comfort
were more striking, and the literary and charitable insti-
tutions had advanced. Though a great portion of the
manufactures had left thelWest of England, the returns of
the custom-hense for the last:official year were 135,930/.155.
Stonehouse, which was originally a fishing village, and
in 1801 contained 3,667 inhabitants, now numbered
nearly 10,000 ; and Devonport, which scarcely existed at
the beginning of the present century, now contained up-
wards of 34,000 souls.
Section G.—Mechanical Science.—Mr. J. Taylor,
F.R.S., President. Mr. J. S. Russell read a report of the
Committee appointed by the British Association to in-
quire into the mean value of railway constants. These
experiments, which were principally made on the Liver •
pool and Manchester Railway, were very numerous and
varied, and amongst the most important results were the
following :—That a very large proportion of the resist-
ance encountered by trains in motion is as the square of
the velocity. With respect to the high resistance of
the air, contrary to the opinion given in the report, Mr.
Rendel afterwards stated that this was very,considerable, as
on the Southampton Railroad it had been known to delay
the arrival of the trains for half an hour. One
i import-
ant result which the Report arrived at was, that t would,
if correct, be found advantageous to the introduction of
railways into hilly countries. According to the Report
it appeared that 'a
level, to obtain which many difficul-
ties had to be encountered, was no advantage over a gra.
dient of 16, 20, or even 25 feet per mile. The subject,
it was resolved, should be reserved for future inquiry and

discussion.
In the afternoon the Marquis of Northampton pre-
sided at the ordinary at Devonport, and the Earl of
Morley at that in Plymouth. The former has accom-
modation for 165 at the tables, and the latter for 397.
Each ordinary was well attended, and the usual toasts
were given.

THE SUN, L

EVENING MEETING.

The, first general meeting of members was held in th
•vening at the Town-hall, at Devonport, which had- bee.
nlarged foi• the occasion by the erection of a temporar:.
iestibule at the front of the building. The numbers pre
ient exceeded 1,200, including all the rank and fashioi
,f the vicinity. Amongst those on the platform were th.
Marquis of Northampton, Earl Morley, Lord Ebringtoi:
Sf.P., Lord Adair, Lord F. Egerton, Sir Thomas llyk.
,eland, Bart., M.l'., Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., Di .
i3owring,.NE.P., Mr. Gill, M.P., &c.
The Rev. Professor WIutwELL, the President for th,
year, having taken the chair, proceeded to address th.
meeting. He stated, that he hut last year been electee

to this honourable office in his absence, that he had bee]
4. labourer with the Association ever since its first meet-
ing, and felt a high interest in its success. He would
first take a slight sketch of the general aspect of th•
Association, which so generously lent its aid to scienct
in all its appliances. In Lord Bacon's " Vision ()-
Atlantis " he had framed institutions of every order
for the welfare and benefit of man—colleges, establish-
ments, and associations for promoting the intellectual corn-
' forts, the welfare, and the happiness of man. He shouh'
he glad to see realised all the colleges and benevolen-
intentions of this Utopia, but instead of a temple o'
Solomon being supported by the State, they must have a
British Association supported by themselves. The Bri-
tish Association had now existed for ten years, and al-
though it did not possess colleges like those alluded U.
by Lord Bacon, it had performed experiments which no
nation, however rich or learnedi could ever unaided hop(
to reach. It had not employed professors or inter-
preters of nature, but it had found, both here and abroad,
:leave cultivators enlisted in its service, of which no
institution could hope to get so many. Mathematicians,
astronomers, chymists, and naturalists had all come for-
ward to aid in its cause. Since the establishment of the
Association it had judiciously laid out upwards of 7,000/.
in the prosecution of scientific objects; through its re-
commendations the aid of the Government had been en-
listed to several subjects of scientific interest. With re-
gard to the Ordnance surveys, their recommendation that
they should be pdblished on a scale of six inches to the
mile, instead of two inches, had been adopted ; but their
greatest achievement of all was the survey of the terres-
tial globe, undertaken by means of fixed observatories
in all parts of the world. lie could bear his testi-
mony to the liberality with which the Government had
acted upon all occasions to the Association. When he
pointed to these results, he could not but say that those
who established it acted upon a knowledge of the exigen-
cies of the country. Sovereigns, and nations, and
wealthy individuals had deemed astronomy worthy of
their patronage, and provided costly instruments for the
purpose, but none had considered the wind, the tides,
the atmosphere, electricity,- magnetism, and even vege-
table and animal life ; but for these they would not call
upon the Government, as they had already been under-
taken by this voluntary Association. Mr. Whewell fur-
ther advised that the storm of opinions, on which the
best and wisest differed, were to be avoided, and a solemn
piety used in their elevated pursuits, in the stead of con-
troversal metaphysics and religion.
SATURDAY MORNING, July 31.
The sectorial business commenced yesterday morning
at eleven o'clock. Papers in several sections were read,
but that of chief interest was perhaps the following :—ln
Section G.—Captain Taylor, of her Majesty's ship
San Josef, read a communication on floating breakwa-
ters. The subject of protection to the harbours of this
country was one of very great importance, particularly
as the Commissioners appointed by Government had
pointed out the desirableness of having three harbours
of refuge on the western coast. This would involve an
expense of at least 6,000,000/., which at once nega-
tived the proposition. There were no less than
250 harbours round the coasts, all of which re-
quired protection. In the course of last year,
500 ships were wrecked on our coasts, whilst 1,200 lives
were annually destroyed, and the annual loss was about
3,000,0001. sterling. On the score of humanity, there-
fore, this subject deserved consideration, and Captain
Taylor was prepared to prove that a floating breakwater,
made of wood, might be constructed for at least a fiftieth
part of the expense of a solid breakwater. Nor was a
floating breakwater liable to many of their objections of
the former, and it had been found in many parts of Ply.
mouth Sound the:mud had accumulated to the depth of five
feet. A breakwater on this principle was about to be
laid down at Brighton, so as to make it a harbour.
In the evening a soiree was given at the Town-hall in
Devonport, which was very well attended ; and Mr.
Chatfield, of the Dock-yard, gave a lecture, with illustra-
tions on ship-building, demonstrative of the launch of
the Hindostan 80 gun ship, which will take place on
Monday.
To-day none of the sections meet, as the whole of the
members have joined the excursions to some of the inte-
resting localities in.the neighbourhood.
SATURDAY NIGIIT.
ACCOUNT OF THE EXCURSIONS UP THE
TAMAR, &c. _

The excursion up the Tamar was made in men-of-
war's boats ; in those of the San Josef, Caledonia, and
Impregnable. The party was small in comparison to
that which visited the mines beyond Tavistock, the latter
consisting of nearly two hundred ; the former between
sixty and seventy. Six boats contained us all, and com-
fortably. We embarked at eleven o'clock at the New
Passage, where the steam ferry bridge plies. Up the
Ramona we went in capital style, viewing with pleasure
the wooden walls of old England all around us. Next we
commenced the beautiful river scenery of the Tamar, looked
up the St. Germans, and glimpsed the Tavy, leaving Graves-
end and Thankes (the property of Lord de Lisle), and
Anthony (belonging to Mrs. Carew), on the left. A
little higher up is schedule A—or Saltash, looking dila-
pidated, which we attributed to its privation of ancient
privileges, but were told it was now in a most flourishing
condition in comparison with its state when it returned
_ .

the Hon. Member for Saltash. The women here are
well skilled in aquatic exercises, that is, they. are clever
and practised oars-women. A prize is annually given
during the regatta, which takes place next week, to be
pulled for by the female boatmen of Saltash.
Pentilie Castle and grounds present a fine object. We
first 'landed at Cotehele, Coteil, or Cothell, a property
belonging to the Edgecumbe family, and walked some
little distance up to the ancient castle of the Coteils,
where Charles 1., Queen Elizabeth, Queen Anne, George
and others of Royal blood have sojourned. It is
accounted to be of about the time of Henry VII. now
real antiquarians would revel here. We had but one amongst
our party ; and he knew not how to leave each relic.
Chairs, tables, cabinets, oak, ebony, and yew, with the
most complex arrangement of secret drawers, doors, locks,
keys, dogs (of which, in Queen Elizabeth's room, there
was a beautiful pair in brass), carvings, candlesticks,
snuffers, glasses, metallic mirrors, &c., attracted and
rivetted his attengon on all sides. It did one's heart
good to see such thorough enjoyment; but not much less
was that of most of the party; there were one or two
that walked through the rooms with almost a vacant
stare, yet, thinking it necessary to make some remark
when anything was pointed out, uttered, " Ah, its very
funny, that is funny!" Every room is hung with tapes-
try, from ceiling to floor; the colours and subjects of
which are well preserved. But all were really beautiful
and curious; to examine all the beauties and curiosities
of Coteil, however, would occupy some weeks at least.
From the castle we walked through the woods on the
side of a steep slope, with one of a corresponding angle
opposite, forming a deep dell, thickly wooded, the bou(4lis
interlacing in the most picturesque manner, and meeting
every gothic variety of ,arch, down to a small chapel,
built on a rock overhanging the river.
Re-embarking, we went on, to Calstock, passing the
magnificent overhanging woods of Coteil, which contain
enormous chestnut and other ornamental and useful trees.
We landed at Calstock, and much enjoyed from that ele-
vated spot the view of the Morwell rocks and the beauti-
ful surrounding scenery, the winding river. &c., return-
, ing to the village to dinner. Everything cold in the
form of meat, poultry, pastry, &c., had been provided,
and laid out for our attack : our appetites had not been
destroyed by our excursion, and we set to work in right
good earnest.
The weather on our return was squally ; we sailed
back, and with the exception of once sticking on a mud-
bank in the middle of the river, covered at high water,
where we might have been obliged to repair until the
next flood, we reached, and were landed at Admiral's
Hard, at Stonehouse, without accident, about seven
o'clock in the evening.
The party to the mines returned about the same time,
Everything that could be was shown to them. Mr. De
la Beche explained the geological, and Mr. Taylor the
mechanical peculiarities on their route, and at the mines,
for raising, crushing, &c., the ores. Several went down
into the mine, by which their appearance was not im-
proved.
We have heard nothing of the.excursion to the Eddy-
stone and Breakwater, but the weather not being real

ly, we should think the, party must have been any-
thing but a party of pleasure.

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, MONDAY.—The Queen and Prince Albert
enjoyed their usual walking exercise this morning for
some time in the Slopes in the new grounds of the Little
Park.

Lady Portman took her departure this morning for
Bryanstone House, Dorset.

Lord Alfred Paget has succeeded Colonel Buckley as
Equerry in Waiting upon her Majesty. _
Colonel Bouverie and Colonel Buckley left the Castle
this morning. The unfavourable weather in tile after-
noon prevented the Royal party from taking the accus-
tomed drive, and the carriages were in consequence
countermanded.

The bands of the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards,
and of the 72d Highlanders, perform on alternate evenings
at the Castle during dinner, and her Majesty's private
band is in attendance at the Castle every evening.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge returned
to town at two o'clock yesterday afternoon; from a visit
to the Duchess of Gloucester, at her residence in Bag-
shot Park.

The Duchess of Cambridge took an airing yesterday

in a carriage.

Viscount Melbourne arrived in town yesterday after-
noon from Panshanger, Herts, the seat of Earl Cowper.
Mr. Newton Wigney, Mr. Bowes, and Mr. G. Dun-
combe, had interviews with the Marquis of Normanby
yesterday at the Home-office.
The Hen. Edward Petro had an interview with
Viscount Melbourne yesterday, at his official residence
in Downing-street.
Despatches for Sir Charles Metcalfe, Governor of Ja-
maica, and the Governors of the other West Indian Co-
lonies, were'sent off last evening from the Colonial-office.
Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence' left town yesterday on a
visit to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester,
at Bagshot Park.

, TUESDA

THE PRESENT 1)1)TY OF THE
CHURCH.
MINISTERIAL uoAFERENCE,,,, ,

'0 THE MODERATOR AND OTHER CLERGYMEN OF THE

ESTABLISHED CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

DEAR SIRS AND FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN—WC solicit
-our deliberate attention, since we appeal to you on mat-
ers which alike interest Christians and citizens of every
arne. We had hoped to obtain your audience through
nother medium, but the arrangements to which we
rusted have been unsuccessful. We desire not to ex-
lude you from a common sympathy, and 2.11 equal op-
)ortunity of benevolence arid. co-operation with ourselves
and fellow-subjects, while we honestly believe we have
)een permitted to engage in a generous and honourable
Interprise.
We employ the allusion, not as a reproach, when we
!all to remembrance the claim which has been often
irged for your ecclesiastical establishment as the poor
•an's church. Undoubtedly many devoted members
vithin your pale, and thousands who have never sought
tny other fold than your communion, and who trust to
iou as their only religious instructors, are numbered as
-,he children of toil, whose weary portion is to labour
lard in ill-requited industry, and to feed scantily on
high-priced and heavily-taxed bread. The faithful
imongst you who, as parochial clergymen, mingle with
their people, and watch the sorrows and privations
te the lowly and indigent;can testify, that myriads of
he community are not- only scarcely fed and miserably
upplied with the means of subsistence, but have their
hinds alienated from religion and filled with hostile
cirmises about the selfish and uncharitable heartlessness
,f all clergy as Christian teachers. The sneers and scoffs
' 'leaped on religion, and the bitter scorn meted out on
he Saviour's name for this presumed indifference of all
!piritual functionaries to the plundered and suffering,
will not only be present to your memory, but be painful
to your mind in consideration of the reproach which thus
unmeritedly falls on your tord.
You have not always been listless to such considera-
tions, or callous to the impoverished condition of your
community ; especially when exigencies have arisen from
inclement seasons and unpropitious harvests ; your days
of prayer, when rain has been withheld, and your thanks-
;ivings, when a bountiful harvest has been reaped, have
ietokened your devout concerns in such matters. When
only a section of the country has been visited by the
withering blast, the sterile drought, or the ungenial cold,
(we refer to it as a matter of history,) you have hesitated
not, and feared no imputations for secularity or for
courting the applause of worldly men ; you seemed not
to dread the suspicion of hollow-heartedness or hypocri-
tical sympathy for the poor. Thus, when the Oreadians-
and inhabitants of Shetland had been visited with
the calamity of a fruitless harvest and the coinci—
dence of occasional failure, in their fishery, a deputation
of your body, composed of .1)r. 3l'Leod and others of
your most eminent men, was delegated to the metro-
polis and the large provincial towns. and employed for
weeks to plead for charity, and summon the resources of
philanthropy, to aid the famishing and miserable suf-
ferers in the hour of their need and despair.
Perhaps it was prudent, then, not
.to discuss the prin-
ciple of that law which restricted them from providing
against such a calamity by the interchange of the pro-
duce of their sea coasts for the grain of continental coun-
tries ; whose consumption of fish would have equalled
their largest demand for cheap and seasonable supplies
of wheat. Nevertheless it is true, that when afterward
the liberality of benevolence had enabled them to draw
from the watery deep the bounties of a propitious Provi-
dence, which neighbouring countries were anxious to
purchase, the law prevented the exchange on equal
terms, and again exposed the Orcadians to the hazard
and perils of a yearly recurring famine.
Was it wise and generous thus to interpose your reli-
gious character and influence in an emergency, which
straitened a few thousands, and which was aggravated
by unjust and impious laws ? Or will you plead that
your sympathy was excited, and your energies devoted
to their relief only because it was presumed their wants
originated immediately in a visitation of God ? Would
it, then, be less wise and just to exert yourselves where
the sufferers are millions, and the ostensible and only
cause of evil is the unequal and injudicious legislation
of men ? Is not your obligation to exert yourselves
doubly enforced by the consideratipi that the system (if
an evil one,) may be altered and remedied by the en-
grossing of a parchment roll in obedience to the united
and constitutional prayers of a loyal and virtuous people ?
Some of you may question the wisdom or expediency
of revoking the Corn-laws, and may doubt whether this
would cure the evil. We have indeed been told that we
cannot reckon on your co-operation in the contemplated
movement, because from the present fiend system, and
the interest which by the glebes, &c., you have in the
high price of agricultural produce, your secular emolu-
ments are augmented in proportion as restrictive laws on
the sapply of food have their operation. If, how,
ever, such a connection does subsist, and if, hence,
natural apprehensions should arise, yet surely an
equitable settlement might be obtained in any
legislative change. But if any hazard of dimi-
nution should appear to threaten your temporal in-
terests in competition with the interests of millions of a
starving people, will you suffer such contingency to de-
tain you from our conference ? Can you incur the im-
putation, or expose yourselves to the suspicion that sel-
fishness or avarice prevents your judgment, and dictates
a national injustice—a universal calamity ;or that you
have no confidence in your principles, and no faith in the
master whom you profess to serve, for a provision such
as your wants require if you obey him, and do justly,
and love mercy ? What a fearful responsibility would
be thus incurred ! What would be the effect but to
countenance the vilest and most slanderous accusations
of our enemies against our sacred religion, and to lay it
open to the ridicule of the infidel and the profane ?
But you do not all entertain the apprehensions to which
we refer. There is one whom many of you delight to
honour, and whose writings possess among you an autho-
ritative reputation.. His sentiment on the subject and
14-is .expre, ions we sflidly echo; -d tat you may nil be
induced to give the Lthject a patient and thoughtful con-
sideration.
than that
knowof
a of
fr n
free
ao:ieFvoormothnet
olsoarkfn' Or-
urgently f
eits mtly
corn trade. There is not a more fertile topic of clamour
desirableirabene tfiht w e
and burning discontent all over the land; and, were it
but effectually put at rest, we are aware of nothing
which might serve more to sweeten the breath of British
society."
Such is the emphasis and decision of Dr. Chalmers's
judgment on " a free corn trade," pronounced when the
question of frec trade had not assumed its present formi-
magnitede. and before the discussion had arrested
the public mind to the agitation and apprehension which
now gains accumulrtive intensity by every day'sproceed-
ings, and the fearful eommotions of the commercial
world. II these words were true when first written they
come with a thousand times more force now. With us
free trade is no topic of idle clamour ; though we find
that with multitudes it " is fertile of burning discontent,"
since it is denied by a dominant party in our legislature;
and the refusal of it threatens the very foundations of
society, and with appalling terror excites the apprehen-
sion-s of sober and enlightened rcasoners.

Will you refuse to join us in seeking a prayerful and
just settlement of this absorbing question ? Can you re-
fuse your aid " to sweeten the breath of British society'
which such a movement is likely to serve ? We embrace
you in the terms in which we have invited ten thousand
ministerial coadjutators, without any affectation of the
spirit of catholicity. We say to you, as ministers of re-
ligion, come in the bonds of kindness and reciprocal
fellowship, and let selfish interests and partisan prejudi-
ces be laid on the altar of our common country, while
we inquire and take counsel how we may best and most
effectually promote the prosper 4 of Britain, the peace
of the community, and the paramount authority of our
holy religion. We repeat to you what we have said in
part to the Methodist Conference, and entreat you, as we
have besought them, to consider what is present duty
and what our God requires of you. "If Nehemiah re•
bukcd the nobles because they oppressed the people and
brought them into bondage by keeping up corn ; and if,
by the prophet Isaiah, the God of heaven and earth ha's
taught us that the fast which he has chosen is to undo
the heavy burdens, to fet the oppressed go free, and to
deal bread to the hungry, then surely Ministers of reli-
gion are only legitimately fulfilling the duties of their
province when they take counsel how food may be ob-
tained for the necessities of their fellow men.
Receive as from us and the Committee whom we re-
present, the circular appeal which has been issued bear-
ing the name of our respected friend and colleague in this
good work, Mr. George Thompson ; and believe us, fel-
low-countrymen, yours faithfully,
J. W. MASSIE, Chapel-street Chapel, Salford.
WILLIAM M'KEIZROW, Lloyd-street Chapel.
Manchester, August 2, 1841.

THE LATE DR. KING.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—ln your report of the inquest held on the body
of Dr. Richard King, it is stated, " that the Jury
desired to have the evidence of Dr. Randall, or Mr.
Hunter, and both gentlemen were sent for, but it was as-
certained that they, with: the other examiners of Apo-
thecaries' Hall, were dining at Blackwall." 'Were this
statement correct it would imply an utter want of feel-
ing and respect towards an estimable individual who was
endeared as a friend and a Christian to all who knew
him. The fact is that the annual dinner of the Court of
Examiners was fixed for that very day ; but so soon as
the melancholy event became known, a special message
was sent to postpone it, and the Court assembled in the
evening of the same day for the express purpose of con-
sidering how they might testify their respect to the
memory, of their deceased colleague.
We may add that the body was examined on the fol-
lowing day bey Mr. Hilton, one of the Lecturers on Ana-
luintr, the
presence of the Chair-
man and Mr. Randall, and the
tolamnyoaftthGeucy
osurht,o li.siiialnte
rt.
Iresult confirmed the opinion previously given, (H 1.
at the
death was occasioned by disease of the heart.

Your obedient servants,
JOHN HUNTER, Mincing-lane,
ALFRED D.Z. RANDALL, Finsbury•square.
August 22, 1841.

CUSTOM-HOUSE ANNOYANCES
AT SOUTHAMPTON.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin-I beg to call your attention to the slovenly man-
ner in which matters are conducted by the officials at the
Custom-house at Southampton. On arriving at this
place from Havre early in the morning, I could neither
get my baggage passed, nor even attended to. Of course
it was detained until the worthy officials thought proper
to make the necessary examination ; and through their
unwarrantable delay I was detained upwards of seven
kdwidard condescend predicamentto ; and when at
attend to their
hours. A great number of ladies and gentlemen were
placedlength in the
itie
thaeutshaomreaws
duties the confusion was most disgraceful, and mere like
a scramble for admission to the gallery of a theatre than
the steady deportment to be expected from the servants
of an establishment devoted to the protection of her Ma-
jesty's revenue, IL B.

3, 1841.

HE MAJESTY'S VISIT TO

UXBRIDGE.
FATAL AFFRAY-A MAN KILLED.

On Saturday last the town of Uxbridge was ra scene
of great animation and rejoicing, in .consequence of its
having. become known
.that her. Majesty and Prince
Albert would pass through the'tOwn on their return from
Earl Cowper's seat to Windsor Castle. The line of road
was decorated with flags, banners, and triumphal arches.
Both sides of the road were crowded for a considerable
distance with gay and festive crowds to witness the
passage of the royal cortege which, shortly after two
o'clock, entered the High-street, Uxbridge, and passed
aging amid the acclamations of the assemblage.
Throughout her Majesty's progress through the town
and neighbourhood no accident occurred, but, we regret
to state that about two hours after her Majesty passed
through Uxbridge, on her return from Panshanger to
Windsor, a fatal affray took place at the Bell Inn, in the
town of Uxbridge,. between John Hobbs, a sergeant on
the staff of the West Middlesex Militia, and a cooper,
named Thomas Tollerson, in consequence of the latter
making some reflections on the Queen, the result of which
was his death at an early hour on Sunday morning.
Information of the occurrence was on Sunday for-
warded to Mr. Wakley, the coroner, who issued his war-
rant for holding an inquest. In the course of the morn-
ing Hobbs was taken into custody.
'Yesterday. he was brought up for examination before
Messrs. T. Dagnall and C. Newdigate, the sitting Ma-
gistrates, at the King's Arms Inn, Uxbridge.
George Groves, hostler at the Bull Inn, deposed that
on the afternoon of Saturday last he was in the kitchen
of the above inn. John Hobbs (the prisoner), Thomas
Tillerson (the. deceased), James Ruddock, and others,
were also there. The prisoner and the deceased were
laughing and joking with each other. The deceased
then said something to the prisoner about her „Majesty,
which witness could not recollect, and the prisoner said
something in answer, which witness has also forgotten,
when the deceased said, "if you tell me that again, I'll
give you a-- smack of the chops." The prisoner made
answer, " So she did" (meaning her Majesty), when
the deceased got up out of his chair and went round
the table to the prisoner, who was at that time sitting
down, and struck the prisoner on the face open-handed.
The prisoner then rose from his chair, and struck the
deceased with his clenched fist on the mouth, and knocked
him down upon the stone floor. The deceased lay on the
floor in a senseless state for about two minutes, wheuMr.
Keene, the landlord, came and picked him up. The de-
ceased was then placed on a chair, when blood ran from
his nose and left ear, after which the deceased's face was
washed with brandy.
-Ty Mr. Dagnali—The prisoner, after he had struck
/the deceased first, resented himself in his chair, but when
the deceased had been picked up, the prisoner said lie
was sorry for what he had done. The deceased, when
he came to himself, said, " Hoar came I by the blow on
the lip ?" when witness told him that the prisoner had
hit him, on which deceased said, " Oh, never mind it,
it will soon be well." Deceased then began to swear,
and was soon afterwards carried home in a chair, still
bleeding at, his mouth and ear. Deceased was not sober.
He was able to stand when he got home. Witness
helped deceased to undress and to put him to bed, and be-
fore witness left deceased asked him to shut up his shop.
By Mr. Newdigate—Whilst the prisoner was present
in the kitchen, he assisted to recover the deceased. The
prisoner was quite sober, and said if the deceased was
seriously injured, he would pay the doctor's bill.
Mr. William Rayner, surgeon, of Uxbridge, deposed
that on Saturday afternoon, about five o'clock, he was
sent for to attend the deceased, whom he found in the
kitchen at the Bell Inn, sitting in a chair. Several per-
sons were round him, bathing his face with brandy. De-
ceased's face was considerably swollen, and blood was
issuing from his left ear. Deceased complained of his
mouth being injured.
By Mr. Degnall—Witness had a bad opinion of the
case the first moment he saw the deceased. The next
morning (Sunday), witness heard of the deceased's death.
The injury which the deceased bad received was clearly
the cause of his death.

James Ruddock, Copper, of Uxbridge, deposed that
he was present at the time of the occurrence. The de-
ceased was a little in liquor, but the prisoner was quite
sober. The deceased was talking about his work, and
also about the Queen, and said the Queen did not pay
the same respect to Uxbridge as Uxbridge had paid to
her, but witness could not remember what the words
were. They all appeared in good humour until witness
heard the deceased say "if you tell me that again, I'll
give a slap of the head," or something like it. The pri-
soner did repeat the words when the deceased got up and
struck the prisoner on the face, and immediately the pri-
soner struck the deceased as hard as he could and
knocked him down on the stone floor of the kitchen.

Deceased bled a great deal. Deceased was on the floor
a minute or so, and when picked up blood flowed from
his mouth; nose, and left ear. Mr. Rayner, the surgeon.
was then sent for, and deceased was taken home. Do-
ceased asked for his hat before he was remoTed.

George Warwick, shoemaker, of Uxbridge, gave simi-
lar testimony.
The evidence having been concluded,
The Bench said the case, in their opinion, was one of
manslaughter, and it was, therefore, their duty to com-
mit him for trial at the next Sessions of the Central
Criminal Court.
During the hearing 'of the case before the Magistrates,
Mr. Wakley arrived, and at twelve o'clock empannelled
a jury at the Bell Inn, for the purpose of holding his
inquest.
'rhe evidence generally was to the same effect as that
given before the Magistrates.
The CORONER then addressed the Jury at consider-
able length, during which he remarked on Hobbs having
been prevented by the Magistrates from attending the Co-
roner's Court, and committed by them for manslaughter
before the Jury on the inquest could return a verdict.
At the conclusion of the Coroner's address, the Court
was cleared of strangers, when
The Jury returned a verdict that the deeelsed " died
.• •

from a mortal fracture of his skull, accidentally caused
by the head of the deceased, Thomas. Tollerson, having
come into violent contact with the stone flooring of a cer-
tain kitchen."

After the delivery of the verdict an application was
made to the Bench to admit Hobbs to bail, to which they
acceeded, and he was liberated on his own recognizances
for 100/. and two sureties of 50/. each, to appear to take
his trial.

Captain W. Brew and Sergeant Major Williamson
both of the West Middlesex Militia Staff, were his sureties

TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCEL:

LENT MAJESTY.
The PETITION of MERCHANTS, MANUFACTURERS,
TRADERS, and Others, agreed to at a public Meeting,
held at the King's Arms Tavern, Philip-lane, Wood-
street, in the City of London, July 31, 1841.
Most Humbly Sheweth,—That your petitioners feel
grateful to your Majesty for having dissolved the late
Parliament—a Parliament which had not only long lost
the confidence of the country, but which, during it:,
sitting, endeavoured, under the plea of " privilege," to
subvert the liberties of the people, and, also, to inter-
fere with the just prerogative of your Majesty—that
treated the petitions of the people with indifference, and,
sometimes, with scorn, and wasted its time in party
squabbles for unworthy objects, thereby sinking the
character of this kingdom amongst the nations of the
world ; but, as the present electors of Members of the
House of Commons (or a great majority of them), are
actuated by selfish and interested motives, your peti-
tioners are fearful that those persons who are returnee
as Members of the new Parliament will disappoint your
Majesty's hopes, and frustrate your Majesty's good in-
tentions. _ _

That your petitioners are of opinion, that, so long as
the right of voting for Members of Parliament is unjustly
withheld from those who produce all the wealth, so long
will the nation continue as it is—with splendid idlers on
the one hand, anti starving, industrious labourers on the
other, and that, too, in the midst of an abundance both
of the necessaries and luxuries of life ; and your peti-

tioners see no remedy for this state of things, but by the
aid and assistance of your Majesty ; they, therefore,
pray that your Majesty, on opening the new Parliament,
will be graciously pleased to direct the attention of its
Members to the wants and wishes of the people :
By taking into their serious consideration the peti-
tions sent to the late Parliament, and remove all
real grievances.
By revising the taxes, so that industry shall pay no
more than its fair share.
By removing all unjust restrictions on trade and
commerce.
By making the contractors of foreign loans, and ne-
gotiators of foreign bonds, and, what are called
" foreign securities," responsible for the dividends
and interest on the said loans, bonds, and securi-
ties, and thereby protect the ignorant from being
swindled out of their property, and the nation out
of its wealth.
By fixing a stamp-duty on all,probates, including
property of all sorts, whether real or personal,
hereditary or free.
By depriving all bankers and Others from interfering
with the prerogative of the Crown, in making
what is called money, and by fixing the amount
to be issued by the executive in lieu thereof.
And that they will adopt measures for the imme •
diate relief of the distressed, by repealing the Poor-
law Amendment Act.

That your petitioners beg most respectfully to assure
your Majesty, that it is with great reluctance that they
thus trespass on your Majesty ; but, being actuated by a
love of country, as well as by a desire for your Majesty's
happiness and long life ; and knowing how difficult it is
for your Majesty to obtain honest Ministers, they
thought it their bounden duty thus to address you ; be-
lieving, that should your Majesty condescend to comply
with their prayer, your Majesty's reign will not only be
great and glorious, but the people contented and happy.
And your Majesty's petitioners will ever pray.
Signed on behalf of the meeting,
JOHN FOTZE.NIAN, Chairman.

MuNDEN'sM oTHER.—I went one night into
the Green-room of Drury-lane Theatre. When young
girls are called upon to perform in London playhouses,
it is customary for their mothers to come to look after
them, to adjust their dress, rub their cheeks with a
rouged hare's foot, and prevent Viscounts from falling in
love with them. It so happened that five young girls
were wanted for the drama ; the consequence was, that
five black-bonneted motherallockaded the Green-room.
" Did you ever see anything like it ?" ejaculated Mun-
den (then between 70 and 80), in an under tone. " I'll
bring wiy owe mother to-morrow night ; I've as much
right as they have !"
The Baron de Beranger relates that, having se-
cured a
pick-packet in the very act of irregular abstrac-
tion, he took the liberty of inquiring whether there was
anything in his face that had procured him she honour of
his being singled out for such an attempt. " Why, Sir,"
said the fellow, " your face is well enough, but you had
on thin shoes and white stockings in dirty weather, and
SO I made sure you were a fiat."

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY,

CHRONICLE.—It will be very amusing should we
find. ourselves under the necessity of supporting Sir R.
Peel. And we. certainly shall support him when he pro-
ceeds " to apply those r2novations and repairs Which tile
lapse of time or altered circumstances may have rendered
desirable in our ancient institutions." These are the
very things we want, and for the sake of which we have
supported the present Ministers. True, we would ra-
ther have the repairs from honest hands ;' but better
from
,dishonest, than not at all. 'We are not of the opi-
nion of those professed free traders, who Toted in'a mo-
nopolist majority because they doubted, or affected to
doubt, the integrity of the Whigs in their commercial
rcfortns. We are willing to take all the good- we can
get. When the " alarm or apprehension" begins—and
it will be pretty soon excited—we shall do. our best to
help on the renovation, and render it " more easy" even
to the contemptible equivocator by whom the useful
change may be wrought. It will not be the first
time that we have had such work to do ; :nor, should
the trimmer whom Tory Immutables and Impracti-
cables have toiled to shoulder into office continue
there, will it be the last. Timeo Danaos shall not make
us refuse any done by which the public can profit. We
wonder what the first boon will be ; a commercial re-
form, an ecclesiastical, or a political ? The Tories them-
selves are, notwithstanding their angy rebukes of our
curiosity, wondering just as much as we do. But, after
what has passed, they are in the predicament of the
heretical bishop with the creeds, " I dare not inquire, I
dare ,not inquire." Each section of the Tories thinks it
has hoaxed the other, while their common leader, their
sole bond of union, is hoaxing them both. A pretty ex-
hibition. of public virtue ! How long can this combina-
tion of rottenness last ? How far is the farce to go, of
securing the ancient foundations of religiouby the pro-
fligacy of " tainted" characters forcing themselves into
office ? Of how many more candidate chancellors,
judges, secretaries, ambassadors, or chamberlains. are we
to receive public assurance, from journals tainted or un-
tainted, that they are not the profligates whose exclusion
is so very expedient ? Amongst the renovations which
Sir Robert Peel promises to effect, when renovation
shall no longer alarm clrruption, we cannot anticipate
the restoration of " the ancient prerogative of England,
of teaching the nations how to live."
POST.—Enormous mischief has been done of late
years by the encouragement which a loose system of edu-
cation has given to speculation. Upon the chance—often
an extremely bad chance—of a profitable demand, the
speculator sets to work. Hesoon finds his capital insuf-
ficient-. He has accumulated a stock, but there is no one
to buy. Perhaps there would be if he could wait. He
soon finds a bank, ready like him Self to run almost any
risk for the sake of business. They give him credit. Ile
gets money to go on. He continues to produce,. because
he has an expensive establishment all prepared for pro-
duction, and thinks he can afford to stand still. Perhaps
a demand does arise, and he gets rid of his stock, pays
his bills, gets a profit, increases his household expenses,
and builds another wing to his factory. Perhaps a de-
mand does not arise, and as he has traded far beyond his
capital, down he goes. He cannot sell his stock, and,
therefore, he cannot pay his bills. The bank grants him
time, but at last insists upon payment. Still he cannot
pay, and he is obliged to stop amid great crash and
ruin, though if he could but sell his produce at the price
he calculated upon when he produced it all would
still be well. The whole misfortune is that he has
clOne too much, having been thereto tempted by the
too-easy acquisition of other people's money, that is
to say, by the too great accommodation of an over-
trading bank. This is the system in all directions, and
all sorts of markets get stuffed with worthless quantities.
Even in literature the system is as bad as anywhere else,
if not worse. Books are brought out in preposterous
thousands and millions, as if purchasers, like printed
sheets, were thrown off by the steam-press, and had no
limit which prudence and common sense might calculate.
But all this straining and striving nonsense comes to an
end, and grieving creditors are left to ruminate upon the
monstrous folly of creating a supply without any pre-
vious inducement from the demand. It is in such times
as these that frantic men would peril the demand which
they may calculate upon, for the chances of a demand
which they may not calculate upon. It is in such times
as these that persons calling themselves Statesmen, want
to become purchasers from foreigners at the imminent
risk, not to say certainty, of ruining those who
must purchase from Ahem. Our home and our colonial
markets are sure, our foreign markets are not, and cannot
be, sure. What worse political madmen can there be
than they who would direct us to the foreign market for
that which the home and colonial market can supply ?
The great—the ruinous—defect of our commercial sys-
tem of late years has been its want of certainty, Manu-
facturing and mercantile counting houses have assumed
more or less the character of lottery shops, or offices
where the transactions of enormous gambling are re-
corded in waste book, journal, and ledger, by the system
of double entry. To aggravate this uncertainty we are
recommended (and by the Government too 1) to resort
to foreign markets for the commodities we require—mar-
kets which may or may not demand, or choose to admit,
our produce in exchange—markets in which We-shall be
purchasers of the labour of foreigners while thousands of
our own labourers are sighing for something to do, and
pining in the poverty which awaits even upon voluntary
idleness.

ADVERTISER.—The plot thickens. Matters are
rapidly approaching a crisis. The darkness in which
Sir Robert Peel has hitherto shrouded his principles and
purposes as the proximate Premier of England, is on
the eve of being dissipated. Before three weeks have

elapsed we shall be able to come to some conclusion as
to what we are to expect from the advent of a Tory Go-
vernment under the auspices of the Right lion. Baronet.
Let us not he misunderstood. We are not simple enough
to suppose that Sir Robert is to publish to the world be-
fore that time a programme of the measures which he
means to propound to
.Parliament. That he will post-
pone till the latest possible moment which the circa,
stances of the country will allow. The test to which c
allude as the one by which we shall, ere the expiration
of three weeks, be enabled to try the character of Sir
Robert, relates to the course which he shall
pursue on the question of the Speakership. It
is matter of nctoriety to all, that there exists at
present a most serious quarrel between the Right
[lon. Baronet and the majority of his supporters as to
who ought to be the Speaker of the new Parliament.
The Tories, as a body, had made up their minds the
moment the late elections ensured a majority in their
favour, that Mr. Shaw Lefevre should, as a matter of
course, be unceremoniously ejected from the chair pf the
Commons. The only difference of opinion among them
was, as to which of their own party had the preferable
claims to be appointed his successor. Imagine then, what
Must have been their surprise and mortification, when
they made the unexpected discovery that their chieftain
was resolved not to suffer the disturbance of Mr.
Shaw Lefevre in his official seat. At first they re-
monstrated in gentle terms ; then they besought the
Right Honourable Gentleman not to embitter, by so
heavy a blow and great a discouragement to their party,
the cup of bliss which the result of the late elections
had prepared for them, and which they were in the act
of putting to their lips. Sir Robert disregarded their
emonstrances, and lent a deaf ear to their interests..
This was not to be borne. If it was an earnest of the
manner in which he meant to treat them, they came to
the conclusion that the Liberals might just as well have
tenanted the Ministerial benches, and they remained her
Majesty's Opposition till the end of the chapter. Ren-
dered desperate by the cold indifference which the Tam-
worth Baronet displayed to their wishes, they have now
resolved to try the effect of an attempt to bully him into
their views. Hence the " Thunders" of the Jove of

Printing-house-square which rolled throughout the me-
tropolis yesterday, and whose reverberations will doubt-
less be heard to the remotest extremities of the empire
for days to come. The poor expectant Premier is
threatened, abused, and assailed in every possible form,
and in every conceivable variety of language, because he
will not sacrifice his own opinions and feelings on the
question of the Speakership, and submit to the degrada-
t►on of becoming the slave of his party.
TIMES.—We were lately employed in considering
the manner in which Conservative principles ought to
be applied to the maintenance and consolidation of our
fundamental institutions in the legislative department.
After stating the main principle of Conservatism, with
reference to this subject matter, to be the preservation
of the ancient constitutional balance of power, and show-
ing that by this rule the Conservatives stand pledged to
►indicate the integrity and freedom of action of all the
classes and constituents which compose the legislative
tuthority, each within its separate limits, viithout either
suffering any one class to encroach upon the rest, or
permitting the whole together to isolate themselves
from the body of the people, we prOceeded to exhibit
some practical results of these considerations, with
regard to questions agitated at the present day con-
lerning the Parliamentary franchise.' Tried by such a
zest, the scheme of vote by ballot appeared to be a
,levice for reducing the United Kingdom to -the con-
dition of one immense rotten borough, and converting
1 constituency of limited numbers into the most close
and irresponsible of corporation& Jut the same test,
while it rejected this spurious remedy, clearly established
the duty of adopting some means for purifying the elec-
;oral system, and protecting the possessors of the fran-
Aise as well against intimidation and violence, as from
the intrusion of non-electors and voters disqualified by
corruption. Upon the measures necessary for securing
liberty of election, defining ambiguities in the law re-
lating to the franchise, and reforming the process of
registration, especially in Ireland, we then took oc-
casion to offer some observations ; but in the last
article which we devoted to the subject, our space
was exhausted before we found ourselves able to :.1,1,,u-
-protich the qiiestion of bribery. There is
714)
clue.fstt,lar)
upon which such unanimity orprofession,
and
sucl► unit.' win inconsistency of practice, prevails
were to
men of all: parties, as this of bribery. All politician
talk about purity of election ; and if a
judge by the letter of our law,
suppose upon the
were the most scrupulousl incorruptible peoplec
is the subtlety
face of the earth—so uncompromisingh
direct negociation
stranger
that we
with which it pursues not merelyh sit:oubldi
is innocent modifica-
into its remotest and apparently. most
very different from
of votes for money, but the auxiliary
tsystem of treating,
modifica-
tions. Yet our actual practice
we
suspect
whose elec•
this fair show of virtue, that
ten Members in any 1 5
__so there are seldom
Ph.►damanthus were the judge,
and if a Minos or
bThat this should be so, argues
tion, if all the circumstances attending it were disclosed,
could be legally sustained.sness
It would be most untrue
eoplei.n the law, as well as much
i'lot many members in the present
tlianxdiotyubotnedtlhyes legato
part coatptthi ocup
to say that there
are
who owe their election to the free
House
as in many others, an overstrained
whatever. In thisecrets,eif ;
and the affectation of an ex-
choice ofnf their constituents, apart from all corruption
theory has defeat i
up ress bribery, by pronouncing many
ex-
cessive zeal
ts
legallyPthinosonly tended
e n corruptded to
give an
are
impulse t f felt
to to
thebee‘siol
dto check. A law which neglects to
w •
Inh°irillYitt'oihrb•"ises weaned