The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-02 00:00:00

FIRST PART.

Grand Overture and Marche Triomphale, composed for the
/4lusical Festival at Cologne, in 1832, by Ferdinand Ries.
Qdadrille—Le Neva, Musard----Pot Pourri sur les Motifs de
Les Huguenots, Meyerbeer. New Waltz, Feenivelt, Lahitzky.
Coro ed Aria, Io vo in Campo (Malek Mel), Costa. New
Grand March, Ehreubreitsteiner (first performance in this
country) llaslinger. Overture—Guillaume Tell, Rossini.

the subsequent progress of the nation in mill-work
brought into existence, were necessary to the com-
pletion of his scheme. For want of some assistants
of this kind the mighty lightning god of the Times
has not realized his own inventions, and the gallant
officer of 40 years' standing, who makes the extraordi-
nary report, rests it on "principles explained to him."
It is no doubt the want of these helps, to be obtained
by the Government money, which has prevented
this extraordinary man from actually constructing
one of his batteries, and has compelled him to ex-
plain its principles to those who are willing to
believe. The Times must, however, be aware,
that a secret entrusted to a body of workmen is no
secret at all, and that the very necessity of help
to construct the machine compels this lightning
god to share his power. Fortunately for us poor
people, it places other individuals on a level
with him . Perhaps his secret might kindle in
some one a spark of genius which would give even
him a master ; but certainly the necessity of help
would very speedily give to all countries equal
advantages.

This new story of the Times, like the wish-
ing-cap or Jack the Giant-killer's sword, seems
nothing better than an idle fable. In the days
when there were giants the fate of a community
might have depended on a single arm, or a
single mind ; but in these days, when there are
no giants, not even in quackery or literature, when
events are known to march in regular order, and
society no more makes irregular jumps than does
the moon, the whole marvellous story is a mere ab-
surdity. To tell us, on the authority of a veteran of 40
years' standing, that such great and wonderful
changes can all at once be made, as to annihilate
armies at the word of command, and render the
strongest mountain•passes untenable—that even
the Rock of Gibraltar, bristling with cannon, could
not be held for a single hour, is really to make a
larger draft on our credulity than ever was drawn
by all the pretenders to knowledge, from PA RA-
CELSUS downwards. If the Times be willing to
give up all claim to a proper scepticism, its readers
will not follow the example, and become credulous
dupes for the sake of indulging in another fling at
the Ministry.

The following paragraph from the Edinburgh
Courant enforces the suggestion we threw eut a
Few days ago, as to the sort of persons who should
have charge of the locomotive engines on railroads.
The recommendation has been also enforced by
other Journals, and we presume, therefore, it is
likely to have some influence on Railway Directors.
The notice will tend,* we apprehend also, to raise
the engine-drivers in their own estimation, and
make them more cautious and circumspect. The
Courant says—

Numbers of individuals have already met their fate
in those new conveyances ; but in the late accident on
the Eastern Railway four individuals have been killed,
besides those that have been maimed or otherwise in-
jured ; and in the late accident on the Hull Railway
the fatality was about the same. The chances of escape
are indeed small—much less than in the case of a coach
accident—the velocity and the concussion being so
much greater ; and this is an additional motive for
vigilance and care. The late accidents, however,
have arisen from the most criminal careless-
rics ; not in those, probably, who superintend
the business of the railway, but in those whom
they employ, namely, the drivers of the engines, who
have the immediate charge—on the Hull Railroad the
fall of some weighty materials which they were carrying
interrupted and overturned the train t and on the East-
ern Railway the recklessness of the driver, who hurried
on at the rate of fifty or sixty miles an hour. It is clear,
from these accidents, that the safety of passengers de-
pends on the care of the drivers, and that those to whom
is committed so precious a charge,in placeof being ignorant
and reckless, as they are proved to be, ought to possess a
knowledge of principles, so as to know the nature of the
agencies which they are intrusted to manage—to be, in
short, men of known character and care, and to be paid
in proportion to the importance of the trust -Which they
discharge. It is only in this way that the safety of pas-
sengers can be ensured on railroads. It will not answer
to employ mere mechanics in such critical duties. Per-
sons of more liberal attainments must be found, and the
fair price paid for their superior qualities. Some such
arrangement is essential to protect passengers from the
dangers incident to this rapid mode of travelling ; and
unless it be adopted, many will be scared, by the terrific
accidents which occur, from ever venturing on the rail-
road, where there is any other safer mode of travelling.
We will iiow add another recommendation, the
propriety of which must at once be obvious to
every person. The driver ought never to be alone.
He should at all times be accompanied, in case of
accidents, by a spare driver, equally capable and
equally trustworthy with himself. This is a pre-
caution which needs' only to be mentioned to com-
mand universal assent. 1