The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-24 00:00:00

TEIE SUN,'

cumstances which, from their remarkable chars Ater,
must render the eighteenth meeting of the Assoc liation
one of the most extraordinary and uncrdest
,ionabiy
the most interesting in its annals. All e-,dnobling
sympathy has latterly manifested itself among the
population in the proceedings of the As sociation, and
has altogether 'precluded us from fir e necessity of
becoming the vindicators of its utilit,y or the labo-
rious exponents of the advantages al- ready accruing
to the chemical and mechanical
its establishment. The disting, dished names of
oughout afforded it
those individuals who have thr .
the sanction of their presence, and animated it by the
genius of their co-operation are of themselves suffi-
cient to elevate the sr Jciety beyond the most
audacious derision,
to the most un sciences from
,
f And render it invulnerable
rdrincipled vituperation. The
arena selected for the deliberations of the

present year i', very appropriately one of those
A immortalized by the intellectual de-
academic citir

velopment of the athletes of our insular learning.
Oz.Sord has been felicitously selected as the scene for

the discus.Aons of 1847; it has been felicitously chosen,
because the president who succeeds Sir RODERICK
Isirmr MURCHISON is one of the Parliamentary re-
presentatives of the University, Sir ROBERT HARRY
INGLIS —a man for whom we have no political sym-
pathy whatever, but whose capacious ability and
versatility of accomplishments must always command
our unaffected respect. Beyond this the selection of
Oxford has been peculiarly felicitous, remembering
that it was under the walls of her colleges that the
present Dean of Westminster acquired his geological
reputation—and Dr. BUCKLAND, be it remembered,
is about the most assiduous, as he is unquestionably
one of the most gifted members, of the British Asso-
ciation.

A variety of circumstances impart an air of
particular importance to the present gathering to-
gether of the savans of both hemispheres. Foremost
among those circumstances is the arrival at Oxford of
the illustrious LE VERRIER, the discoverer of the
planet Neptune. Alluding to the presence among them
of that immortal astronomer and mathematician, the
President very beautifully remarked, in the course
of his inaugural address, " I will not presume to
dispute upon the rivalry or merits of LE VERRIER or
ADAMS, but it is certain that one had found by mid-
night watchings what the other had predicted by the re-
sults of calculation." Another reason for our regarding
the present convocation at Oxford as perhaps the
most striking in the history of the Association, is the
fact that unusual numbers of distinguished fo-
reigners have hastened thither for the purpose of par-
ticipating in its proceedings ; amongst whom must
be particularly enumerated the Prince DE CANINO
(son of Prince LUCIEN BONAPARTE), the Hon. Mr.
BANCROFT (American Minister), the Chevalier Burr-
SEN (Prussian Ambassador), and the Count ROSEN
(Emissary Extraordinary from the Crown Prince of
Sweden). It is decided, moreover, that among those
who will attend the meetings of the Association will
be one who, since his first arrival in England, has in
some measure striven to emulate the Magnificent
LORENZO as a promoter of art, science, and literature
—we mean, of course, his Royal Highness the Prince
ALBERT. An announcement of a propitious character
was made at the commencement of the introductory
meeting yesterday afternoon, namely, that intelli-
gence had been received of the improvement of the
health of the renowned Baron HUMBOLDT.
If ever frivolity was avoided in the periodical con-
vocations of civilised men it is assuredly shunned in
the assemblages of the British Association ; and yet
this eminent society is villified by certain:malcontents
as a league of venerable zanies and fribbling
diletanti. Before there is any recurrence to the ex-
travagant caricatures which have disgraced society
during the past few summers we would thus emphati-
cally protest against such wilful distortions of the acts
and the utterances of the true nobility of intellect.
When the great FRANCIS BACON was riding in
his carriage at Highgate, engrossed with that
experiment of a fowl and a handful of newly-fallen
snow, which immediately led to his decease, some
contemporary might have depicted his proceedings in
the most ludicrous language, and have tickled the
thoughtless into explosions of laughter. But, how
would such a reminiscence be heard of now-a-days ?
Surely, with expressions of the profoundest scorn
and the most undisguised indignation.
Were the philosophers of the British Association
to clothe themselves in the harlequinade dress, worn
by the one-eyed geniuses of the Flying Island, were
they to precipitate themselves from the roof of
Magdalene College in one of HENsoN's patent
aerial machines with a confidence similar to
that of the wing-maker in Rasselas, where
they to stew over the furnaces of a Rosicrucian
laboratory, after the fashion of Friar BUNGET,
they might be lauded as the most practical philan-
thropists of these civilized times. But as they restrict
themselves to matters of the most marvellous scientific
interest, as they listen, for example, to the expositions
Of MICHAEL FARADAY on the identity of light and
electricity ; as they examine the meteorological ob-
servations of Colonel SABINE, showing that the
atmosphere, as well as the ocean, is affected by tidal
movements ; as they hearken to the psychological
revelations of Professor MATTUCCI, explaining that
electrical currents are produced by the mus-
cular contraction of the living body (and
thereby affording a possible key to the
mysteries of Mesmerism), as they sedulously explore
the latest innovations in art and the most recent dis-
coveries in science, they are derided as little better
than overgrown children out for a sort of artistic
gambol and scientific holiday. The people will evince
a loftier perception of the inherent dignity of know-
ledge by regarding such bodies as the British Asso-
ciation with the sobriety of earnest approval, and the
ardour of merited approbation.

We are rejoiced to find that active measures are in
progress for the purpose of stimulating and encou-
raging the Irish fisheries. Colonel JONES, the chief
commissioner of the Board of Works, is now tra-
velling along the coast of Ireland inspecting the vari-
ous harbours and fishing stations, in order that the
40,0001. granted by Parliament may be applied in the
most judicious and beneficial manner. It has long
been a subject of surprise to those who have heard
the sad accounts of Irish poverty and destitution,
that there should be so lamentable a neglect of the
gifts of Pzovumicz, that persons suffering under
all the horrors of starvation, should not make some
exertion on their own behalf, that while the neigh-
bouring bays and ocean are teeming with life,
while actual riches are before them, merely
requiring to be gathered in, they should re-
main in listless inactivity, seeing the more in-
dustrious Cornishmen coming hundreds of miles and
carrying off the most valuable cargoes. It is one of
the many almost inexplicable points in the character
of that almost :inexplicable people. Remove them
from their native land, and none will labour with
greater energy. They will exhibit singular ingenuity
in making available and turning to the best purpose
the means at their disposal; but, unfortunately, there
is a total absence of forethought in providing for any
coming event—they will rather rely on the rude con-
trivances of the moment to meet the exigency than
devote any portion of their idle time to making the
proper preparation. If remonstrated with, and the
folly of their conduct pointed out, they will
murmur —surely there is time enough yet ;
may be the fish might not come this year.
When, however, they do appear in the greatest
abundance, they will wish for the boats and
nets, which they have not tried to provide, exclaiming
against their bad luck in not having them; but
when the season is over they will relapse into their
former apathy, and again let similar opportunities
pass away without effort or exertion.
d
In some few districts the wealthier farmers pro-
vide the necessary
materials, and lend them
to volunteer crews,
uceeceivng, in return, a certain
portion of the produce. In
that i
every such case it is ex-
traordinary the anxiety is
evinced by the people
to obtain places; the owner of
improve
candidates.
the boat is literally
besieged with applications from
eager
ctoa:
Those who are accepted materially
their
con-
dition, and render their families comparatively cmfortable, while the hosts of ,disappointed exp nt
console themselves with the vague hope of "having
better luck another time." Strange to say, although
the profits realised by the boat-owners are very great,
amounting, we believe, to nearly cent. per cent. on
the outlay, and the good effected in the locality is
almost incalculable, there are few indeed who enter